Jews, Muslims and Christians Condemn US Military Aid to Israel

You guys rock

by Tamara Rettino

Writing from Occupied Palestine with love and gratitude:
This is exactly the kind of direct action we need right now. Good work!
Tamara

a few things i saw

by johnk

There were between 100 and 200 people protesting the occupation, and across the street, a slightly smaller group of between 50 and 100 in support of the occupation.

The counter-protesters were not as funky as the pro-palestine side, and sported a different range of signs, ranging from a stated desire for peace, through zionism, and veering off into anti-abortion. They waved many american and israel flags. Fortunately, there was nothing I saw that was offensively racist.

The protest proper was more vocal, and more militant. A few palestinian flags were waved, but, overall, the mood was against flags, favoring signs instead. As with the other side, there was nothing that struck me as overtly racist. JJP executed a "checkpoint" artistic protest to give people a taste of what it might be like to have your movement restricted, as palestinians have in israel. This demo was executed a few times, but was curtailed because the BHPD traffic cops threatened them. Despite this, it was a powerful symbol of one salient aspect of occupation -- the loss of the freedom to move freely.

Midway into the event, a flag waver from the pro-israel side came to talk with, and (it seems) switch sides. Dialogue began, but some protesters grabbed and pulled at the flag. Reps of jews for a just peace tried to get the flag-pullers to stop, but voices were raised, and the situation, confused. Sensing a potential row, the police intervened and forced the parties apart, and sent the man back to the other side. I could not help but feel that a potential moment for a meeting of hearts and minds had been lost. I thought the crowd could have self-regulated the situation.

The protesters were a motley group of jewish americans, people who'd lived in israel, muslims, palestinians, students, disabled, activists, and others representing a wide diversity of communities and progressive positions. It was nice, and felt like a good cross section of Los Angeles.

The demonstration operated at many levels, to memorialize the people who died in the bombing in Gaza, to raise the concrete issues of occupation, to find solidarity in the moment of protest... I also thought it was a moment when jews on both sides of the street explored and debated, within the confines of street demonstrations, questions of nation, empire, and human rights.

equal coverage

by reality check

Let's get some equal coverage:


Now all these guys need to do is throw towels over there heads and pass out leaflets that said:

"Imagine your just driving home from work and a bomb suddenly blew up in front of you: that's just a standard day in the life of thousands of Israelis"

...And then they handed out a map of bombs and shootings the Palestians have unleashed on innocent civilians over the years!

equal coverage

by reality check

Let's get some equal coverage:


Now all these guys need to do is throw towels over there heads and pass out leaflets that said:

"Imagine your just driving home from work and a bomb suddenly blew up in front of you: that's just a standard day in the life of thousands of Israelis"

...And then they handed out a map of bombs and shootings the Palestians have unleashed on innocent civilians over the years!

Active

by David

1600 Palestinians since January vs 200 Israelis.

Who are the terrorists again???

RE: Active

by reality check

So the Palestinians are inept as well as unreasonable...

You see: that's the problem with conning young men into becoming suicide bombers... they don't build up much experience


What's your point?

Would you sleep that much better at night if the palestinians were that much more effective in slaughtering civilians?

Israel + US = State Terrorism

by 000

Reality Check,

What you don't seem to understand is that this is a military occupation organized and directed by the state of Israel, an occupying army. Fighting an occupation is called resistance. It just so happens that the palestinians use crude methods since they don't have tanks and planes. I personally think using suicide bombings is tragic and does constitute terrorism, but I won't ignore Israeli terror and massacres.

For a real reality check people should see the following articles:

Part One:

http://palestine.indymedia.org/news/2002/07/58773.php

Part Two: the Brutalities of Colonial Occupation:

http://palestine.indymedia.org/news/2002/07/58775.php

Part Three: Concerning Violence:

http://palestine.indymedia.org/news/2002/07/58776.php

Also, for a direct report from Angelinos in Palestine, reporting on ISRAELI terrorism of the population, see:

http://www.straybulletins.com/palestine/index.html

000

Response

by Reality check

Yeah, and I noticed you neglected why Israel was forced to occupy the territory in the first place:

go to google and look up a little thing known as the seven day war...

as far as ethnic cleansing, and other great lies, the proof that these are indeed blatant lies is quite simply that Israel could have wiped out the entire palestinian population any time they felt like it over the past 30 years.

Instead, they've allowed them autonomy, have been willing to forgive arafat, sit down at the bargaining table, and work toward an independent palestinian nation.

Now we're seeing the thanks they're getting from the palestinians for being resonable!


As far as the B.S. articles you posted as "proof", here's one back at you from the same sight:

http://palestine.indymedia.org/news/2002/08/63152.php

remember the bullshit claims that the palestinians were blowing out their asses about Jenin?

Well, according to the UN, they were just that!

What are you going to do now?

Claim Kofi Anan is a zionist sympathyzer?

(P.S: if you're going to post "evidence", please try something from a source a little less biased: the main page of palestine.indymedia doesn't even seem to recognize that a bomb just went off in an Israeli University...)

thank you!

by lromo

We need more people like you to open up the eyes of those who are in ignorance. The injustices that Israel and the U.S. has commited against the palestinians is horendous. Keep strong, for we are with you and the palestinians fight for freedom!

either way people are dyiny...

by luv dissent

im glad to see that some are fighting the b.s. that is being fed to us by our government/media! people are dying on all sides of the issue, and all sides must take responsibility; however, the u.s support of israeli violence is adding a bit more to one side and does not help the situation at all. we need peace, we need understanding, and we need cooperation. stop hating over race and religion differences and start accepting that everyone around you has thoughts and beliefs that differ from yours. right now we need dissent to get us to where this can happen, and complacency -- or support of military confrontation -- will never allow peace.
"an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind."

Dr.

by Avreiml Lewis

In these days of pain and terror, when the "outer husks" are being battered and burnt, it is important to look beyond the flames of destruction and see the spark of faith growing brighter and brighter.

At one of the recent funerals a father made the following speech over the grave of his murdered son. The father and the son shall remain nameless as they in fact represent all the fathers and all the sons ... all the mothers and all the daughters.

He said in a voice heavy with pain, "Son when we brought you under the wedding canopy we sang the song 'Im Eshkachech Yerushalayim' [If I Forget Thee O' Jerusalem] ... now that we are bringing you into Heaven we need to sing the same song".

The father began singing this song over the grave of his son and all the other broken hearted participants joined with him.

This is the strength of the Divine Spark being rekindled.

This is the burning ember under the deteriorating husk.

May it continue to grow in strength ...

... but may it do so in joy.

Stop the Anti-Semites

by A Parent

You do not help our society you only bring it down both in property value and in intelligence.

- Please use protection do not procreate.
- Think about making self sacrifices for your cause like the monks did in Vietnam

your blood, my blood

by marcusa garvey

palestine

your blood is my blood
your body, my body
your grave is my grave
every child's body is me



end all war now!!!!
PEACE & LOVE

Today is a good day

by calikafir

Today is the first day I did not have to swallow a bitter pill! There are Jews in L.A that get it! I might go out side today! and breath in the smog and say I love LA because I do! Ok first of all Im not a self hating Jew, but I do hate alot jews Why you ask? Well lets see the oppressed becomes the oppressers! anybody with 1/2 a soul can see what we are doing to the palestinian is just sick! I will not even argue this issue with my so called Jewish tribe,because it will be the same old same old status quo they attacked us 1967!they want to drive us to the sea! "NUKES " will stop that! and they know it!!! take them in fuckers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thats what you do when you conquer! Wait I have a better idea The Nazis would put us jews in ghetto after they destroyed are homes or biz's hmm sound familiar!! OH and I love the settlers what good people!!! settlers=welfare my taxes!!! even israelis love the lets sale bullets to are arab and pally friends! Settlers are Gods chosen! Yea 5 bedrooms for a Beverly Hills Doc! One more thing I think muslims or should I say islam is about peace as much as my LTM OR NOC Stocks are!! Im not a self hating jew! I love myself you know why because I do not think im better than any other human! a lesson my tribe has not learned! P.S Thank you my muslim friends for making me rich keep on living in 605 Ad. I might buy exon next! one more thing Unions suck! I hope I have some long lasting friends here!!! I LOve You aLLL!!!!! calikafir

None

by Chris Smith

There is a bible verse that says "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". If everyone, everywhere, did this there would be no war. I don't think this will happen, so there will always be conflict. Which came first? Suicide bombers or checkpoints. I am not a historian, but I don't recall there being a Palestine before the UN gave Isreal the land they're on now. There is only one thing that will cure this problem once and for all. All Jews must be driven out of the middle east. This is the only thing arabs will go for in the region. Of course, since almost every conflict in the world has muslims in the thick of it, that may not bring peace to the region either.

UGH

by WAKEUP

Listen, morons. Just because more palestinians have died doesn't mean they're the good guys.

More germans died in WW2 than americans, does that mean germans were the good guys in WW2?

Palestinians (well their "friends" mostly) are the ones that started the wars, israel is the one who had to fight the wackos off, and have been just trying to preseve themselves, not the other way around.

Those Who Open Fire

by Dan

at the first time should know that they are been expected to catch it while comming back.

I support our country's efforts to eradicate terrorism but question the administrations criticism of Israel for doing the same thing. The bombing of discotheques and pizzerias and the unprovoked shootings of civilians, specifically targeting women and babies on the roads and plazas of Israel, cannot be tolerated. Our country must support the efforts of all countries to stop terror, not only our own efforts.

Arafat and his Palestinian entity do not seek peace, but the eradication of the State of Israel. The Palestinian radio and news media broadcasts racist propaganda and hatred. Their schools teach the same hatred, and their summer camps teach the same genocidal goal. There is essentially no mention of or aspiration for peaceful coexistence.

Clearly Arafat plans to take whatever territory he can get by diplomacy, and then use it as a more advantageous position from which to continue his war for Israelג€™s destruction. One need not be blinded or fooled by Arafat's letters and agreements that disavow terrorism. Since Arafat's value system condones the murder of innocents, he feels no compunction about lying and ignoring his obligations under signed agreements.

All the while, there already exists a Palestinian State on 80% of Palestine of the original League of Nations Palestine Mandate. This state is called Jordan. It has a Palestinian Queen, and the majority of its population is Palestinian. A SECOND Palestinian State will endanger the ONLY Jewish State in the world, and provide another sanctuary for the Islamic terrorism which we are currently sacrificing so much blood and treasure to defeat in Afghanistan.

I urge you to support Israel in its efforts to protect its citizens, and stop the State Department's pronouncements that criticize Israel's justified acts of self defense in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Please stop your administration's continued financial and diplomatic support for a PLO State, which will only further endanger the security of Israel and America. If you must have a "vision" of a Palestinian State, please see it where it already exists--in Jordan.





Arafat's absent police. A tale that you can repeat again and again.

Gaza is a tiny, crowded bit of scrub and sand on the Mediterranean. It's Yasser Arafat's headquarters (together with west bank Ramallah), and is patrolled by thousands of his police.

So how was it that, in the midst of a ceasefire with Israel, Palestinian extremists from the Hamas group clad in military fatigues and armed with assault rifles and grenades, were able to avoid detection, make their way through Gaza's pathetically few streets, murder two young Israeli civilians and injure 15 ?

The Israelis promptly moved in tanks and troops, and six Palestinian gunmen died in clashes.

It wasn't an isolated incident. In the past few days Israeli troops have faced a riot, a car bomb, gunfire, firebombs, grenade and mortar attack and an attempted bombing.

Yes, Gaza and the West Bank are rife with extremists trying to undermine Arafat. And yes, he has denounced some of the attacks.

But Arafat has embraced the ceasefire. He must police his turf. If he
cannot, or will not, Israelis will have no confidence that a Palestinian state created next to them will not be a threat to their security.