Hands Off Gaza Protest, Sat 3 Jan

[Stobart Stopper]

I might be up for some of this. If I can get there in time.

 

[mauvais]

I might be, but I'm not particularly inspired.

 

[krtek a houby]

I'll be there. I caught some of the demo last week and people in the area were generally in favour of it.

The likes of Zachor are in the minority of knee-jerk, reactionary panty-sniffing armchair generals, I wouldn't get too hot under the collar about him. I've scraped more interesting specimens off my left-wing shoe

 

[dessiato]

I wonder why nobody ever thinks to ask Palestine to stop bombing Israel?

Hamas decided to not continue the truce, then started sending missiles randomly into Israel killing civilians.

So, as you asked, why not get Hamas to stop killing Israelis?

Hamas has declared itself to be a terrorist organisation with the aim of destroying Israel. The UK or any other nation would not allow themselves to be attacked like this without some reaction. Why should Israel?

Why not protest against Hamas actions?

 

[In Bloom]

Hamas has declared itself to be a terrorist organisation with the aim of destroying Israel.

Has it really? When did it do that then?

Incidentally, I don't suppose you know how many Israelis have been killed since Hamas renewed their terrible onslaught against them?

 

[peacepete]

a post on the indymedia newswire suggests things are getting quite heated at the embassy. anyone know anything more?

 

[barney_pig]

Has it really? When did it do that then?

Incidentally, I don't suppose you know how many Israelis have been killed since Hamas renewed their terrible onslaught against them?

perhaps you should pay attention

Moreover, if the links have been distant from each other and if obstacles, placed by those who are the lackeys of Zionism in the way of the fighters obstructed the continuation of the struggle, the Islamic Resistance Movement aspires to the realisation of Allah's promise, no matter how long that should take. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him salvation, has said:

"The Day of Judgement will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. Only the Gharkad tree, (evidently a certain kind of tree) would not do that because it is one of the trees of the Jews." (related by al-Bukhari and Moslem).

Article Twenty-Two:
For a long time, the enemies have been planning, skillfully and with precision, for the achievement of what they have attained. They took into consideration the causes affecting the current of events. They strived to amass great and substantive material wealth which they devoted to the realisation of their dream. With their money, they took control of the world media, news agencies, the press, publishing houses, broadcasting stations, and others. With their money they stirred revolutions in various parts of the world with the purpose of achieving their interests and reaping the fruit therein. They were behind the French Revolution, the Communist revolution and most of the revolutions we heard and hear about, here and there. With their money they formed secret societies, such as Freemasons, Rotary Clubs, the Lions and others in different parts of the world for the purpose of sabotaging societies and achieving Zionist interests. With their money they were able to control imperialistic countries and instigate them to colonize many countries in order to enable them to exploit their resources and spread corruption there.

You may speak as much as you want about regional and world wars. They were behind World War I, when they were able to destroy the Islamic Caliphate, making financial gains and controlling resources. They obtained the Balfour Declaration, formed the League of Nations through which they could rule the world. They were behind World War II, through which they made huge financial gains by trading in armaments, and paved the way for the establishment of their state. It was they who instigated the replacement of the League of Nations with the United Nations and the Security Council to enable them to rule the world through them. There is no war going on anywhere, without having their finger in it.

"So often as they shall kindle a fire for war, Allah shall extinguish it; and they shall set their minds to act corruptly in the earth, but Allah loveth not the corrupt doers." (The Table - verse 64).

The imperialistic forces in the Capitalist West and Communist East, support the enemy with all their might, in money and in men. These forces take turns in doing that. The day Islam appears, the forces of infidelity would unite to challenge it, for the infidels are of one nation.

"O true believers, contract not an intimate friendship with any besides yourselves: they will not fail to corrupt you. They wish for that which may cause you to perish: their hatred hath already appeared from out of their mouths; but what their breasts conceal is yet more inveterate. We have already shown you signs of their ill will towards you, if ye understand." (The Family of Imran - verse 118).

It is not in vain that the verse is ended with Allah's words "if ye understand."

from the charter of Hamas

 

[Fullyplumped]

a post on the indymedia newswire suggests things are getting quite heated at the embassy. anyone know anything more?

According to the BBC news some people have been attacking British police officers. What on earth is the point of that?

The BBC's Barnie Choudhury, who is at the scene, said the atmosphere had become more angry and missiles had been thrown at police.

In a statement, police said: "From approximately 1800 [GMT], a small minority of people at the front of the barrier line made repeated attempts to break through the barriers.

"This small number threw sticks and other missiles at officers, before pulling apart the barrier line throwing them at officers.

"Stewards and others within the crowd made continued attempts to prevent this course of action on the part of the small minority and keep the mood calm."

 

[emanymton]

Oh yes buy the paper.



A real incident

Swappie 'socialist worker get your socialist worker here'

Me "No thanks fuck off I don't support racist organisations"

Immedately followed by me giving the swappie reasons why I think the swaps are a racist org (Respect etc)

then followed by swappie mumbling something incoherent and going away.

Wow, what an amazingly interesting and amusing anitdote and so full of insight and detail.

 

[Bakunin]

According to the BBC news some people have been attacking British police officers. What on earth is the point of that?

There's no point in using violence when you're almost certainly going to lose the fight. When you're certain (or near certain) of winning, on the other hand, it's just a tactic like any other.

I didn't notice much restraint from your plod mates at Kingsnorth, come to think of it, when the pepper spray and batons were freely used, as were fists and boots.

 

[Jeff Robinson]

perhaps you should pay attention
from the charter of Hamas

Perhaps you should pay attention to the reasons why Hamas has grown as a mass movement amongst the Palestinians. You might discover it was largely due to the Israeli occupation, the covert support Israel gave to Hamas in the 1980s and the emasculation by repression of the secular PLO and the Palestinian Authority to the point that Palestinians looked elsewhere for leadership. Israel's butchery in Gaza will strengthen Hamas's hand, just as the blitz of Lebanon boosted Hizbullah a few years back.

 

[krtek a houby]

Imagine the US gives England to the Irish or Scottish; whatever. The English are dispossessed and crowded into East Anglia and Devon. They are in camps with no supplies, no jobs. They might just resent that; launch a rocket occasionaly, just to remind people they are still alive - barely.

The youth of these reservations might just become politicised, dontcha think?

 

[CUMBRIANDRAGON]

If Martians landed and started disintegrating millions of humans with their death rays the SWP would march from Embankment to Trafalgar Square about it.

How can you say that?

The SWP would get the biggest petition going ,that would sort the martians out.

 

[CUMBRIANDRAGON]

Yes this sounds good.A good excuse to have a walk be a good social occasion. Will do fuck all for palistine but it should be a good day out.

 

[LikeMike]

Imagine the US gives England to the Irish or Scottish; whatever. The English are dispossessed and crowded into East Anglia and Devon. They are in camps with no supplies, no jobs. They might just resent that; launch a rocket occasionaly, just to remind people they are still alive - barely.

The youth of these reservations might just become politicised, dontcha think?

Comparisons such as jer, Babylondon's do help bring home the enormity of what Israel's ruling class is visiting upon the 1.5 million inhabitants of the Gaza ghetto. But her/his geography is off. Gaza is smaller than the Isle of Wight (pop: 150,000). It makes the case even more strongly. Which Israeli general was it who recently threatened Gazans with a new holocaust? Looks like the butchers of of the IDF are trying to effect that final solution.

 

[frogwoman]

Wishing I was at the embassy now.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Who went? How people attended, what happened, any one take any photos?

 

[gabi]

5,000 according to the media. 10,000 according to the organisers. so as usual, i guess somewhere in between.

wish i'd known about it. must be another one tomorrow surely?

 

[untethered]

Are the paper sales figures in yet?

 

[_float_]

Some of the Pro-Pal activists are the nicest people you could ever wish to meet on a secure mental health ward. Not sure they should be allowed out on their own or permitted sharp objects though.

Please can you refrain from making "jokes" like this about mental health? They are extremely offensive to people who actually have these types of health problems. A lot of people in 'secure wards' are there due to being suicidal for example. Others are just extremely stressed out. Many people are often kept in to oversee medication, prevent them being harmed by themselves or by other people and to give them a therapeutic environment - not because they would otherwise attack other people. Where is the humour in making them out to be monsters? Thanks.

 

[kavenism]

I was part of large crowd of people who had gathered at the embassy arriving by public transport after the rally, well before the couple of thousand or so who had walked from Trafalgar square arrived. By that time the crowd was already a couple of thousand strong, loads of banners and several Israeli flags were burnt. It was already pretty aggressive with a coffee shop being taken over (mostly by the press it seemed) and a complete loonspud climbing all the way up a lamp post to install a Palestinian flag. The police had two lines in front of the Embassy the front of which were in full riot gear. The barriers kept us about 10 meters from the positions we occupied on Sunday last week. After the comrades arrived from the square the police pulled out their batons and shields, I was at the barriers, although not right in front of the embassy. Some sticks (the utterly flimsy ones from banners) were thrown over the police lines and they responded with baton charges at the front rows of protesters.

I saw one guy with blood streaming down his face who claimed he had been chanting “shame, shame , shame on you” when he was struck by an officer. At around 18:00 we broke through the front barriers and pushed the pigs back to either side although they still had their second line and kept us from getting right to the gate of the embassy. More flags were burnt, people climbed up the buildings opposite the embassy and we exchanged missiles with the police batons. At around 19:00 the police lines attempted to squeeze us to the point where we had only the exit into the side road to get out, many people including me took this opportunity. I watched as the police lines rushed in and several people were carried out with injuries. I saw one man in a neck brace by the police vans and two others being carried away.

I left at about 20:00 with the police becoming ever more aggressive but people still determined to chant and resist the police lines. I was told by an individual who was at the front of the march going through the Hyde park corner tunnel, that once the mass was underground three lines of riot police took the opportunity to charge with the front few lines of protesters mostly left on the floor, these included many families who had walked from the square. Panic momentarily ensued with people running back up the other way while others moved forward against the police. Thank god the police for whatever reason withdrew and those not scared off made their way to the embassy. I can vouch for the fact that they looked mighty pissed off by the time they arrived. There will be more of this. Resistance against the murdering filth of Israel must not stop until Gaza is free, if we need to face the pigs batons every day till then then so be it.

 

[Bakunin]

Please can you refrain from making "jokes" like this about mental health? They are extremely offensive to people who actually have these types of health problems. A lot of people in 'secure wards' are there due to being suicidal for example. Others are just extremely stressed out. Many people are often kept in to oversee medication, prevent them being harmed by themselves or by other people and to give them a therapeutic environment - not because they would otherwise attack other people. Where is the humour in making them out to be monsters? Thanks.

Agreed.

I get enough of that IRL, without having to put up with it here as well.

 

[Taxamo Welf]

Yeah, thanks for that

why are you rolling your eyes? Looks like several thousand people COMPLETELY AGREED WITH ME and took it to the embassy.

dickhead.

 

[untethered]

At around 18:00 we broke through the front barriers push the pigs back to either side although they still had their second line and kept us from getting right to the gate of the embassy. More flags were burnt, people climbed up the buildings opposite the embassy and we exchanged missiles with the police batons.

I thought you were protesting about violence against innocent people.

 

[_float_]

I thought you were protesting about violence against innocent people.

Maybe when the police start baton charging, punching, clubbing and kicking people around for no reason they cease to be seen as 'innocent'? Just a thought - I wasn't there so I can't say. Were you?

 

[untethered]

Maybe when the police start baton charging, punching, clubbing and kicking people around for no reason they cease to be seen as 'innocent'? Just a thought - I wasn't there so I can't say. Were you?

I imagine the police were there because it was their job to protect the Israeli Embassy from damage and its occupants from violence. The police are empowered to use force in the course of their duty. On the other hand, protesters are not empowered to use violence in the furtherance of their aims and will likely meet a robust police response if they do.

Quite rightly.

 

[peacepete]

untethered, you are what is technically known as a sycophant.

 

[Bakunin]

I imagine the police were there because it was their job to protect the Israeli Embassy from damage and its occupants from violence. The police are empowered to use force in the course of their duty. On the other hand, protesters are not empowered to use violence in the furtherance of their aims and will likely meet a robust police response if they do.

Quite rightly.

Ever heard of a little thing called the 'Battle Of The Beanfield', untethered?

You may want to Google it and if the scenes on the Youtube footage don't change your mind, then nothing will, although I fear that's already the case.

We have right on our side, and what's right matters to me a great deal more than what's legal, frankly. The laws in this country are often misused to protect the interests of the wealthy and powerful, so when the law is as corrupt as it undoubtedly is, then people will sometimes reserve the right to ignore it.

And quite rightly so, IMO.

 

[untethered]

untethered, you are what is technically known as a sycophant.

To whom?

I support the rule of law. People have a right to protest peacefully and lawfully, but not to attack embassies and the police. I will defend their right to the former, and the police's action against the latter.

 

[untethered]

Ever heard of a little thing called the 'Battle Of The Beanfield', untethered?

I'm very familiar with it, yes. Surely the problem there was that the police were breaking the law rather than upholding it?

I hardly see the connection between that and today's events at the embassy.

We have right on our side, and what's right matters to me a great deal more than what's legal, frankly.

You couldn't be more wrong. The law is all that stands between you and any arbitrary group of thugs that want to make your life a misery, and that sometimes includes some police.

The laws in this country are often misused to protect the interests of the wealthy and powerful, so when the law is as corrupt as it undoubtedly is, then people will sometimes reserve the right to ignore it.

While that may sometimes be the case, do you think the police should have let the protesters run riot through the Israeli Embassy?