No sympathy for Israel
The entire international community is now focusing on the intensifying conflict between Israel and Lebanon. So far, I haven’t heard or read any statements or reports supporting Israel, but there are countless write-ups condemning its actions.
The US has yet to lay down a black and white stand on the conflict; but given its history of support for Israeli aggression against the Palestinian struggle, no one is waiting with bated breathe for any new announcement. At this juncture, shoul George W. Bush issue yet another one of his idiotic declarations against Lebanon (or any of the countries and liberation movements supporting it), he will only be affirming his reputation as a global war-mongerer.
Israeli atrocities are already well-documented, but Western media controlled by the CIA and Washington have consistently been working overtime to make sure that this endless series of war crimes against Palestianians and Lebanese civilians do not get mainstream coverage. This time around, however, the thinking and progressive media have been quick to release stories and photos of the Beirut bombings and the impact on civilians. The damage to life and property, and the far-reaching repercussions on the struggle to bring peace to the Middle East.
No sympathy for Israel.
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Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Protesters worldwide condemn Israeli onslaughts
Compiled by Daily Star staff
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets across the world on Monday in a show of support for the Lebanese and Palestinians in face of Israel’s continuing attacks. In Germany, more than 1,000 Lebanese and Palestinians staged an anti-Israeli protest at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate on Monday, police said.
A witness said demonstrators were chanting "death to Israel" and "death to Zionists," while some carried placards bearing the image of Hizbullah’s leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
Police said around 1,200 people took part in the protest at the German capital’s most famous landmark, not far from a major memorial to the millions of Jews killed in the Holocaust.
On the other side of the world, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Muslims gathered in protest and chanted slogans denouncing Israel’s attack on Lebanon.
Pakistan also saw demonstrations, at which protesters burned Israeli flags and chanted slogans against ongoing Israeli offensives in both Lebanon and the Occupied Territories.
In the Middle East, thousands of Palestinians rallied in the Gaza Strip and West Bank Monday to express support for Hizbullah and urge Nasrallah to strike Tel Aviv.
Answering a call by the Islamic Jihad faction and a prisoners’ support group for Palestinians held in Israel, 2,000 people marched from Red Crescent headquarters in Gaza City to the Parliament building.
Holding Hizbullah flags and banners of Palestinian factions, women also carried pictures of sons, husbands or parents jailed in Israel.
"Dear Nasrallah, blow up Tel Aviv!" the crowd chanted. "Greetings to Sheikh Nasrallah from Gaza and Ramallah."
"Hassan Nasrallah is the Palestinians’ new hero," a spokesman for one of the prisoners’ groups told the crowd.
One mother said that Nasrallah "is the only one who supports us after God. He will be the supreme leader of the Palestinians!"
At least 2,000 people marched in the West Bank city of Ramallah, shouting warnings to Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz. "Hizbullah will defeat you, Nasrallah will defeat you," they cried.
"This aggression is not just against Lebanon and Hizbullah, but against our dignity and our future," Palestinian MP Mustafa Barghouti told the crowd.
Thousands of Syrians also demonstrated in a show of support for Lebanese people. Some carried banners reading "Long live the resistance and down with surrenders!" - Agencies
