March in June

Well I’m back again- for a while…..
Had exams, but unlike Abu Funza I can not prove that is what I was doing as, well, I’m pretty sure they don’t allow you to take photos in the exam room. I suppose I could have asked though.

Went last Saturday to the demonstration WA mentioned. There I was actually going to take pictures, but I have a real poor memory and left the two cameras on the kitchen table. You should probably be glad I did forget though when I have a camera I take pictures of anything that interests me. I tell you this because while my friend was buying some inspirational postcards in Trafalgar Square, I was watching the naked people cycle past. (It was legal and had something to do with highlighting climate change - I wasn’t just in a real dodgy part of London.) At one point whilst I was standing there with my mouth wide open, an old man, well over the age of 50, got off his bike and just stood there for a good couple of minutes, completely stark naked. I do believe I have been scarred for life. Had I remembered my camera, I would I have shared the image with you, my privileged readers.

The demonstration itself was probably one of the best I had been to- although that’s only because I actually got somewhere to sit, and the fact that at the end, a couple of people at the front started an impromptu Palestinian dance, and with a few minutes about 10 people had joined in, and another hundred had gathered round watching and taking photos. I think the original dancers were a little shocked.

On the serious side, I was struck how brave some of the people there were. I heard from famous Jewish actors/ actresses who risk there careers by coming out against Israel, because we all know how good the Zionist machine is. I listened to priests and ordinary people who had dedicated their lives to helping the Palestinian people, and trying to find a solution. Most inspiring however was an Israeli from Combatants for Peace - a truly impressive and amazing organisation set up by Israeli and Palestinian Individuals – whose courage and beliefs brings hope to the conflict.

So whilst I saw many Jewish and Christians there, I noticed, as usual, how little Muslims there were. By far the majority there were non-Muslims which kind of makes you wonder. Whilst the Muslims may complain in their houses, when there comes a legitimate way to express their grievances where are they?

Whilst I agree that it is unlikely the government will not be particularly affected by the demonstration, I don’t believe this is why the Muslims don’t turn up.

So is it laziness, ignorance, apathy? I find it hard to believe it is apathy, because I find it that is a general trend among Muslims, no matter how little politics they know, they will still know of the “Palestinian Brothers, Sisters and Mothers” they do so much for.

Whilst there were many Jews there, who I know may find it a little patronising me saying this but you have got to rate them as some risk social stigma, and for some, especially Israelis, it goes against everything they have been brought up with. The Muslims who have a religious obligation were nowhere to be found.

Somebody please explain to me….

Academics Get Smart and Boycott Israel

Last week University lecturers backed calls for an academic boycott of Israel at their inaugural national conference. Delegates at the University and College Union (UCU) conference voted 158 to 99 to circulate its branches with the boycott call from Palestinian trade unions for "information and discussion".

The motion calling for an Israeli academic boycott came jointly from the University of Brighton and the University of East London. They asked members to rally to the call from Palestinian trade unions "for a comprehensive and consistent international boycott of all Israeli institutions". Their motion also called on university lecturers to condemn the "complicity of Israeli academia in the [Palestinian] occupation".

And now our very own Tony Bliar is denouncing the boycott of Israel…man do these pro-Israeli lobbies have connections…

Blair: ‘Drop the boycott – it’s no good for peace’
http://www.thejc.com/

TONY BLAIR has led the worldwide condemnation of the British academics’ union supporting moves towards a boycott of Israeli universities. In the Commons on Wednesday, Mr Blair called on the University and College Union to drop the resolution, passed at its annual meeting last week.

“I hope very much that the decision is overturned because it does absolutely no good for the peace process or indeed for relations in that part of the world,” Mr Blair told MPs. “The only solution ultimately is to relaunch the framework for a negotiated peace with a two-state solution at the heart of it.”

The New York based Anti-Defamation League took out display advertisements in The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, the Financial Times and today’s JC pointing out that, at a time when journalists were being arrested in Iran, activists tortured in Zimbabwe and 400,000 people murdered in Darfur, “British unions have singled out Israel for boycott. That’s antisemitism.” – The inevitable anti-semtism card is played by the ADL!

A long term campaign has been launched by British Jewish leaders such as the Britain-Israel Communications and Research Centre (Bicom), the Jewish Leadership Council and Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks.

I guess at times like these you can truly rely on the pro-Israeli lobbies to kick into overdrive and prioritise Israel over and above Britain:

A fundraising effort was also under way. “We are in this to win and campaigns like this do not come cheap,” Ms Fitzsimons pointed out. “The aim is to persuade [UCU general secretary] Sally Hunt to do as she promised in her election manifesto and hold a ballot of all UCU members on the boycott motion.”

Taken from the British anti-Zionist Jewish blogger Mark Elf.

To thank the UCU for passing a motion clearly standing against the state of Israel and defending the rights of Palestinians, use the below details. It only takes 5 minutes to email/call and log your appreciation. The Zionist lobbies have mobolised and orchestrated a campaign to try and get Sally Hunt and the UCU to overturn the motion. The least we could do is support those who dare to stand up to Zionist bullies and advocate justice and peace in the Middle East.

Sally Hunt
Joint general secretary
shunt@ucu.org.uk
02076709729

Paul Mackney
Joint general secretary
pmackney@ucu.org.uk

Head Office:
hq@ucu.org.uk

Say Enough! Loud and Clear on 9th June

EMPOWERING US Says Enough! To 40 Years Of Israeli Occupation Of Palestinian Territories.

Since that time the government of Israel has built ‘settlements’ in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and assisted its citizens in setting up homes and businesses using land and resources stolen from the Palestinian people. This situation has continued to the current day despite Israel being in violation of international humanitarian law and over 60 UN resolutions.

The Occupation has created serious poverty for the Palestinians, as well as severe human rights violations. But Palestinian suffering dates back further to 1948, when the state of Israel was created and 750,000 Palestinians were driven or .ed from their homes. The United Nations asserted the refugees’ right to return home in 1948, but Israel has refused to allow this. Meanwhile the refugee population has grown to over four million, one of the largest in the world, many of whom live in camps waiting for international law to be upheld.

Britain bears a particular responsibility for this suffering. From 1917 to 1948 Britain controlled Palestine. Along with the US and many EU countries, the UK government is today involved in a close military, economic and political relationship with Israel, and fails to stand up for the rights of the Palestinian people.

We say Enough! We are a group of charities, trade unions, faith and other campaign groups. We have come together because we want peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike. This can only be built on justice, equality and freedom. In order to achieve this goal governments like the British government must stand up for international law and human rights.

Join the Demo on 9th June

Meet at Lincoln’s Inn Fields at 1.30pm for the march to Trafalgar Square

Coalition members: Amicus, Amos Trust, Arab Labour Group, Arab Media Watch, BFAWU, Britain-Palestine All Party Parliamentary Group, Britain Palestine Twinning Network, BRICUP, British Muslim Initiative, CAABU, CWU, Freedom Clothing Project, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Friends of Birzeit University, Friends of the Earth, Friends of Sabeel UK, GMB, Green Party, Interpal, ICAHD UK, Jewish Socialists’ Group, Jews Against Zionism, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine, Liberation, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Muslim Association of Britain, Muslim Council of Britain, Muslim Parliament of Great Britain, Muslim Public Affairs Committee, National Association of British Arabs, 1990 Trust, NUM, NUS Black Students Campaign, Open Bethlehem, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Palestinian Forum in Britain, Palestinian Return Centre, Pax Christi, PCS, Qattan Foundation, Quaker Peace and Social Witness, Scottish Episcopal Church’s Justice Peace and Creation Network , Scottish Palestinian Forum, Stop the War Coalition, Trade Union Friends of Palestine, TGWU, UNISON, War on Want, Welfare Association, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom UK Section, Zaytoun Ltd