Israel justifies its armed aggression by saying it is a response to the rocket attacks of Hamas on Israel. This view is also supported by Israel's # 1 ally, the United States. What Israel refuses to acknowledge is the broader context wherein this violence is happening. The actions of Hamas should be seen in the context of the brutal, more than half-century occupation of Palestinian territory by Israel. In the case of Gaza, while Israel has pulled out its troops and settlements over the past three years, Israel has effectively set up an economic blockade that systematically and collectively punishes, starves and kills the Palestinian people.
The residents of Gaza have been denied any meaningful economic activity as a result of the blockade. For months now, Israel has prevented food, medicine, and fuel from reaching Gazans. Even during the time of the airstrikes, Israel has prevented humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza as it has prevented Gazans from seeking refuge and hospital treatment outside.
It is the brutal occupation which has pushed the Palestinian people to armed resistance. It is the occupation that is the main stumbling block to a meaningful peace. It is Israel's refusal to recognize the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the establishment of a Palestinian State which is the root cause of violence in that region.
In light of the historical circumstances of Israeli occupation, the current offensive against the Palestinian people can never be justified.
We condemn in the strongest terms the US government for its political and military support for Israel. For decades now, US government has encouraged and supported Israel's occupation of Palestine and its armed aggression against the Palestinian people. The US government not only provides billions of dollars of military aid to Israel, it also uses its veto power in the United Nations to support the cause of Israel. Recently, the US government even rejected a UN Security Council ceasefire resolution, a clear indication that the US supports the attacks on Gaza.
We call for an end to the siege of Gaza and for immediate relief for the Palestinian people ravaged by the Israeli armed offensives. We call for an end to the inhumane blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza and for allowing much-needed aid to be brought to Gazans.
We call for an end to the Israeli occupation as the only long-term and viable path to peace. We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their fight of genuine self-determination and freedom from oppression.
STOP THE SIEGE! STOP US-ISRAELI AGGRESSION AND TERRORISM!
END THE OCCUPATION! FREE PALESTINE!
The US Chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, or BAYAN USA, an alliance of 12 Filipino organizations in the US, vehemently condemns the US government-sponsored bloodshed that is currently ongoing in the city of Gaza, in the Palestinian territories. As of the writing of this statement, the Israeli military air strikes in Gaza have killed over 300 Palestinians, and nearly 1000 more are critically wounded, including women and children. The death toll from the last 72 hours alone in Gaza marks the highest in the decades-long so-called “Israeli-Palestinian conflict”. Israeli state officials claim the siege on Gaza is a response to the Hamas government’s continued “violent retaliation” in the form of rocket barrages.
To understand the so-called “Israeli-Palestinian conflict” more comprehensively, one must see it in the context of US imperialism’s role in dividing and plundering the Middle East to serve its economic and political interests. The state of “Israel” still serves as a strategic access point for US-imperialism to plunder the entire region’s most profitable resources– black gold and oil.The state of “Israel” is a US surrogate state that has long been funded by Washington DC to do its dirty work and uphold its interests in the region. This includes the ethnic cleansing of millions of Palestinian families who were violently forced to flee from their ancestral lands beginning in 1948 with the forceful and violent Zionist occupation of Palestine and the establishment of the state of “Israel”. The establishment of Israel and its systemic massacre and displacement of the Palestinian people is one of the greatest offensives of the US government in the Middle East, that duly serves the interests of US imperialism to control the region.
Israel-US government relations remain tight and intimate in this campaign. Israel is the largest recipient of direct economic and military aid from the US government since World War II. This means the Israeli military’s continuing offensives on Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are made possible with generous funding from the US government. The hard-earned tax dollars of the people of the US are fueling these continuing attacks of the US surrogate government of Israel against the Palestinian people. At the same time, the global economic crisis is hitting the people of the US hard with massive job lay-offs, foreclosures, evictions, and budget cuts to health care and education.
In light of their historical oppression, the oppressed Palestinian people have every right to resist and determine their form of resistance in the interest of their national liberation. It is understandable that this heroic resistance includes armed struggle. The Palestinian people have suffered the most horrific crimes of war and massacre from US imperialism at the hands of the Israeli government.
In the same light, the Filipino people are suffering from attacks from the same enemy. If the state of “Israel” is considered US-imperialism’s front door to the rest of the Middle East and Asia, then the Philippines would be the back door. For almost 110 years, the US has forcefully imposed its control over the Philippines, directly and indirectly, for the sake of maintaining this strategic geo-political and economic post in the Asia Pacific region. One of the first colonies of US-imperialism at the turn of the 20th century, the Filipino people suffered great losses. More than one-sixth of the Filipino people were massacred with the first few years of US occupation.
Like the US surrogate government in Israel, the US surrogate government of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is also performing the same dirty work in the Philippines to advance US imperialism’s control over the country. While Israel is the largest annual recipient of US economic and military aid in the world, the Philippines is the largest recipient in Asia. But US economic aid to the Philippine government is not used for economic development of a very poor nation. Instead the Arroyo administration directs US economic aid towards beefing up the Philippine military, which has been responsible for the gravest human rights crisis in the country since the period of the US-backed Marcos dictatorship, and deepening corruption by buying the loyalty of corrupt Philippine politicians. The Philippine military is also responsible for the massive displacement of millions of Filipinos from their lands, especially the Muslim and indigenous communities.
Here in the United States, oppressed and working people have the responsibility to cripple the state terrorist machinaries of the Israeli and Philippine governments by demanding the withdrawal of US direct economic and military aid to both countries. As the global economic crisis continues to awaken the people in the US to the rotten character of US imperialism, we must strengthen our solidarity ties to national liberation struggles abroad, including Palestine and the Philippines. By intensifying our struggles and resistance against US imperialism in all parts of the globe, we can weaken our common enemy.
Furthermore, President-Elect Barack Obama’s swift appointment of Rahm Emanuel as his Chief-of-Staff foreshadows continued Zionist oppression of the Palestinian people. His father, Benjamin Emanuel, is an ardent Zionist militant who has been infamously quoted as bragging that his son will ensure the incoming Obama administration’s pro-Israel agenda, and offensively remarked that Arabs in the White House are usually relegated to cleaning floors. We must therefore remain vigilant and maintain no illusion that the incoming US presidential administration can effectively or even has the intention to restore peace in the region.
In condemning the attacks on Gaza, we demand justice for the Palestinian people. This means we demand the US-Israeli occupation of the Palestinian people’s ancestral land end, and that the right of the Palestinian people to return to their homeland be globally respected and recognized. Without justice, neither peace nor democracy can be realized or practiced in the Middle East or the Philippines.
STOP THE ATTACKS ON GAZA!
JUSTICE FOR THE PALESTINIAN VICTIMS OF THE US-ISRAELI ATTACKS!
FREE PALESTINE!
WITHDRAW US ECONOMIC AID TO ISRAEL!
WITHDRAW US ECONOMIC AID TO THE PHILIPPINES!
LONG LIVE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY!
Worldwide actions protest Israeli massacre in Gaza
International Action Center
 Beirut |
Dec. 31, 2008. The genocidal U.S.-backed Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian people of the Gaza Strip has had at least one unintended consequence. It has mobilized the anti-imperialist movement and other anti-war forces around the world.
The Washington-Tel Aviv axis might not yet see this as an obstacle to their war crimes. But it is a work in progress, coming as the workers' movements are beginning to get in motion to fight the consequences of the capitalist economic collapse. Even in vast parts of the world where the winter holidays often drain the strength of a social movement, people reacted quickly, angrily and in some places massively to oppose the new Israeli assault.
Groups all over the world made strikingly similar calls for action. There was complete solidarity with the Palestinians of Gaza, a besieged and occupied population that had every right to resist. Most saw the Israelis as the direct criminal, the local gendarme acting as an appendage of world imperialism, especially out of Washington but also out of Brussels.
The immediate demands were to stop the Israeli attacks, lift the blockade of Gaza and for the government involved to break relations with or stop aiding the Zionist state. In some mostly Arab countries—Egypt, for example—the protests also targeted the regime for collaborating with the U.S. and Israel.
People began to hit the streets and squares in protest the day of the first Israeli bombing, Dec. 27, and spread through the world in the next few days. There are still some important gaps in our reports. However, we will list time and place for those protests that we know of that are planned for Jan. 1 or later with enough detail that people can use this information to attend.
North Africa and Asia
Tens of thousands of Lebanese, many supporters of Hezbollah, protested in the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, Lebanon, on Dec. 29 in the pouring rain. In Damascus, Syria, people held Hamas and Hezbollah and Palestinian flags aloft at an anti-Israeli rally. Protesters burned Israeli and U.S. flags in many Arab cities and demanded their governments react to Israeli aggression.
More than 50,000 demonstrated in Egyptian cities on Dec. 28 according to the AFP news agency. The biggest protest was in the southern city of Asyut, led by the Islamist opposition. Some 15,000 also attended a pro-Palestinian demonstration in the Jordanian capital Amman, and there were rallies in many of Jordan's refugee camps that house thousands of displaced Palestinians.
 Sudan |
There were demonstrations throughout the West Bank and in Haifa, Jaffa and other towns within the 1967 Israeli borders, and also a protest of 1,000 anti-war people in Tel Aviv. There were also anti-Israeli protests inSudan and Yemen, where tens of thousands marched in Sanaa.
In Iraq, there were demonstrations in Baghdad, Mosul, Najaf and Kuffa. In Tehran, Iran, thousands of Iranians rallied Dec. 29. In India, there were demonstrations in Kolkata (Calcutta) and a number of other Indian cities. There was a protest of more than 1,000 people in Jakarta, Indonesia on Dec. 30, waving Palestinian and Indonesian flags, and in Tokyo, Japan that same day at the Israeli Embassy.
In South Africa a protest of the Gaza massacre is set for Jan. 2 at 2 p.m. at the U.S. Consulate in Killarney, in Johannesburg.
Latin America
 Caracus |
In Argentina, a vigil of hundreds was held the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires after a march there on Dec. 29, called by different Argentine-Arab organizations to show solidarity with Palestine. In Puerto Rico, the Socialist Front held a mobilization in solidarity with the Palestinian people and to reject and condemn the crimes of the Israeli state, gathering at the Federal building in San Juan.
Starting at 10 in the morning on Dec. 29, some 200 people protested in front of the Israeli Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela in the second day of protests there. The Communist Party of Venezuela and other social organizations were present. On Dec. 30 people protested before the Israeli Embassy in Mexico City, D.F. There was also a protest in the Colón, Costa Rica on Dec. 30 at the Israeli Embassy.
In addition to these popular actions, statements from the governments of Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia condemned the Israeli killing of Palestinians.
Europe
In Belgium, there have been local protest rallies in Ghent, Louvain, Brussels and Antwerp the days following the first attack, with a national protest rally on Dec. 31 at 2 pm at the Place de la Monnaie, and moving on to the Place des Martyrs. It is a joint effort of solidarity committees, NGOs, the Workers Party of Belgium and Arab organizations.
In Greece, where there have been youth protests against a police killing since early December, more than 3,000 demonstrators waving Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Israeli and anti-U.S. slogans marched on the Israeli Embassy in Athens. Greek left-wing parties and Arab groups participated. Another demonstration of 1,000 took place in Thessalonika.
In England, Scotland and Wales, as reported by the Stop the War Committee, there have been demonstrations Dec. 28 in London of 700 people at the Israeli Embassy where protesters scuffled with police. Some protesters were seen attempting to climb the gate towards the embassy and also throwing red liquid - to symbolize blood - towards the gate. Respect MP George Galloway and former Labor MP Tony Benn were among those who addressed the crowd. Afterwards Galloway said: "We should treat Israel as we treated South Africa during apartheid. They should be shunned."
Demonstrations are continuing in London at 2 - 4 p.m. outside Israeli Embassy, and on Jan. 2, will move to the Egyptian Embassy 2 - 4 p.m. at 26 South Street, London, W1K 1DW, to call for Egypt to open the border immediately. Also in Bristol opposite the Hippodrome at 3-4 p.m. Jan. 3, and Portsmouth at 11 a.m. at Guildhall Square, and Hull, at 11 a.m. at Queen Victoria Square.
Protests are set for Glasgow, Scotland, on Jan. 3 at 12 noon outside Lloyds TSB St Vincent Street then assemble for demonstration at Blytheswood Square 2 p.m. In Edinburgh, the same time at Foot of the Mound, Princes Street.
There were actions also in Cardiff, Wales, in Nottingham and Southampton.
In Lisbon, Portugal, various organizations concerned about the massacre in Gaza, including mass union and women’s and anti-war organizations met Dec. 30 and decided to call a unified demonstration for Jan. 8, with the place and time to be announced later.
 Madrid |
In the Spanish state, on Dec. 28, 1,000 demonstrated before Israeli Embassy in Madrid; also demonstrations reported from Barcelona, Bilbao, Coruna and Seville. Further actions are planned in Madrid on Jan. 3 at 12 noon at the Foreign Affairs Ministry at Plaza de Sta. Cruz, and on Jan. 11 at noon at Puerta del Sol. If there is an Israeli land invasion of Gaza, there will be a protest the next day at 8 p.m. at Puerta del Sol. A march is also planned between the squares of Cibeles and Sol on Jan. 17. In Madrid people have initiated a campaign of international solidarity with the Palestinian people by hanging Palestinian flags and scarves from windows and balconies.
In France, there were demonstrations called by a broad coalition of forces Dec. 29 and 30 in Paris, where 1,300 marched, and in Angers, Annecy, Besançon, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nîmes, Quimper, Rennes, Roubaix, Rouen, St.Etienne, St.Girons, Thionville and Toulouse.
 Cologne |
 Denmark |
In Italy, Red Link reports demonstrations at least in Rome and Pisa on Dec. 28 and in Naples and Bologna on Dec. 29. Soccorso Populare in Veneto reports a Dec. 28 protest of 100 in Padua, on Dec. 31 in Venice Mestre, on Jan. 2 in Treviso and on Jan. 3 in Vicenza at 2 p.m. before the Central Train Station. There were also protests in Florence and Genoa and in Cagliari in Sardinia.
A broad national demonstration has been called for Rome on Jan. 3 at 4:30 p.m. at Piazza della Repubblica marching to Piazza Barberini.
In Germany, on Dec. 28 some 50 people gathered downtown spontaneously near the big cathedral in Cologne to demand an immediate end to the massacre. The next day there were actions in Berlin and Dusseldorf.
In Austria there were vigils and protests in Vienna on Dec. 30, when 2,000 people marched through the downtown area. On Jan. 3, at 3 p.m., there will be a demonstration: Stop the Massacre in Gaza! at the Albertina, Albertinaplatz 1, 1010 Vienna. The Gaza Must Live group called further protests for Jan. 2 at 2:30 p.m. at Karlsplatz and on Jan. 9 In Switzerland there were protests in Basel and Geneva.
In Denmark, there were solidarity demonstrations in Copenhagen and Aarhus on Dec. 28, with 1,500 people in Copenhagen at the Israeli Embassy, in Odense on Dec. 29, and again in Copenhagen (Town Hall Square) and other cities on Dec. 30.
 New York City |
 Dearborn, Michigan Photo: Alan Pollock |
United States
From inside the U.S., International Action Center and other activists have sent more detailed reports. In general, most demonstrators at first have come from the Palestinian and Arab/Muslim community. The IAC has helped with organizational and logistical support and outreach to other North Americans in the labor, anti-war and anti-racist movements.
The largest demonstrations reported so far have been in Dearborn, Mich., New York, San Francisco, and Anaheim, Calif., near Los Angeles, all numbering in the thousands.
In Dearborn on Dec. 30, some 5,000 people formed a human chain stretching for blocks in this city near Detroit that probably is home to the largest Arab community in the U.S. Some of the many youth stood on snow banks and waved Palestinian flags, of which there were hundreds of all sizes, and chanted, "1,2,3,4--stop the killing, stop the war; 5,6,7,8: Israel is a terrorist state." Passersby in cars—some also draped with Palestinian flags--honked loudly and repeatedly for the over hour-long action in cold windy weather.
A follow-up action, a candlelight vigil, will be held Jan. 2 at 5 p.m. at the City Hall in Dearborn.
In New York, some 5,000 people gathered in front of Rockefeller Center on 5th Avenue on a very busy shopping day Dec. 28. The demonstration was largely Palestinian, young and very militant, chanting, "From the river to the sea: Palestine will be free." It marched a mile to the Israeli Consulate. Majids in New Jersey towns sent five busloads of people on 24-hours notice. There were other protests on Dec. 29 and 30. A major unified demonstration is planned for Jan. 3 to start at Times Square at 2 p.m.
More than 1,500 people participated on Dec. 29 in Anaheim, just south of Los Angeles. A coalition made up of Al Awda, Muslim Student organizations and many others including the IAC, called the action. The next event was on Dec. 30 in front of the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles. There was also a demonstration in San Diego.
On Dec. 30, several thousand Palestinians and supporters held a loud and militant march through downtown San Francisco.
In Washington, D.C., on Dec. 30, ANSWER held a demonstration at the State Department.
In Boston, there was a march of 120 people on Dec. 28 from Park Street to Copley Square with strong Palestinian participation, rush hour distributions on Dec. 29 and a demonstration Dec. 30 at the Israeli Consulate. The next action in solidarity with Palestine will be on Saturday, at 12:00 noon at Copley Square, and will march through downtown Boston past the Israeli Consulate in Park Square, Downtown Crossing, the military recruiters on Tremont Street and back to Copley Square for a concluding rally. It is being organized by a broad ad hoc coalition.
Some 80 mostly young people attended an emergency demonstration inBaltimore on Dec. 30, at the War Memorial Plaza. Over 100 people came out for a protest outside the Israeli consulate in Philadelphia Dec. 28, called with less than 24-hours notice.
The Palestinian community in Houston had a huge demonstration Dec. 28 on all four corners of the busiest intersection in town, maybe 750 people. From infants to elders, Palestinians came out with their families, lots of students, and a number of elderly women in beautiful Palestinian traditional clothing. In typical Texas style, pickup trucks filled with Palestinian youth carrying giant Palestinian flags waving in the wind drove up and down the streets honking and yelling. There were other protests during the week with the next action on Jan. 2 at the Israeli consulate.
In Atlanta, Emory Advocates for Justice in Palestine and Athens for Justice in Palestine (UGA) with help from the IAC pulled together an action in less than 18 hours for Dec. 28. More than 100 people came; mostly Palestinian, many college and high school age youth as well as children brought by their parents, with good representation of the anti-war movement.
With help from Hana al-Bayaty for the Middle East, Paola Manduca for Europe, Berta Joubert-Ceci for Latin America and dozens of militant activists around the United States, Europe, Africa, Asia and Japan, John Catalinotto compiled this report
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