A SEA of Palestinians and their sympathisers lined Manhattan streets on Saturday, marching to the United Nations (UN) and shouting that Israel’s response to missile attacks was genocide that took children’s lives. `
Across the globe, many have marched to show their solidarity with Palestinians and denounce Israel’s continued atrocities against Palestinians.
Last week in Sydney, Australia, a vocal protest in support of the people of Palestine and condemning the bombardment of Gaza by Israel took place.
Of interest is the growing voice of Jews who are condemning Israel’s aggression against Palestine.
Peter Slezak, from Independent Australian Jewish Voices, says many Jewish people around the world are condemning Israel’s military incursion.
“The state of Israel does not represent all Jews,” Slezak said.
“I am one of very many Jews who is horrified and deeply ashamed by what the Jewish state is doing in my name.
“I stand with the people of Gaza and with Palestine as a whole.”
The hypocrisy of the US government which condemns Israel for pounding on UN run shelters for refugees in one breath while replenishing Israel’s ammunition and channelling billions of taxpayers’ dollars to arm Israel has reached new levels.
The death and destruction of Palestine by Israel is a world where the discourse of democracy, freedoms and rights makes it an interesting case study on whether a global movement can actually push America and Israel to listen to the growing voices of dissent concerning the latter’s aggression.
Bolivian President Evo Morales has declared Israel a terrorist state.
Other states have condemned the ‘war of extermination’ against the Palestinian people and recalled their ambassadors from Israel.
One of the excuses that Israel has used to shame and silence the nay sayers has been that those who speak out against its military actions are anti-Semites.
The guilt most of Anglo Saxon origins feel about the Holocaust, being labelled anti-Semite, has the weird effect of turning grown men and women into acquiescing tools in the war against Palestine.
One would think that the experiences of the Jewish nation under Hitler’s dispensation would have taught them to appreciate all life and also created compassion for those who are under threat like the Palestinians.
Last month, several hundred pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallied outside the Israeli Embassy in West London holding up placards that read, ‘Gaza: End the Siege’ and ‘Freedom for Palestine’.
Pro-Palestinians demonstrations were also held at the Norwegian parliament in Olso, and another in Paris near the French Foreign Ministry.
Again the message was repeated that there is need to look beyond Israel’s accusations of those who are protesting against its actions as being anti-Semite, but to call a spade by its name.
The truth is Palestinians are people who are suffering, women and children are dying every day and silence is no longer a luxury the world can afford.
As Christians, the Israeli/Palestinian question is a religious issue.
Many fail to look at the facts surrounding the issue and refer to the Bible and proclaim that Israel is a chosen nation and as such it is right in its aggression against Palestine.
Should Christians look at the on-going war through what their Bible says or look at all parties involved as fellow humans.
Many have rushed to condemn Islamist fundamentalists for carrying out a religious war.
Most of those who do condemn the jihad seem to have no problem with Israel’s aggression towards Palestine.
The United Nations Human Rights Council has set up a commission of inquiry on atrocities in the Gaza, which will be headed by Canada’s William Schabas, an international law professor at Middlesex University in London.
Other members are Amal Alamuddin, a British-Lebanese lawyer who is engaged to American actor, George Clooney, and Doudou Diene of Senegal, the UN’s former Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
It is yet to be seen just how effective the United Nations Human Rights Council Commission recently set will be effective.
A UN statement said the commission would be asked to “identify those responsible, to make recommendations, in particular on accountability measures, all with a view to avoiding and ending impunity and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable, and on ways and means to protect civilians against any further assaults”.
Interestingly, Israel has already said the commission is compromised as it is set up by individuals who are biased against it.
So it goes without saying that any of the commission’s findings and recommendations will not be accepted by America and Israel.
As the date of the UN General Assembly draws near, one ponders what world leaders will discuss and highlight as the direction that the world body will take. Repeated calls for an overhaul of the UN Security Council have been made, but no progress has been made towards this goal.
As long as the Security Council is the preserve of the elite the weak and powerless will remain spectators who have no control over their destiny.
Each year a resolution is passed by most world leaders in solidarity with the Palestinian people, but what has that brought?
Nothing.
Israel continues to maim, murder and destroy whatever can be labelled Palestinian with impunity, while America, AKA, the world’s police, supplies the arms and pays lip service to calls for peace.