[Onthebarricades] Palestine protests

[Andy]

*  Thousands protest Gaza assault in Nablus, Ramallah, Bethlehem and across 
West Bank
*  Thousands also rally in Gaza itself, form human chain
*  Gazans break through wall to buy food in Egypt
*  Hundreds protest siege of Gaza in East Jerusalem
*  Activists protest at Gaza border crossing
*  Solidarity rallies in Jordan, New York, Syria, Egypt, Israel
*  Activists seek to cross from Egypt to bring aid
*  Fights between Hamas, Fatah activists at Ramallah protest
*  Scottish solidarity activists target Israeli fundraising event
*  Protest in London over Israel Turin invitation
*  In Canada, protesters disrupt Israeli ambassador's speech
*  Jaffa to be focus of Palestinian Land Day protest
*  Protests continue in Bil'in; international activist jailed
*  Long list of Gaza solidarity protests
*  Angry Arabs in Israel protest police impunity for killings

Publicly Archived at Global Resistance: 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/globalresistance


http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C03%5C03%5Cstory_3-3-2008_pg4_8

Palestinians protest over Israel's assault on Gaza
NABLUS: Thousands of Palestinians swarmed onto streets across the West Bank 
on Sunday to protest Israel's deadly assault on Gaza Strip.

Around 4,000 people demonstrated in the northern town of Nablus, chanting 
"National unity". Around 2,000 people gathered in the West Bank political 
capital Ramallah, waving flags of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah 
party and green flags of the Islamist Hamas movement.

The crowd called for unity among the two largest Palestinian factions, 
bitterly divided since Hamas drove Abbas's pro-Fatah security forces from 
Gaza in a week of bloody clashes in June. Later, the chanting grew more 
ominous.

"Fatah, you know what to do... send me to Afula," one young man yelled, 
referring to a northern Israeli town near the West Bank hit by several 
suicide bombings during the early years of the latest Palestinian uprising. 
"Martyrdom operation!" he called out as the crowd repeated the line in 
chorus. Meanwhile, in the southern town of Hebron, 15 people were wounded by 
rubber bullets in another demonstration when protesting youths threw stones 
at Israeli forces, said medics. afp

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jGjjxi7m7wXa5t32ls5pGRadARWw

Palestinians protest over Israel's assault in Gaza
Mar 2, 2008
NABLUS, West Bank (AFP) - A teenager was killed and more than 70 people were 
wounded on Sunday when thousands of Palestinians swarmed onto streets across 
the West Bank in protest at Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip.
A 13-year-old boy was killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers in the 
southern town of Hebron, Palestinian medics said, amid initial confusion 
over whether he had been killed by live or rubber bullets.
At least 70 other people were wounded by rubber bullets in and around the 
flashpoint town when protesters began throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers, 
medics said.
One demonstrator was shot in the head and severely wounded, they added.
Another five protesters were wounded by gunshots to the legs in clashes 
south of the West Bank political capital of Ramallah, officials at the 
city's hospital said.
And three others were wounded in clashes with Israeli forces around 
Bethlehem, where some 1,000 demonstrators gathered outside the Church of 
Nativity, revered as the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
Across the West Bank demonstrators protested against an Israeli blitz on 
Gaza that has killed at least 70 people, including children and women, in 
less than two days.
In the biggest gathering, around 4,000 people demonstrated in the northern 
town of Nablus, chanting "National unity! National unity!"
Around 2,000 people in Ramallah waved the flags of Palestinian president 
Mahmud Abbas's Fatah party and also the green flags of his rivals in the 
Islamist Hamas movement.
They called for unity among the two largest Palestinian factions, bitterly 
divided since Hamas drove Abbas's pro-Fatah security forces from Gaza in a 
week of bloody clashes last June.
Later the chants grew more ominous.
"Fatah, you know what to do... send me to Afula!" yelled one young man, 
referring to a northern Israeli town near the West Bank that was hit by 
several suicide bombings during the early years of the latest Palestinian 
uprising.
"Martyrdom operation!" he called out. The crowd echoed him.
In a more subdued demonstration, some 500 schoolchildren marched peacefully 
through the streets of Jericho near the Joranian border, waving Palestinian 
flags.
In mostly Arab east Jerusalem and in the winding alleys of the Old City most 
shops closed their doors in a gesture of solidarity with Gaza, which has 
declared a three-day period of mourning for the victims.
Protests were also held in the Gaza Strip itself, where some 1,000 Fatah 
supporters demonstrated in Khan Yunis in a rare public show of support for 
the pro-Abbas movement in the Hamas-ruled territory.

http://voanews.com/english/2008-02-29-voa74.cfm

Thousands of Palestinians Protest Deadly Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza
By VOA News
29 February 2008

Palestinian children wear white and fake blood as they march during a rally 
against Israeli strikes in Gaza, 29 Feb 2008
Tens of thousands of Palestinians rallied in the Gaza Strip Friday to 
denounce Israel's deadly airstrikes this week, as a senior Israeli official 
threatened a widescale invasion to stop rocket fire from the territory.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh told the rally that the Islamic militant group 
will not be deterred by Israeli military action.
Israeli airstrikes this week in Hamas-controlled Gaza have killed at least 
32 people, about half of them civilians.  Palestinian militants have fired 
scores of rockets, including one that killed an Israeli civilian Wednesday.
Also today, Israel's deputy defense minister told Israeli radio the Jewish 
state has no choice, but to launch a widescale military operation in Gaza. 
He said Israel will use all of its power to defend itself.
He said the more Palestinians intensify rocket fire and extend the reach of 
the rockets, the bigger the "shoah" they will bring upon themselves.
"Shoah" is the Hebrew word for holocaust or disaster.  An Israeli spokesman 
says the deputy defense minister used the word to denote a disaster, not as 
a reference to the Holocaust.
On Thursday, Palestinian gunmen carried out their deepest rocket attack ever 
on Ashkelon, an Israeli coastal city of about 120,000 people, about 40 
kilometers from Tel Aviv.  Previously, the militants had mostly targeted 
Sderot, a small town near Gaza.
A Hamas official said the Islamic militant group targeted Ashkelon in 
response to escalating Israeli airstrikes.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=164115

Thousands of Palestinians protest deadly Israeli raids
GAZA CITY (Agencies) -- Tens of thousands of Palestinians on Friday 
protested against deadly Israeli raids as the Zionist regime mulled a major 
ground invasion in Gaza.
The demonstrators poured into the streets throughout the impoverished and 
isolated territory in response to Hamas calls to denounce Israel's air 
strikes, whose victims include several children.

"They've killed my right to childhood," read a sign held by a child, clad in 
a red-stained white funeral shroud, who attended a large rally in the 
northern town of Jabaliya.

Among the protesters in Gaza City was Khalil al-Hayyah, a Hamas leader who 
lost a 25-year-old son in an Israeli air strike on Thursday.

"We will never recognize Israel, even it it assassinates all our leaders and 
kills our children," he shouted to the crowd.

A senior Hamas official earlier told worshippers at a Gaza City mosque that 
the coastal strip which the Islamic Resistance Movement has ruled for more 
than eight months was faced with war.

"Gaza today faces a real war, a crazy war led by the enemy against our 
people," said Ismail Haniya, the premier in a Hamas-led government which 
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas fired after the Islamists seized control 
of Gaza.

Haniya lashed out at the U.S. administration, which he said backs the 
Israeli attacks by portraying them as "legitimate self-defense." He also 
accused the Arab world of "encouraging the Israeli aggression" through its 
silence.

The 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Persian 
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) later Friday condemned the Israeli raids and 
urged the United Nations to rein in Israel.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/26/gaza.israel

Gazans link hands in protest at Israeli blockade
· Low turnout foils attempt to form 25-mile chain
· Boy, 9, badly wounded by Palestinian rocket attack
Toni O'Loughlin in Jerusalem
The Guardian,
Tuesday February 26 2008

This article appeared in the Guardian on Tuesday February 26 2008 on p20 of 
the International section. It was last updated at 00:40 on February 26 2008.

Palestinians hold hands during a protest calling for the end to the Israeli 
blockade of the Gaza Strip in front of the destroyed metal border wall 
between Egypt and Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, February 25, 2008. 
Photograph: Eyad Bada/AP
Thousands of Palestinians mounted a public protest against Israel's blockade 
on Gaza yesterday but the turnout fell short of the 40,000 to 50,000 that 
organisers had hoped would form a 25-mile human chain from north to south of 
the strip.
While ordinary Palestinians protested peacefully, militants launched several 
rockets at southern Israel, badly wounding a nine-year-old in the town of 
Sderot.
Jamal al-Khadary, of the People's Committee Against the Siege, which 
organised the protest, said neither the low turnout nor the rockets marred 
their message to the international community. "The important thing is to 
tell the world about what's happening in Gaza," he said.
The organisers were hoping to repeat Hamas's success last month when it 
buoyed community spirit and drew international attention to the human effect 
of Israel's isolation of Gaza by blasting open the wall on the border 
between the impoverished territory and Egypt.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians streamed across to buy food, 
medicines, building materials and other items in short supply as a result of 
the blockade.
Israel feared a similar breach would occur yesterday and put its military on 
high alert, deploying extra troops and police officers around Gaza's 
perimeter.
"Israel will work to avoid a deterioration of the situation but declares 
unequivocally that Hamas must assume full responsibility if that happens," 
Israel's foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, and its defence minister, Ehud 
Barak, said in a joint statement.
But yesterday's protest in Gaza was largely peaceful except for a group of 
young Palestinians who broke away at the end and hurled stones at the 
Israeli army, who fired their guns into the air in retaliation. The army 
detained 49 people.
Israel's air force also killed three Hamas militants and wounded at least 
four in two strikes on Gaza early yesterday before the protest began.
Israel began its economic siege last June in an attempt to isolate Hamas 
after it took control of Gaza. The militant Islamic group refuses to 
acknowledge the Jewish state's right to exist. Hamas and other militant 
groups have retaliated by launching rockets and mortar shells into Israeli 
suburbs.
The pressure of the blockade, which has plunged Gaza into poverty, has also 
caused anger among those who voted for Hamas in 2006 in the belief that it 
would clean up corruption and improve services.
Some analysts said yesterday's protest was partially an attempt at 
rebuilding confidence among Gazans.
"In their election promises to the people, it wasn't [about] jihad, it was 
about change and reform, meaning a better life, better services, more 
freedom of movement," said Shalom Harrari at the Institute for Counter 
Terrorism in Herzliya. "But on the contrary, life has become 100% worse 
because of internal factional fighting and the closure of the borders."
An International Crisis Group analyst, Nick Pelham, added that Hamas needed 
to "convince the population that their way was going to work" and as a 
result, it was "re-examining political and military options" for reopening 
Gaza.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/world/story/505451.html

Gaza protest worries Israel
By Rushdi abu Alouf and Richard Boudreaux
Los Angeles Times

BEIT HANOUN, Gaza Strip | As Israelis watched nervously from across the 
border, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip staged parallel protests Monday 
against the Jewish state.
They placed a few thousand placard-waving demonstrators along the main 
highway and fired five rockets into Israel.
One of the rockets injured 10-year-old Yossi Haimov in the town of Sderot as 
an air-raid siren sent him and his 8-year-old sister rushing for cover 
against a wall. He underwent surgery for severe shrapnel wounds in his right 
shoulder.
Israel had braced for a day of trouble. Incoming rocket fire is a near-daily 
occurrence in Sderot and other communities near Gaza, but after a civic 
group linked to Hamas called for a human chain of 40,000 people along the 
strip's 25-mile length, the army sent troops to prevent a mass storming of 
the border.
Thousands of Israeli troops and police were deployed along the border fence 
and were backed, according to Israeli media reports, by an artillery battery 
and a team of snipers.
Turnout for the 2½-hour demonstration, a protest against Israel's blockade 
of the coastal enclave, fell far below expectations.
As the crowd dispersed, about 200 people tried to march to the border, but 
Hamas police turned most back. About 40 teenage boys believed to have been 
throwing rocks were arrested by Israeli border guards.
Palestinian organizers attributed the low turnout to bad weather.
Stepped-up rocket fire from Gaza last month prompted a tightening of 
sanctions, causing chronic shortages of vital supplies of food, medical 
supplies, fuel and electricity. This week, Gaza hospitals reported running 
low on gasoline for ambulances.
Hamas' response to the tighter restrictions alarmed Israeli leaders: 
Militants used explosives last month to knock down part of the wall along 
Gaza's border with Egypt, enabling hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to 
pour across and buy scarce goods.
Predictions had reached a point of hysteria on Israel's airwaves in the 
run-up to Monday's demonstration.
Effie Eitam, an ultranationalist member of the Israeli parliament, told 
Israel Radio: "The mob will stream into our territory. . It will be the end 
of the state of Israel."
Palestinian organizers said that was never the intention.
"This is a peaceful event aimed to send a message to the world that the 
people of Gaza want to live in freedom," said Jamal Khoudary, an independent 
Palestinian lawmaker whose Popular Committee Against the Siege staged the 
protest.
Munir Dwayet, a Palestinian taxi driver who ferried demonstrators to the 
gathering points, told Israel Radio: "I hope this punishment will end and 
calm will return to the people of Sderot as well as to the Palestinians."

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=04c37b9a-4def-47b5-a823-b60d13216f65

Gazans defy Egyptian riot police
Border remains open as Hamas bulldozers make second breach
Matthew Fisher in Jerusalem and Lamia Radi in Rafah, Egypt, The Ottawa 
Citizen; with files from Agence France-Presse
Published: Saturday, January 26, 2008
Egyptian security forces trying to shut the border with Gaza were no match 
yesterday for impoverished Gazans given a feverish glimpse of freedom and 
the creaking shelves of goods in Rafah.
"Let us live, don't shut us out," hundreds chanted as they laid siege to 
shops in the border town for a third consecutive day, resisting initially 
determined attempts by the border police to turn them back.
Many surged through new breaches in the border wall forged by Hamas 
militants using a bulldozer, in brazen defiance of security forces.

Rather than take forceful action against the Gazans, who had been under a 
stringent economic blockade by Israel since Hamas routed Fatah in a brief 
but bloody civil war in the territory, Egyptian forces retreated from the 
chaos for the night, leaving the border once again totally open.
The failure of Egyptian security forces to re-establish sovereignty over the 
border and the small Egyptian border town of Rafah has been a sharp 
embarrassment to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's government.
The audacious new rupture in the border, which came amid the crackle of 
gunfire from the Gazan side, was observed by bearded gunmen wearing the 
black shirts and trousers of Hamas, the radical Islamist group, which seized 
power in Gaza seven months ago.
As night fell, throngs of people continued to cross back and forth over the 
sundered wall, making a mockery of earlier announcements by Egyptian 
security forces that the border would be closed by 1300 GMT.
Stores were doing a brisk trade as Gazans snapped up Chinese-made 
motorbikes, aluminum pots, potato chips, linen bed covers and cement, 
despite the fact that rising demand meant rising prices.
"We need everything back there. Even if you have money, you'll find nothing 
to spend it on," said Mushir al-Shawwa, a Palestinian from Gaza, as a fuel 
tanker quickly found itself under siege.
Palestinians carrying plastic jerrycans tried to convince the driver not to 
deliver his cargo to the local gas station, but to sell it to them instead.
The security forces were barring goods trucks carrying everything from 
blankets to motorbikes from crossing the Suez Canal on their way from Cairo 
to replenish Rafah's rapidly depleting stocks.
Egypt now faces the hard choice of sending reinforcements to close the 
border or find another way out of the crisis. In an attempt to find a 
solution, Mr. Mubarak invited leaders from Hamas and Fatah to meet in Cairo, 
Reuters reported last night. Hamas has spoken before of its ambition to 
jointly manage the Rafah Crossing with Egypt and Fatah representatives, who 
remain the internationally recognized leaders of the Palestinian Authority.
There was also to be a meeting about Gaza in Jerusalem tomorrow between 
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
One of many reasons why Mr. Mubarak has tried to keep Hamas at a distance --  
and its members out of Egypt -- is the fear that the group, which is on 
western terrorist watch lists, might embolden the country's own restive 
Islamic radicals. If Egypt relaxes its strict border controls, the move 
would trouble Israel and incur the wrath of the United States, which 
provides billions of dollars in annual aid.
For Israel, which has been tightening its blockade of the territory for 
months because Hamas does not recognize the Jewish state's right to exist, 
the latest drama presents a quandary. It has opposed Hamas having anything 
to do with Gaza's border with Egypt, but would like nothing better than to 
pass on to Egypt responsibility for providing all essential services to the 
enclave and its 1.5 million Palestinians -- an option Cairo has 
categorically rejected.
The latest crisis arose after Israel cut off all fuel shipments to Gaza in 
retaliation for a huge increase in the number of rockets and mortar attacks 
by Islamic Jihad, the Popular Resistance Committees and Hamas on its border 
communities. Months of retaliatory air strikes and several limited ground 
incursions have also failed to halt the rocket and artillery barrage.
"This has not been good for both Israel and Egypt. Both countries are in a 
delicate situation" said Moshe Ma'oz, professor emeritus of Islamic and 
Middle Eastern Studies at Hebrew University. "This has not been about 
shopping (for Israel) but about arms smuggling. It is not good for Egypt if 
its border is not respected, but it has to respect the opinion of its own 
population, which is sympathetic to the Palestinians."
Meir Litvak of Tel Aviv University's Dayan Centre said that what Hamas had 
achieved on the Egyptian border was "a propaganda coup.
''They have obviously outmanoeuvred Israel,'' he said. ''It will be 
difficult now for Israel to make a complete siege. What has happened at the 
Egyptian border has weakened that strategy. It will be hard for Israel to go 
back to the status quo."
Mr. Litvak, who is an expert on Islamic radicalism, added that while opening 
the border with Egypt poses more security problems for Israel, it also 
undermines the Palestinian argument that Gaza is under Israeli occupation. 
"The Palestinians cannot have it both ways. If the Gaza border is open, then 
Gaza is not closed. And this is not a bad thing for Israel."
Whatever happens to resolve the tense border situation, "Mubarak may be 
forced to get more involved in Gaza," Mr. Litvak said.
Another academic, Barry Rubin, director of Israel's Global Research in 
International Affairs Centre, disputed the contention that Hamas had scored 
propaganda points by its action on the border with Egypt.
"I am not surprised by this perception, but it's a defeat," the historian 
and Israeli political columnist said. "There has been a lot of criticism of 
Hamas in the international media for how they have exaggerated the 
humanitarian situation in Gaza.
"We all know Hamas talks a big game. What they tell the media is one thing. 
They have to pay attention to erosions in their public support and how angry 
Israel gets because that is what effects the number of rockets that Hamas 
launches.
''The question for Israel is what really works to keep the rocket attacks 
below a certain level. Sanctions will remain. Objectively, the pressure is 
still on."
An option that has been much discussed by Israeli academics, the media and 
politicians is the possibility of Israel reoccupying Gaza, from which it 
withdrew its forces and 8,500 settlers in 2005.
"Yes, we can occupy Gaza again, but it will cost both sides dearly, and then 
what?" Mr. Ma'oz said. "All in all, there is no military solution. Israel 
must think of an alternative to starving the Palestinians. This never works. 
It makes them identify more closely with their leadership.
"Perhaps this is an opening for Israel to talk indirectly with Hamas. The 
only way may be to talk with Hamas, even if they don't acknowledge our right 
to exist."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-gaza23jan23,1,1493829.story?coll=la-headlines-world

Gaza border breached; thousands flood into Egypt

Palestinians protesting Egyptian cooperation with Israel's blockade crash a 
crossing gate, curtailing a resumption of aid.
By Rushdi abu Alouf and Richard Boudreaux, Special to The Times
January 23, 2008
GAZA CITY -- Masked gunmen used explosives to blow holes in the Gaza Strip's 
border fence early today, enabling thousands of Palestinians to pour into 
Egypt to buy food, fuel and other supplies that had been cut off because of 
an Israeli blockade, witnesses said.

Egyptian and Palestinian border guards did not resist the mass crossing at 
the Rafah terminal. Witnesses said Palestinian security officials later 
closed some of the breaches but kept two open, allowing Gazans to cross into 
Egypt and return with milk, cigarettes and plastic bottles of fuel.

Hundreds of Gaza women had crashed a gate at the same border Tuesday to 
protest Egypt's cooperation with Israeli sanctions. They were turned back 
during a riot that injured 35 people and curtailed a resumption of food aid 
to the impoverished territory.

Gaza came under total blockade Thursday after a sharp increase in 
Palestinian rocket attacks against Israel. The attacks continued Tuesday, 
but at a reduced rate, with more than 20 rockets landing harmlessly.

Israel nonetheless eased the blockade Tuesday by delivering 317,000 gallons 
of diesel fuel for Gaza's shut-down power plant and for near-empty backup 
generators at hospitals. By evening, lights were back on in much of this 
capital after a two-day blackout.

But the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and the World Food Program 
said the border disturbance prevented 14 of the 24 truckloads of aid they 
had dispatched to Gaza from getting in. The two agencies supply food 
donations to about three-fourths of Gaza's 1.5 million people.

The trouble started at the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt during a 
protest organized by the Islamic militant group Hamas. About 400 women 
chanted accusations against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, calling him a 
coward for sticking to an agreement with the United States and Israel to 
keep the border closed most of the time and Gaza's Hamas-led government 
isolated.

The crowd surged against a tall metal gate and broke through, spilling into 
a no man's land between Gaza and Egyptian territory. Demonstrators hurled 
rocks at Egyptian police officers, who drove them back with clubs, tear gas 
and water cannons.

Hamas border guards waded into the crowd to help restore calm. But their 
warning shots appeared to inflame the situation, prompting Egyptian police 
to start shooting too.

An Egyptian policeman and a Palestinian demonstrator were wounded, medical 
authorities said. Nine other Egyptian police officers and 24 other 
protesters were injured in the hourlong melee.

For a few hours Tuesday, Israel had allowed truckloads of food to pass 
through its Kerem Shalom crossing into Egypt en route to Gaza through the 
Rafah crossing. But the disorder prompted Israel to close the Kerem Shalom 
terminal early.

Goods that got through were distributed quickly to Gazans standing in long 
lines. A shipment of cooking gas from Israel was gone in an hour.

But gasoline stations and most bakeries remained closed. Hospitals pooled 
scarce fuel to maintain surgery and intensive care units while coping with 
dwindling medical supplies and a lack of central heat.

Israeli officials said the food shipments would resume today, along with 
deliveries of enough diesel to keep the power plant operating for a week. 
The plant supplies electricity to most of Gaza City and about one-third of 
the Gaza Strip.

European Union officials, who are handling the diesel deliveries, said 
Israel had authorized them indefinitely.

But Shlomo Dror, an Israeli Defense Ministry spokesman, said he knew of no 
such deal. He said the government would reassess the situation each week.

Israel agreed Monday to ease the blockade after intense criticism from the 
United Nations and European and Arab governments.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, speaking to reporters en route to 
Berlin, said Tuesday that U.S. officials also had voiced concern "about the 
importance of not allowing a humanitarian crisis to unfold" in Gaza.

Israeli officials insisted this week that Gazans were not on the brink of a 
crisis and that the measures were a justified reaction to rocket and mortar 
attacks by Hamas and other militant groups that call for the Jewish state's 
destruction.

International relief workers gave a bleaker picture. They said the effects 
of the closure highlighted how fragile Gaza's network of essential services 
has become since June, when Hamas' violent takeover of the territory 
prompted Israel to cut off most cross-border commerce and start restricting 
fuel and aid deliveries.

"In terms of the supplies coming in today, welcome as they are, they are 
nothing but the first step," John Ging, head of the U.N. relief agency in 
Gaza, told Reuters news agency Tuesday. Without a sustained flow of aid 
shipments, "we will face another disaster very quickly," he said.

Palestine Resistance News posted at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Revolutionary_Diary/

Thousands participate in demonstration in Nazareth, Palestine demanding end 
to siege on Gaza
In response to a call by Abna'a el-Balad, Tajammu' (the Democratic National 
Assembly) and the Islamic Movement, thousands of Palestinians gathered in 
the Court of the well of the Virgin Mary in the city of Nazareth, where the 
march began, before proceeding down Paul VI street. The demonstration 
demanded the immediate breaking of the siege on Gaza and called for national 
unity between all Palestinians, in Palestine and in exile. The demonstrators 
chanted, praising the Palestinian resistance before concluding with a rally.
Comrade Rawia Shanti, member of the Political Bureau of Abna'a el-Balad, 
spoke at the rally, stressing on the continuation of resistance until 
victory and the establishment of the Palestinian state on the entire land of 
Palestine. Comrade Shanti said, "Our people in Gaza are under siege, which 
is a part of the siege that is being imposed on the Palestinian people in 
their entirety. Our people in the occupied homeland since 1948 are also 
under siege. Thirty martyrs have fallen since October 2000 and more than 150 
of our activists and leaders are in the Israeli prisons." She accused 
Israeli leaders and generals of being war criminals, and called for 
Palestinian national unity to uphold Palestinian national constants, 
particularly the right to return and self-determination.

Sheikh Raed Salah, of the Islamic Movement, called upon Abu Mazen and Ismail 
Haniyeh to establish national unity government to confront the U.S. 
terrorism and Israeli occupation and to confront the pressure imposed upon 
our people. Sheikh Salah said, "Every so-called 'agreement' that prevents us 
from reaching to Al-Aqsa and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, we will put 
it under our foot and crush it." Sheikh Salah directed a statement to the 
U.S. government, "You cannot force us to compromise by using the milk of our 
children as a weapon. We tell you that we will crush your U.S. dollars. We 
will not bow."

The General Secretary of the Democratic National Assembly, Awad Abdelfattah, 
in his speech, warned from the international conspiracy against the 
Palestinian people. He said that "the crime in Gaza is an 
American/Israeli-made crime. Its objective is to deepen the Palestinian 
internal division." He further called upon all Palestinian parties to return 
to the national dialogue without conditions. He said to them, "Have mercy on 
our people in exile and in Palestine." Abdelfattah questioned the 
Palestinian leadership, "How can you sit with the Israelis and you cannot 
have a dialogue with your brothers?" He ended his remarks with "Death to 
occupation" and "Break the siege on Gaza immediately."

Other speeches were delivered in the rally by representatives of various 
Palestinian organizations, particularly from the Popular Committee to End 
the Siege on Gaza, who distributed a statement calling for an immediate end 
of the siege and calling for support and solidarity for Palestinians in the 
West Bank and Gaza.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3497082,00.html

East Jerusalem: Hundreds protest Gaza siege
Hundreds of Palestinians gather near Nablus Gate in show of solidarity with 
Gaza's residents and in protest of Israel's sanctions against Strip
Ali Waked
Published: 01.21.08, 20:21 / Israel News

Hundreds of Palestinians attended a rally held near the Nablus Gate in the 
Old City of Jerusalem Monday evening in protest of the Israeli siege on 
Gaza, and the cutting of fuel supply to the Strip, which Palestinians claim 
has led to extensive power outages across the Strip.

The protesters lit candles, held up PLO flags and chanted slogans against 
the closure. Some shouted, "With our spirit and our blood we shall redeem 
you, Gaza," and "Allahu Akbar," and called on the Strip's residents to stay 
strong and fight for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Rally in Jerusalem (Photo: Ali Waked)

One Palestrina in woman who attended the march told Ynet that the 
Palestinians should unite against "the cruel siege on the Gaza Strip" and 
fight the occupation together.

Another young protester said, "I'm a Fatah member, but there's no difference 
between Fatah and Hamas on this issue. The sick and the old who are 
suffering from the blackouts don't care about the political conflict, they 
just want to live."

Most of the businesses and shops in east Jerusalem remained closed Monday, 
as a show of solidarity with Gaza's residents.

Efrat Weiss contributed to the report

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/960847.html

Last update - 00:02 05/03/2008

Thousands protest IDF Gaza offensive in Umm al-Fahm By Yoav Stern, Jonathan 
Lis, and Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Balad, Umm el-Fahm, 
Hadash
"Don't forget that Umm al-Fahm is the underground name for Palestine," Mayor 
Sheikh Hashem Abd al-Rahman told the thousands of demonstrators who gathered 
at one of the city's soccer fields Tuesday to protest against the Israel 
Defense Forces recent operation in the Gaza Strip.

"Our city's streets are narrow but in the hearts of its people there is room 
for all... Use caution as you leave," he said in a fatherly tone to those 
who came to the city for the demonstration.

The Higher Arab Monitoring Committee decided to hold the demonstration in 
the city's old center, away from the main road, in order to prevent clashes 
between hotheaded youths and the police officers deployed on the city's 
outskirts. Despite this precaution, the police reported that some rocks were 
thrown at cars at the intersection leading to the city. No damage or 
injuries were reported. Two young men were arrested.
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As is usual at mass events in Umm al-Fahm, ushers from the Islamic Movement 
were stationed at intersections to direct the demonstrators as efficiently 
as possible. The city's topography foiled the best intentions of the 
organizers, however, as the streets leading to the main venue became 
clogged. Demonstrators were forced to spend at least 15 minutes climbing the 
steep byways just to get to the parade's starting point.

Arab community leaders expressed satisfaction with the turnout, although the 
initial estimates of the crowd numbers proved to be exaggerated. "I would 
have expected twice as many people," one Arab politician told Haaretz, "but 
apparently people knew there were technical difficulties. Apart from that, 
maybe we've already lost the momentum."

One difficulty faced by the monitoring committee is the high cost of 
organizing public events, due to the need to obtain a consensus among all of 
the relevant political parties. On Saturday, when the date for Tuesday's 
demonstration was set, it appeared that the IDF operation was going to 
continue for several more days. In Israel, as in the Arab world, the public 
was greatly affected by the images broadcast from Gaza. The
parties had no problem organizing protest vigils, but by Tuesday a mass 
recruitment of support was difficult and most of the demonstrators were 
local residents.

Those who did attend found themselves at a particularly noisy event clearly 
tilted in favor of youth. Some of the young demonstrators clumsily wrapped 
keffiyehs around their faces in imitation of Palestinian militants, but they 
were exposed when their inexpert knots came undone. The crowd was roused 
with the obligatory chant, "With blood and fire
we will redeem Palestine." Sheikh Ra'ad Salah, the head of the northern 
faction of the Islamic Movement, arrived late at the field where the protest 
march ended, accompanied by a television crew and trailed by demonstrators.

Activists from other organizations did not concede the attention to the 
Islamic Movement. Important figures from Hadash, Balad and Soms of the 
Village were in attendance. There were even a few Jews who came, much to the 
pleasure of the Hadash members.

Large Palestinian flags were evident everywhere, and there was even a Syrian 
flag. "From Gaza to Jenin, one people unbroken," the crowd yelled. Many 
demonstrators wore black-and-white keffiyehs around their necks as a mark of 
solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Despite the impressive VIP turnout, the organizers decided in advance to 
save the public from having to listen to numerous speeches. Only two leaders 
spoke: the mayor, Abd al-Rahman, and the head of the monitoring committee, 
Shuweiki Hatib.

Abd al-Rahman, who is from the Islamic Movement, emphasized the need for the 
rival Fatah and Hamas movements to cooperate. His statement exposed one area 
of disagreement within the Arab public: The Islamic Movement is known to 
support cooperation between Fatah and Hamas, while Hadash and other groups 
stand behind the Fatah position, according to which Hamas fomented a 
revolution in Gaza.

"Our unity is here- from Umm al-Fahm, Sakhnin and Taibeh, from the Triangle, 
the Negev and the Galilee, we call in one voice: The Palestinians must be 
united so that we can create the independent Palestinian state," Abd 
al-Rahman said.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3498945,00.html

Left-wing activists protest Gaza blockade at Erez border crossing
Dozens of buses carrying a thousand leftists arrive at Erez crossing to 
bring food, humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza Strip and to protest 
blockade on enclave. MKs from Balad and Hadash, youth from Sderot take part
Yonat Atlas
Published: 01.26.08, 17:16 / Israel News

More than a thousand left-wing activists made their way to the Erez border 
crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel on Saturday in order to bring 
food and medical equipment to the costal enclave.

The activists held a demonstration against the Israeli-imposed blockade on 
the Strip. Palestinians on the opposite side of the crossing also organized 
a rally of their own.

-------------------------------------------

Jordanians Rally

Jordanians rally in support of Hamas in Gaza / Reuters

Muslim Brotherhood activists march in Amman to protest Israel's closure on 
Gaza, and call on Hamas to resume suicide bombings
Full Story

Twenty-five buses and around 100 cars arrived at Erez from all over Israel. 
The activists collected three tons of food and medical supplies during the 
demonstration. The items will be brought to the Kerem Shalom crossing where, 
according to the protesters, they will be transferred to Palestinians in 
Gaza on Monday.

MK Jamal Zahalka (Balad) attended the event and called for an end to the 
blockade and the reopening of border crossings to the Hamas-held enclave.

"The Israeli government holds the responsibility for the humanitarian 
disaster in Gaza," Zahalka said during the protest. According to the MK, 
Israel is employing "fascist methods" by preventing food and fuel from 
reaching the area.

Palestinians crossing into Egypt to break siege (Photo: AP)

"We'll continue to protest and reveal the war crimes (being carried out) 
against one and a half million Palestinians in the Strip," he said.

Shir Shodzik, 17, a resident of the battered town of Sderot also took part 
in the demonstration in order to express her opposition to the 
Israeli-imposed sanctions. Despite the fact that Shodzik's aunt and cousin 
were injured in a Qassam rocket attack in Zikim, the teen wanted to express 
her dissatisfaction with Israeli government policy vis-à-vis the Gaza Strip.

"I came to show my identification with the Palestinian people. There is no 
need for violence or (the use of) force in order to solve this situation," 
she said.

Shodzik added that she "knows it is absurd that I am taking part in this 
protest," but explained that it is the path she has chosen.

'We won't be party to this crime'
Left-wing activist Uri Avnery made a speech during the rally in which he 
said: "Three days ago, a wall fell here, like the Berlin Wall fell, like the 
separation wall and all walls and fences will fall. But the inhumane closure 
that has been imposed on one and a half million Gaza residents by our 
government and by our army in our name - this closure will continue with all 
its cruelty.

"As Israelis who came here with basic supplies, in our desire to tell the 
Israeli public and the whole world: We won't be part of this crime. We're 
ashamed of this siege," Avnery said.

Avnery added that: "Our hearts are with our Palestinian brothers who are 
demonstrating with us on the other side of the fence. Don't lose hope that 
one day we will meet without fences and walls, without weapons and violence, 
as two nations living together in peace, in friendship, in partnership.

"Our hearts are also with our brothers in Sderot. The Qassam threat must be 
stopped, but it won't be stopped through a policy of an eye for an eye or 
100 eyes for one, because this leaves us all blind. It will end when we 
speak with the other side. Yes, yes, with Hamas," Averny said.

AnnaLynne Kish, an activist from the left-wing New Profile organization also 
took part in the rally. "We decided to come here as a sign of identification 
with the Palestinians in Gaza. The closure on the Strip is inhuman and goes 
against international law. This is an instance of collective punishment.

"We decided to bring food and water to the residents and if only we could 
bring them electricity - we would do this too," she said.

Another Sderot resident who wised to remain anonymous told Ynet in response 
to news of the demonstrations that "for seven years we haven't seen one of 
them in Sderot. They didn't come to (see) us even once after a Qassam 
barrage.

"Suddenly, they discover that the other side is suffering and come to 
protest, but what about our suffering? They should stop trying to look so 
good (in the eyes of others) and return to their strongholds in northern Tel 
Aviv.

"I invite them to spend a week in Sderot with their children. Then it will 
be interesting to see if they continue to protest in favor of the 
Palestinians."

 http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/106610.html

U.S. Arabs protest Israeli blockade of Gaza

Published: 01/25/2008
U.S. Arab groups went to Israel's consulate in New York to protest Israel's 
blockade of Gaza.
Friday's protest outside the offices of Israel's consulate and U.N. mission 
was organized by groups including the Arab Muslim American Federation, the 
National Council of Arab-Americans, the Palestinian American Congress and 
Jews Against the Occupation.
The demonstration Friday was called to protest the tightening of Israel's 
blockade of Gaza, which followed a surge in Gazan rocket attacks on Israel 
and has limited fuel, food aid and supplies flowing into Gaza. Responding to 
the blockade, Hamas this week blew up the Gaza-Egypt border, enabling 
hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to pour into Egypt to stock up on 
supplies.
Ahead of the demonstration in New York, organizers announced that protesters 
would call for an immediate end to the "siege of Gaza," "Israeli war 
 crimes," "targeted assassinations" and killings of Palestinians. The groups 
also said Israel should end its occupation of Palestinian territory and 
stand accountable for war crimes.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=162203

Students protest Israeli crimes in Gaza
TEHRAN (IRNA) -- Hundreds of students member of Basij (volunteer forces) 
gathered at Palestine square, Tehran, on Monday to protest against the 
Zionist crimes in the Gaza Strip.
The students carried placards condemning the Israeli brutality in the Gaza 
Strip and urged international bodies to prevent the Zionists from committing 
more crimes.

The protesters also carried pictures of savage killings of the Palestinian 
youth, children, and women displaying violation of human rights.

They called for the world nations to force Israel to stop massacre of the 
innocent children in the occupied lands.

Demonstrators voiced their anger over the Zionists' savage attacks on the 
occupied territories.

At the end of their gathering, the Basijis signed a scroll expressing 
disgust at genocide of the defenseless Palestinian people by the apartheid 
regime.
Breaking the Siege of Gaza, Taking to the Streets
9:03pm Friday, Mar 7
PALESTINIAN YOUTH NETWORK

http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2008/03/07/pyn-paz-ahora-ism-spain-breaking-the-siege-of-gaza-taking-to-the-streets/

March 5, 2008

Breaking the Siege of Gaza, Taking to the Streets

After three and a half weeks of waiting at Rafah with much needed medicines 
for Gaza, on the evening of Wednesday, March 5, Saif Abu Keshek, General 
Coordinator of the Palestinian Youth Network (PYN) managed to enter the 
besieged Gaza Strip. Carrying 50,000 euros worth of medicines unavailable or 
in very short supply in Gaza, Saif has been at Rafah since February 12, 
2008, waiting for permission to enter, each day told to wait a little 
longer. "I finally made it in," said Saif, but there are tons more aid for 
Gaza in dozens of trucks, still held up at the border."

Last week's Israeli military onslaught on Gaza, which killed over 120 
Palestinians, many of them women and children, was met with deafening 
silence from government leaders and international agencies. This reality 
should not only sadden and enrage us, but also make us realize how important 
it is that civil society steps up to defend human rights in the face of 
organized impotence. Saif's entry into Gaza shows that the siege can be 
broken, but it needs pressure and persistence and pressure, which 
governments and the United Nations are not willing to exert.

On the evening of Sunday, March 2, Palestinians young and old took to the 
streets of Ramallah banging loudly on pots and pans, blowing whistles, and 
screaming for people to wake up! See video: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvhtUkVd2VY
Wake up we must. We must wake up and believe that we indeed have the power 
to effect change; then we must organize to show our representatives and 
decision-makers our strength.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1200572519983&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Jan 22, 2008 18:39 | Updated Jan 22, 2008 18:42
Hamas and Fatah loyalists scuffle during protest against blockade
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
RAMALLAH, West Bank

Fist fights broke out between Palestinians loyal to rival Hamas and Fatah 
during a demonstration in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday to 
protest Israel's sealing off of Gaza.
Men swung fists at each other in scuffles in downtown Ramallah after youths 
from the Fatah youth movement tried to break up a protest by the Islamic 
Hamas. The Fatah men, waving the black and white checkered flag of their 
movement, waded into the protest by some 150 Hamas activists, and pushed 
them out of the square, setting off the fistfights.
Associated Press TV filmed two men pushing a youth against a car, appearing 
about to hit him, before others intervened. "We want your head, Zahar," the 
Fatah loyalists shouted, referring to Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas leader 
in Gaza.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gD-E7E_IrcMkCLx2Ouqu6IY9f-DAD8V66OAG4

Syrians Protest Israeli Attacks in Gaza
By ALBERT AJI - Mar 3, 2008
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) - Tens of thousands of Syrians filled the central 
square of the capital Monday to protest an Israeli offensive in the Gaza 
Strip that has left scores of Palestinians dead.
Thousands more held similar protests in Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan.
The Syrians chanted slogans against Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and 
called on Arab leaders to take a tough stand on U.S. support for Israel.
"With soul and blood we sacrifice ourselves for you Palestine," the crowd 
shouted in central Damascus.
Fighting in Gaza has killed 121 Palestinians and three Israelis since 
Wednesday, one of the bloodiest spates of violence in more than seven years 
of clashes. Half the dead were civilians, according to Palestinian medical 
officials and the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem.
Israeli troops withdrew from northern Gaza on Monday, but Israeli airstrikes 
and Palestinian rocket attacks persisted into the night. Israel launched the 
offensive in response to rocket fire by the Islamic militants of Hamas.
The Syrians carried pictures of Palestinian children they said were killed 
in the fighting. Banners at the protest read "No to Arab silence," "Death to 
America" and "Death to Israel."
"Are the Gazan children terrorists?" said Mohammad Zaraa, 20, one of the 
protesters.
Many Arab governments have denounced the Israeli strike, while moderate 
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has suspended peace talks with Israel.
State and independent media in Arab countries have carried daily stories on 
the Israeli attacks in Gaza with pictures of wounded children and women.
In neighboring Lebanon, about 2,000 students - supporters of the militant 
Hezbollah group - demonstrated against the Israeli attacks outside the U.N. 
building in downtown Beirut. Hezbollah drew thousands more for a similar 
rally later in the day in Beirut's southern suburbs.
In Egypt, about 2,000 students demonstrated in al-Azhar University in the 
southern town of Assiut. Another thousand students demonstrated on Cairo 
University's campus.
In Jordan, thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets of Karak, 
125 miles south of the capital Amman, calling on the international community 
to stop the "Israeli machine of destruction."
Associated Press writers Omar Sinan and Shafika Mattar contributed to this 
report from Cairo, Egypt and Amman, Jordan.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7205403.stm

Last Updated: Wednesday, 23 January 2008, 17:00 GMT

E-mail this to a friend Printable version

Egypt cracks down on Gaza protest

Routed demonstrators regrouped at the lawyers' syndicate
Egyptian police have rounded up hundreds of members of the Muslim 
Brotherhood group accused of holding illegal protests against Israel.
Riot and plainclothes police broke up a pro-Palestinian demonstration near 
the Arab League headquarters in central Cairo with batons and tear gas.
The protest was called to press the Egyptian government to do more to help 
people in the blockaded Gaza Strip.
The arrests come amid a crackdown on the Brotherhood ahead of council polls.
Security forces chased Brotherhood members through the streets of central 
Cairo as they gathered in Tahrir Square, but demonstrators were able to 
regroup away from the planned protest venue.
Protesters shouted: "Gaza residents, we are with you night and day" and 
"Keep strong Haniya, don't let go of your gun" in reference to the ousted 
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of the militant Hamas movement that 
controls Gaza.
Security officials, quoted by Associated Press news agency, said 460 
members, including leading figures, had been rounded up to prevent the 
demonstration.
Security sources say police had earlier in the week arrested more than 50 
Brotherhood members in raids in Cairo, Alexandria and parts of the Nile 
Delta.
Blockade
The non-violent Brotherhood is Egypt's most popular opposition group; it is 
banned by law, but activists participate in elections as independent 
candidates.
Egypt has been kept under emergency rule since 1981, giving the authorities 
sweeping powers to quash demonstrations and arrest suspects.
Brotherhood leaders have been accusing the Egyptian government of 
collaborating in Israel's blockade of Gaza to put pressure on Hamas, with 
which the Brotherhood shares close ties.
However, on Wednesday many of the border defences were breached from the 
Gaza side and Egyptian security forces stood by as Gazans streamed across to 
buy food and other supplies.
Israel says its blockade is to stop Palestinian militants firing rockets 
into southern Israel, but it has been condemned as collective punishment by 
the European Union and international agencies.
Egypt is preparing to hold municipal elections by March after a postponement 
of two years.
In the 2005 parliamentary elections, the Brotherhood sent shockwaves through 
the ruling National Democratic Party by attracting strong support, winning 
one-fifth of seats despite what observers said was an unfair vote.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/947165.html

Last update - 18:55 22/01/2008

Israeli Arabs protest Gaza crisis; rightists stage counter-protest By 
Haaretz Service and The Associated Press Tags: Israeli Arabs, Ahmed Tibi
Hundreds of Israeli Arabs demonstrated on Tuesday near the Erez crossing on 
the Gaza border, protesting Israel's blockade on Gaza and calling it a "war 
crime," Army Radio reported.

The protesters, which included Arab MKs Ahmed Tibi (Hadash) and Wasil Taha 
(Balad), tried to send a truckload of food and medical supplies into Gaza.

The Arab protesters were faced with a counter-demonstration set up by 
right-wing activists. National Union MK Effi Eitam attacked Tibi: "He is a 
traitor. As far as I'm concerned, he and his family can move to Gaza."
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"What infuriates me most is Tibi's cowardice," Eitam continued. "We're 
fighting, Hamas and Jihad are fighting, but Tibi has a finger in every pie. 
He supports Qassam fire and stirs hatred against IDF soldiers - he is 
protecting himself. I call him Doctor Blood."

Tibi's response to Eitam soon followed: "I find his style deplorable. I have 
no respect whatsoever for the soldiers of the occupation. What's going on in 
Gaza is immoral; it's the most criminal, despicable and monstrous siege."

Tibi said he has received distressed phone calls from Gaza. "It's 
unacceptable that people can't operate life support machines. The most 
painful thing is that they've run out of body bags."

10 Egyptian police, 60 Palestinians injured in scuffle on Gaza border

Hundreds of Palestinian protesters briefly broke through the Egypt-Gaza 
border terminal Tuesday, pushing back helmeted Egyptian riot police who 
fired in the air to try to contain the crowd.

The Palestinians were demanding Egypt open the Rafah crossing to let goods 
into Gaza, after Israel closed its borders with the coastal territory last 
week. Ten Egyptian police and about 60 protesters were hurt in melee, in 
which protesters hurled stones and Palestinian gunmen fired briefly in the 
air.

One of the injured police officers sustained a gunshot wound and was 
hospitalized in serious condition, medical sources said.

Israel temporarily lifted the blockade on Tuesday to allow fuel and medicine 
shipments into the coastal territory for the next three days.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h_QoXogcNDwHlsKrAQsjPJFHgWnA

Thousands protest against Gaza blockade
Jan 25, 2008
AMMAN (AFP) - More than 3,000 people held an anti-Israeli and anti-US 
protest in the centre of the Jordanian capital on Friday against Israel's 
more than week-long blockade of the Gaza Strip.
"God is the greatest, and America is the enemy of God," chanted the 
demonstrators, in a protest called by Jordan's opposition parties, including 
the Islamic Action Front, and trade unions.
"God is the greatest, and Israel is the enemy of God," rang out from the 
protesters, who carried Jordanian and Palestinian flags, and burnt those of 
Israel and its ally, the United States.
Hundreds of thousands of Gazans have poured into Egypt to stock up on 
desperately needed supplies since the Palestinian territory's border with 
Egypt was blasted open on Tuesday night.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called on Egypt to control its 
border as Israel defended its week-old Gaza lockdown that has raised fears 
of a humanitarian crisis in the impoverished Hamas-ruled territory.
In Doha, thousands of Qataris and expatriates demonstrated after the weekly 
Friday prayer in mosques against the Israeli army's raids, with participants 
chanting slogans in support of Hamas.
"Oh (Ismail) Haniya, Oh (Mahmud) Zahar... You are the sword, we are the 
fire," chanted the protestors in support of the Hamas leadership besieged in 
Gaza. "We are ready to fuel the lanterns of Gaza with our blood."

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2008/887/eg6.htm

Consistent demands
Students take the lead in protests denouncing Israel's carnage in Gaza, with 
demonstrators demanding Egypt unilaterally open the Rafah border, reports 
Serene Assir

Click to view caption
Demonstrators voice their anger against Israel's carnage

In response to Israel's brutal incursion into the occupied Gaza Strip which 
began last Friday and during the course of which at least 115 Palestinians 
have been killed, Egyptians voiced their anger in a series of 
demonstrations. The largest came on Sunday when over 1,000 students at Cairo 
University called for an immediate end of the incursion, as well as the 
siege of Gaza. Protesters also demanded that Egypt open the Rafah terminal 
unilaterally.
"Though the protest began inside university grounds gradually we made our 
way to the gate and broke through the police line," said fourth- year law 
student and member of the Socialist Students organisation May El-Bassiouni. 
Reiterating the stand of opposition movements, she added that, "we also 
demanded Israel's diplomatic presence in Egypt be expelled".
On Monday action shifted to the Bar Association in downtown Cairo. "As 
Egyptians we understand how important it is that our voice is heard on this 
issue. The fate of the Palestinians is inextricably linked to that of 
Egypt," said Naglaa El-Qalioubi, a member of the executive committee of 
Al-Amal Party. "The Arab people are one," she insisted. Representatives from 
Kifaya, Al-Amal and the Socialist Revolutionaries were all present at the 
Bar Association demonstration, chanting slogans that included jihad and 
muqawma (resistance).
The country's strongest opposition movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, also 
took to the streets, with the group's MPs walking from Tahrir Square to the 
parliament building in protest. Activists from the movement were present at 
both the Cairo University and the Lawyers' Syndicate protests. In addition 
the Brotherhood issued an official statement, signed by Supreme Guide Mahdi 
Akef, condemning the incursion as part of a "great international conspiracy 
the goal of which is to empty Palestine of its people". The statement went 
on to condemn Arab and Muslim leaders for their refusal to act.
On Tuesday a smaller protest, attracting just 100 demonstrators, was held on 
the steps of the Press Syndicate. As during Monday's protests, demonstrators 
held placards depicting Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah and distributed 
pamphlets calling on Egypt to unilaterally lift the siege of Gaza by opening 
its border. "Down with America, down with its clients!" shouted protesters.
There was disappointment among some of the demonstrators at the silence of 
the bulk of Egypt's civil society. "It is unfortunate that so many of our 
institutions have been infiltrated to the extent that even the average 
Egyptian, who feels solidarity with the Palestinians, no longer believes in 
the possibility of change," said protester Rabaa Fahmi. "What the Egyptians 
need is a change of government. The government is opposed to any action in 
solidarity with the Palestinians because it exposes the government's own 
lack of popular support. Until our government changes we cannot expect that 
the voices of ordinary Egyptians will be heard beyond our borders."
The previous day workers at Ghazl Al-Mahalla textile factory had been 
prevented from holding a planned demonstration in solidarity with the people 
of Gaza by a massive police presence. People in the town have now 
rescheduled the action for Thursday. The factory workers have a reputation 
for organisation and successfully securing their demands, convening protests 
and strikes that have involved up to 15,000 people.
Protesters also criticised what they believed was a lack of proper care by 
the government when four of the wounded Palestinians who were allowed to 
enter into Egypt died. "We did what we could for them, but their condition 
was so grave," said an administrative source at Arish General Hospital.
However small the protests those participating remain committed to ending 
the siege of Gaza, by unilateral Egyptian actions if necessary. "The key is 
that we show consistency," said Mohamed Abdel-Qoddous, head of the Liberties 
Committee at the Press Syndicate.
A demonstration has been planned for Friday at Al-Azhar Mosque, in defiance 
of a government ban on all protests at religious sites.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hcHEoz6s0ii6hET0qP4-ThjQqx9w

Palestinian activists protest as Goldie Hawn entertains Israel fundraiser
Mar 9, 2008
GLASGOW, Scotland - Pro-Palestinian activists beating drums and blaring 
horns have protested a visit by Hollywood actress Goldie Hawn to an Israeli 
charity's fundraising dinner.
Around 150 demonstrators marched on Glasgow's Hilton hotel, where the 
actress was speaking to supporters of the Jewish National Fund.
The fund is Israel's main land distributor. But the Palestine Solidarity 
Campaign, which organized the protest, believes it is a racist organization 
and criticized Hawn for lending her support.
Israel's Supreme Court has ordered the JNF to change its policy of selling 
property only to Jews.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Egyptian govt blocks solidarity delegation to Gaza

Thursday, 03 April 2008
Protest against the complicity of the EU in the genocide

On March 31, 2008, an international delegation with some 30 participants 
from the Basque country, Austria, Scotland, Norway, Iceland, Italy, 
Netherlands, France, Spain, Greece, USA, Turkey, Palestine, Jordan and India 
was determined to reach Rafah, in order to bring relief to the besieged 
Palestinian people in Gaza and to extend our solidarity with their 
courageous resistance.

But the Egyptian security forces halted the delegation at Baladua, 190 km 
from the border. After staging a protest at the check point we began to walk 
towards Rafah, since our bus was blocked from moving ahead. Finally, after 
the police was blocking the road, taking away our passports and threatening 
us with arrest, we decided to take our protest back into Cairo itself. A 
rally was staged outside of the delegation of the European Union.

We received encouraging support from the Egyptian people and from the media. 
It is our fervent appeal to the governments and the peoples of the world to 
pressurize the Israeli Apartheid State, the US, the EU as well as the 
Egyptian government to end the genocidal siege of Gaza.

This year we commemorate that 60 years have passed since the Nakba, the 
catastrophe, expulsion and ethnic cleansing that followed in the wake of the 
establishment of the Zionist state of Israel. As the Israeli government 
threatens with a new holocaust on the Palestinian population in Gaza, we 
cannot remain silent. While the governments of Europe do not say a word to 
stop the Israeli war crimes, we represent the consciousness of all those in 
Europe who understand that the people of Gaza should not be punished for 
their democratic choice of electing Hamas as their government.

We proved our point; the complicity of the European governments on the 
inhuman and disastrous US-Israeli embargo imposed on Gaza. This was a 
further step of a series of actions we intend to take from now, in order to 
raise the issue of the siege on Gaza and to lift it on the ground. We call 
every descent human being to work with us in this direction.

-------------------------------------------------------------

European campaign against the siege on Gaza
April 1, 2008, Cairo


PROTEST IN LONDON AGAINST ISRAEL'S INVITATION TO TURIN BOOK FAIR

On Monday 31 March over two dozen people picketed the Italian Embassy in 
London with placards, banners and loudhailers, calling for a boycott of the 
Turin Book Fair, which has invited Israel as the "guest of honour".
Protesters were appalled that the President of the Italian Republic has 
added his weight to this decision by publicising his intention to open this 
Book Fair on May 8, even though this is in the week of Nakba - the 60th 
anniversary of the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people by the Israeli 
state.
Jewish anti-Zionist women and men in the Global Women's Strike and Payday 
men's network, who called the picket, and activists from Jews for Boycotting 
Israeli Goods (J-BIG) and Camden - Abu Dis Friendship Association (CADFA) 
were vocal in their denunciation of Israel's deputy defence minister 
Vilnai's call for a "shoah" - a holocaust - against people in Gaza.  A 
speaker from the Utility Workers Union of America (AFL-CIO) decried that the 
AFL leadership had helped support and finance the occupation.
Anti-Book Fair demonstrations at the weekend in Turin, Rome & Milan were 
reported to the picket. Over 700 people had rallied in Turin's main square, 
with street theatre and a photo exhibition; and there were sit-ins at 
Feltrinelli bookshops in Milan and Rome because they announced that they 
would take part in the Book Fair.  The police attacked the demonstrators in 
Milan following an afternoon of provocation by Zionists, who tried to tear 
up one of the banners.
Representatives of the London picket tried to deliver a letter of protest to 
the Ambassador, but the carabiniere representing the Embassy said that the 
Ambassador would not accept the letter without an appointment!  A 
demonstrator commented on her loudhailer that "They'd rather welcome Israeli 
Zionists!"
Demonstrators, who were also from Canada, Egypt, Germany, Iran, Israel, 
Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, Turkey and the US, were incensed at the 
Ambassador's refusal and declared that they would contact their networks to 
flood the Embassy with letters.

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=55b9b33a-fad4-4943-9ff1-456027a70862&k=14360

Protesters disrupt Israeli ambassador's speech
The Gazette
Published: Wednesday, April 09

In spite of security precautions, some 25 pro-Palestinian demonstrators 
pushed their way into a major midtown hotel to disrupt a luncheon speech by 
Israeli ambassador to Canada, Alan Baker.

Shouting 'Free Palestine' and 'Refugees Will Return', protesters managed to 
evade hotel security. Uniformed Montreal police officers burst through two 
doors as Baker was in mid-speech.

The demonstrators, part of the social activist group Tadamon, were forced to 
leave the Queen Elizabeth Hotel after some 10 minutes. There were no 
arrests.
Baker was speaking about Canada-Israel relations to 110 people at a luncheon 
sponsored by the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations.

"It's regrettable that they managed to find their way up to the hall, but 
these things happen," Baker said after the incident.

Asked to comment on what appeared to be a security breach, Baker said, "I am 
a diplomat and I wouldn't want to comment one way or the other."

Council president Pierre Lemonde said he "deplores and profoundly regrets 
the incident."

"I don't know what happened exactly ... Montreal police called for 
reinforcements, and there were insufficient numbers at the beginning," he 
said, referring to the three uniformed cops on duty prior to the 
demonstration.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/967037.html

Jaffa to be focus of Israeli Arab protest on 32nd Land Day By Yigal Hai, 
Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Land Day, Israeli Arabs
For the first time in the event's 32-year history, Jaffa is to be one of the 
main centers of Land Day, which will be marked on Friday. The decision was 
made by the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee in response to a request from 
representatives of Jaffa's Popular Committee to Defend the Right to Housing 
and Land. Jaffa's Popular Committee seeks to focus attention on the housing 
shortage for Jaffa's Arab population.

The Jaffa event, which organizers described as a joint Arab-Jewish one, will 
include a rally and a protest march. The other main venues for this year's 
Land Day commemoration are Arabeh and Kalansua.

According to leaders of Jaffa's Popular Committee, in the past two years the 
Israel Lands Administration and the Amidar Public Housing Authority have 
issued eviction requests to 500 Arab families in Jaffa, mainly in the Ajami 
neighborhood, on the grounds that they invaded the properties and engaged in 
illegal construction.
The first Land Day took place on March 30, 1976, when the Arab public held a 
protest strike against the expropriation of lands in the Galilee "for 
purposes of security and settlement." Six demonstrators were shot and killed 
by Israeli forces in Sakhnin, Taibeh, Arabeh and Kafr Kana when protests 
turned violent.

Since then, Israeli Arabs have commemorated Land Day annually in various 
locations with rallies, protest marches and other events.

The Jaffa activists say the city has never been the site of a major Land Day 
event, although small demonstrations - the last of which was about 10 years 
ago - have been held there.

"Usually the main events are in the Galilee, in the Triangle [formed by the 
communities of Baka al-Garbiyeh, Taibeh and Tira] or in the Negev," Gabi 
Abed, deputy chairman of Rabita - the League for the Arabs of Jaffa, said. 
"Only rarely are major events held in the mixed cities. Due to the sensitive 
situation in Jaffa, this year we want to sound an alarm in the face of the 
establishment, Abed said.

According to one of the founders of the Jaffa Popular Committee, Fadi 
Shabita, "The eviction requests that were sent to residents of Jaffa are a 
continuation of the same land policy that led to the first Land Day. The 
holding of Land Day in the city is a way of stepping up our expression, of 
saying that we will not quietly accept this process."

http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2008/01/23/maariv-leviev-boasts-a-contribution-that-never-existed-2/
International arrested at Bil'in demonstration still in jail
January 23rd, 2008 | Posted in Bil'in Village, Photos

On Friday 14th March, dozens of residents from the village of Bil'in, joined 
by Israeli and international activists, protested against the illegal 
annexation of their land by Israel's segregation wall. 6 demonstrators were 
injured, while one international was kidnapped and arrested as Israeli 
soldiers charged the demonstration. American activist Blake Murphy appeared 
in court today (15th March) as the judge extended his detention until the 
18th March.

The non-violent demonstration moved along the wall before being attacked by 
the army with steel-coated rubber bullets, tear gas and sound bombs. The 
Israeli army then attacked the demonstration, tackling Blake Murphy to the 
ground, sprayed mace into his eyes and violently assaulting him as well as 
other demonstrators. One other protester was also maced as the soldiers 
carried out their kidnapping.

As the soldiers were retreating to the wall they then shot an Israeli 
activist in the leg from close range with a rubber-coated steel bullet 
causing serious injury. Another two protesters were also shot by rubber 
bullets, one in the side of the head and the other in the hand.

Blake Murphy appeared in Israeli court on the 15th March, with the judge 
agreeing to extend his detention for a further three days before a decision 
on his future will be made.

The army attack Bil'in non-violent protest: six injured, one kidnapped
Friday March 14, 2008 15:01
Dozens of residents of Bil'in, a village near Ramallah, took to the streets 
on Friday in their weekly demonstration protesting against the illegal 
confiscation of village land through Israel's continued expansion of the 
wall.
The residents were joined by many international and Israeli peace activists. 
Israeli troops manning the wall and the gate in the wall that cuts off the 
villagers from their lands showered the protesters with tear gas and rubber 
coated steal bullets as soon as the protesters arrived at a military 
blockade nearby.

In addition, when the protestors arrived back to the village, Israeli troops 
attacked them at the entrance of the village with rifle butts and batons. 
Eyewitnesses told IMEMC that soldiers also used sprayed the eyes of the 
peace protesters with pepper spray.

In total, six people were injured, among them a freelance European 
journalist known as Tom.

The other five were known as Iran, an Israeli activist who was shot in the 
leg by Israeli troops; Scern, from Israel, shot in the hand with a 
rubber-coated steal bullet; Cope, also from Israel, was attacked with pepper 
spray; Aiad Burnat was beaten up by the soldiers; in addition to Jake from 
the USA, who was beaten up and kidnapped by the army.
For more information:
The Bilin Friends of  freedom and Justice -society
Email: majdarmajdar at yahoo.com
Tel:  972 547 847 942
http://www. Ffj-bilin.org
ffj.bilin at yahoo.com


On March 12, 2008 Students For Justice In Palestine will be hosting a 
Emergency Die-In Protest to voice opposition against
the ongoing genocidal Israeli policies against the beseiged Palestinian 
people of Gaza.
http://aycu05.webshots.com/image/44724/2004671636706912077_rs.jpg


UPDATED LISTING OF DEMONSTRATIONS TO BREAK THE SILENCE ON GAZA!
The following is a partial listing of emergency protests taking place over 
the next few days in the US, Europe and Australia. If you are planning your 
own protest for Gaza, please write to info at al-awda.org so we can post 
information about your action on our website http://al-awda.org .
Anaheim, California: Saturday, January 26, 1 PM 512 S. Brookhurst St. 
Between Orange Ave. & Broadway
Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana: Tuesday January 22, 11 AM at 
the Quad
Charlotte, North Carolina: Saturday January 26, 4 PM Forum, Charlotte Energy 
Solutions, 337 Baldwin Ave; Organized by Charlotte Action
Chicago, Illinois: Tuesday January 29, 5 PM at the Lakeshore Theater, 3175 
North Broadway (at benefit for the Friends of the 'Israeli Defense Force'). 
Initiated by ISM. Call 773-463-0311 for more information.
Cleveland, Ohio: January 26, 2 PM at Cleveland's Market Square at W. 25th & 
Lorain Avenue, across  from the West Side Market - March  to West 25th and 
Franklin
Costa Mesa, California: Friday, January 25, 5-7 PM, vigil at Bristol & Anton
Edinburgh, Scotland: Wednesday January 23, 5.30 PM at the foot of the Mound, 
Princes Street.
Glasgow, Scotland: Friday January 25, 5.30 PM George Square.
London, England: Thursday January 24, 6 PM and Saturday January 26, 4 PM 
Opposite 10 Downing Street, Whitehall.
Melbourne, Australia: Details to be posted.
Montreal, Canada: Wednesday January 23, 5 PM, Phillips Square, Saint 
Catherine Street opposite The Bay department store (Metro McGill) and Friday 
January 25, 2:00 PM
De Maisonneuve Boulevard corner of MacKay Street, Montreal (Metro 
Guy-Concordia).
New York, New York: Friday January 25, 3 PM, and Saturday Janusary 26 1 PM - 
both at the 'Israeli' Embassy, 43rd St. and 2nd Ave.
Paris, France: Wednesday January 23, 5:30 PM at the Palais de l'Elysee.
Phoenix, Arizona: January 26, 6:30 PM Downtown Tempe, at the corner of Mill 
Ave and University Drive.
San Diego, California: Friday January 25, 3:00 - 5:30 PM downtown corner of 
Broadway and Front Street.
San Francisco, California: Friday, January 25, 4-6 PM, Israeli Consulate, 
456 Montgomery St. (near California).
Seattle Washington: Friday January 25 4 PM, Westlake Park, 4th & Pine 
streets.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Saturday January 26, 12 Noon at 12th & Phillips
St. Paul, Minesota: Friday January 25, 4:15-5:30 P.M., Corner of Summit and 
Snelling Aves
Toronto, Canada: Friday January 25, 5 PM Israeli Consulate at 180 Bloor St. 
West
Washington DC: Friday January 25, 4 PM at the Israeli Embassy, 3514 
International Dr. N.W.
BREAK THE SILENCE ON GAZA!
DON'T DELAY! TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/11698E07-9AED-4E08-898B-F24CD0FC100D.htm

Angry Arabs protest in Israel

About 15,000 people took part in the protest
in Sakhnin in Northern Israel [AFP]

Israeli Arabs have staged mass strikes in the north of the country in 
protest against a government decision to end an inquiry into a police 
shooting which killed 13 people.

On Friday Arab owned shops in the town of Sakhnin completely shut down while 
three quarters of stores in Nazareth also closed in protest.

The strike comes after Menahem Mazuz, the Israeli attorney general, 
announced on Sunday that there would be no legal action against police over 
the death of 12 Arab Israelis and a Palestinian in October 2000.

The decision has led to relatives accusing the justice system of 
discrimination.

A 2003 state commission found that the police were largely to blame for the 
civilian deaths during protests in Sakhnin in support of the Palestinian 
uprising.

On Monday, a group of Arab Israeli representatives, the so-called "Follow-up 
Committee", urged all Arab Israeli businesses and public services to join a 
general strike in protest at the closure of the investigation.

Thousands of protesters took part later in a demonstration in central 
Sakhnin.

Police prejudice

Mazuz said there was insufficient proof for a conviction and that the 
families of the victims would not allow post-mortems to be carried out for 
ballistics purposes.

Representatives of the Arab minority reacted angrily to the news.

Shawki Khatib, the head of the Follow-up Committee, accused Israel of 
"giving its backing to the murder of Arab citizens".

Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin reporting from Sakhnin said: "The organisers of 
today's event have put the number of Palestinians participants at about 
15,000.

"Today the Palestinians came here, had a loud message....They wanted the 
world to know that they live in a system where they cannot get any justice."

The Orr Commission's report of September 2003 found that government 
prejudice and police incompetence lay at the heart of the incidents during 
the pro-intifada demonstration.

Israel's Arab minority today accounts for 1.2 million of Israel's 
seven-million population.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3499793,00.html

Arabs plan strikes, protests in response to Mazuz decision
Following Attorney General Menachem Mazuz's decision to close case of 
October 2000 riots, Arab sector set to embark on protest marches, strike on 
Friday
Sharon Roffe-Ofir
Published: 01.28.08, 16:30 / Israel News

General strike coupled with appeals to international bodies - The Higher 
Arab Monitoring Committee has decided that these are the proper responses to 
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz's decision to close the case against the 
police officers involved in the riots of October 2000, which left 13 
Israeli-Arabs dead.

A general Arab sector strike is planned for Friday and will take place 
alongside protest marches in Israeli-Arab cities and towns. The largest 
demonstration is expected to take place in Sakhnin.

"We were responsible enough in the last seven years to deal with this case 
through Israeli legal channels. Unfortunately, the legal institutions pushed 
us aside and we will (now) seek justice out through international legal 
bodies," Shawki Khatib, chairman of the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee 
said in a conversation with Ynet.

Khatib said that Israeli Jews should "ask themselves - if those murdered, 
the dead, had been Jews, would they not have sought out the guilty 
(parties)."

During a meeting of the Monitoring Committee, United Arab List-Ta'al 
Chairman MK Ibrahim Sarsur said: "I don't expect an appeal to international 
channels (to lead to) someone doing something, or that the International 
Court of Justice will try someone. By appealing to them, we're trying to 
prevent the next murder and make the leaders of the State of Israel regain 
their senses and wake up, because if not, I am afraid that the state of 
relations between Jews and Arabs, which was in a fragile state to being 
with, will deteriorate and come to a dead end."

Earlier Monday, President Shimon Peres said that he did not believe that 
"Mazuz was looking to cover anything up, apparently from a legal perspective 
there wasn't enough evidence." Peres made the remarks during a tour of 
Nazareth and Nazareth Illit.

"In a democratic country, there is a judicial, legislative and executive 
branch. I am not in the legislative branch and I don't need to rate it. That 
being said, I don't think (Mazuz) was trying to cover anything up," Peres 
added.

He said he was aware of the anger within the Arab sector following the 
controversial decision.