Five Arrested at ASB Tennis Open Protest
Today five pro Palestine protesters were arrested outside the New Zealand Tennis Open, heres my account of what happened. The protest had been going for about ten minutes with protesters holding placards, chanting and using a megaphone when police approached a protester. Whilst I could not hear exactly what they told the protester the general gist seemed to be that the protester should stop using his megaphone. A few minutes later they approached a second protester who had been using a microphone and told her something similar. A few minutes later I got on a megaphone and explained to the police that my understanding was that two recent court decisions protected our rights to protest loudly including using a megaphone in a public place. I talked about Rees versus Police where a friend (Rochelle) had been charged with disorderly conduct for using a megaphone in the CBD and had on appeal won a clear victory. I also made reference to the recent Brooker case which went all the way to the supreme court. I invited the sergeant in charge of the protest to come over and explain why using a megaphone was disorderly and otherwise based on my understanding of the law I would continue to use the megaphone. All this was clearly audible to the cops who started smiling and laughing as I continued my explanation. On two other occasions I attempted to talk to the senior officer asking him to explain why using a megaphone as part of a protest action was illegal. About five minutes later groups of officers began walking up and almost at random picking off protesters. The arrests were brutal, no warning was given, no one was asked to stop making noise. Instead officers grabbed people and marched them off. John Minto was the first person to be arrested. After taking photos of this I decided to begin using the one remaining megaphone. To emphasis my point I decided to climb a tree with my megaphone. Once up the tree I began chanting “freedom for Palestine” and “Blood, Blood, Blood on your hands” I did so to express my anger at the current atrocities occurring in Palestine. I was also calling for a boycott of high profile Israeli figures as a way to put pressure on Israel. An officer got a boost up and after struggling for a minute or two made it to the branch I was on. After being asked to come down I passed my megaphone down and jumped down. At no stage was I asked to stop making noise, I was not told to stop using my megaphone, I was only asked to come down “For your own safety”. Once down I was arrested and I went limp, the officers dragged me off to a waiting paddy wagon where I began the several hour long arrest process. To be clear what the police did today was completely illegal, we have every right to protest loudly including using megaphones. This may be annoying and it may be disruptive, that is the point of protest actions. What happened today was the police getting annoyed and then making arrests until they got what they wanted. The right to protest is being eroded steadily. It is standard practice for police to use the power of arrest to shut a demonstration down. the arrested protesters are facing charges of disorderly behaviour, three people are also facing charges of obstruction, and one with assaulting a police officer. The women charged with assault was herself assaulted and was left bleeding as a result of the way she was treated. To finish this off lets refer to the most relevant section of Rees vs Police which No Right Turn dug up It is not correct to say that in exercising the right to protest, a citizen has the duty not to annoy. It is permissible, within limits, for a citizen to annoy others while protesting. It is not enough that the conduct is irritating or ill mannered or in bad taste. Protestors often set out to cause irritation, to attract attention to their message. That is not in itself illegitimate, or a breach of the criminal law. There is a line beyond which protestors cannot cross without offending the criminal law, and that line involves annoyance beyond that which is normal and acceptable to New Zealanders. Loud protests through a megaphone are not uncommon in New Zealand streets. It is a method of protest that is often used. It is not a breach of our criminal law in itself to use such a method of protest. It is not a breach of our criminal law to annoy others while doing so
All photos copyright John Darroch
Comments
Kia Kaha, Love & solidarity
Kia Kaha, Love & solidarity from ova the ditch
It is about time the state
It is about time the state fessed up to the fact that they will suppress all protests that do not support their despotic power unless the protests are in mime form and done at 10 miles from the protest target.
NZ is no longer a truly democratic country - if it ever was!
This is to me only more proof of the true state of affairs in Aotearoa/NZ! Dissent is not wanted and increasingly not only discouraged, it is suppressed and dealt to in a violent way! I have had my own experience with this. If you dare raising dicey issues, be it the rights of Tibetans in China, the rights of Palestinians in Palestine, the rights of other suppressed people in other countries that NZ may do important trade with and hence "depends" on, then you are going to be in serious trouble here. It is the true hippocracy of this country, its non existing constitution, the constant lies about the "Treaty of Waitangi" and so forth that is totally appalling. Last year Israel waged a ruthless military campaign in which even some NZ'ers took part on their side. They killed over 1,400 Palestinians, of which about two thirds were innocent civilians! The media reported it as a bit of a side-line issue. On blogs people criticising the behaviour of the Israeli state and military were shouted down as "racists" and so forth! Now 7 protestors were arrested for truly minor offences, if they were justified offences after all! Well we cannot have people upset the image of "nice NZ"! That is the agenda. Whether it is sports, the environment or whatever, the government and a large share of the business sector want to portray and promote this country to earn dollars. Whosoever tells the truth and endangers the false reputation of NZ is by them considered a serious ENEMY! So it all boils down to money ruling the system and this society. Forget the sweat shops in India, Pakistan, Bangla Desh and the few ones existing here in our own backyard! Forget about the exploitation of ignorant immigrants, forget about the rip off of foreign students and tourists. Too many have their fingers in the jar to exploit whatever they can. Those are the ones who have learned that rather than invest in honest work and developing this country in a positive way you better take the easy option of side-lining with the gullible, the rich, the corrupt and mean-spirited. Hence Israel is supposed to be a "friendly" and good country. All the talk about sympathy for the suffering of Palestinians is lies and hyppocracy. So NZ wake up. Those that know and want to know should be able to discern. Most will remain ignorant and not care as long as they get cheap or affordable products and an income to maintain their lifestyle. Morals are only considered a neglectable luxory for them! Fight this bullshit is my opinion.
NZ is no longer a truly democratic country - if it ever was!
All you guys who got arrested: Plead not guilty, apply to the media for all photos and film footage of the actions of police and your arrest. Apply to have this presented at the court for evidence. Go not guilty all the way and expose this random action by bullying police to the courts! They have little to stand on. They will possibly lie before the court to cover each other! This is all that some have experienced before. As I just wrote, the money, finance and big business rule this country, whosoever dares rocking the boat is to them an ENEMY and will be dealt with accordingly! Those feeble minded that just read this out of curiosity, get involved and find out yourselves what is going on. We have too many cowards and too few true and genuine people standing up for themselves and others! So keep on the fight! Lies bring only more lies. Those that know and remain silent are as guilty as the perpetrators!
It turns out that these
It turns out that these protests are actually helping Shahar Peer win her matches! Seems she gets extra motivated when she hears these neo-nazis chanting their death slogans just outside.
So keep on beating your drums of bigotry and fascism.
BTW, speaking of Apartheid. Arabs live, work and murder EVERYWHERE in Israel, including Judea and Sammaria (called "westbank" in the ancient language of the palestinian occupiers).
Jews on the other hand though are not allowed to live in gaza and in most places in Judea and Sammaria, simply because the genocidal bigots called Arabs can't bring themselves to live alongside ANY other people or religion.
ALSO...if you want to talk about apartheid let's talk about the fact that ONLY racist Muslims are allowed to pray at Judaism's holiest place, the Temple Mount, where the Jewish Temples once stood.
Why are other people not allowed to pray there? Jews belong to the only religion in the world who are not allowed to pray at their holiest site due to OCCUPATION of a foreign people/religion (namely ARABS/MUSLIMS).
Why are only Muslims allowed to pray at the Temple Mount?
END THE APARTHEID.
Islam is a hate crime.
There is a line beyond which
THAT line is crossed when neo-nazis start goosestepping and chanting bigotry against an innocent Jewish girl playing tennis.
Nazis are not normal and are never acceptable to New Zealanders. That's something you fascists fail to understand.
good on ya!
Good demo squirrel!!! Shame the blue thugs had to ruin it, as Shahar Peer is feeling the heat (despite her wins) - she wouldn't mention the demo if it wasn't affecting her.
Perhaps a decent lawyer could assist ya with a rapid meeting with the Akld police commander so police can explain their interpretation of 'disorderly behaviour' and 'breach of peace'? And get Greens, Maori Party & Labour police spokespeople to tackle the issue of illegal police actions in public?
Need to clarify demands
And need to remember HOW the sports boycott of South Afrika worked (as well as WHY it was possible to isolate South Afrika in this way -- the lack of LOCAL political consequences as no diaspora Afrikaner community).
Ban her from an OPEN? I think you perhaps mean "don't hold a New Zealand Open" but make it just an "invitational" tournament. Or perhaps just try to step around it by convincing your government not to issue visas to Israelis (if ALL Israelis then not possible to argue "to prevent a qualified competitor in an open") Get the other players to "boycott" her? You mean they agree to forfeit their matches making her victory meaningless?
You really do need to look back at HOW things worked in the "South Afrika" campaign (I am old enough to remember). Especially how each sport is different with regard to the forms of protest considered appropriate (which sports the "audience" is expected to be quiet during play for example, in which OK to be noisy, whatever the reason). Look for examples of when managed to exclude from "open" tournaments and if so, how.
Also need to be careful about "changing the issue". I'm seeing SOME comment here that indicates maybe don't understand that. Saying OK for her to compete IF she takes certain POLITICAL positions within Israel has changed the matter form what those might be to whether she has the right to vote for/support whatever Israeli party, etc. (no longer JUST what those parties/factions might stand for). Probably don't want to go down that road as usable* in ways you might not want.
* Back in my 60's radical days experience with that. How one could manipulate to get liberal/moderate support if the "enemy" instead of attacking the ISSUE mistakenly attacked the right to demonstrate for it.
what will this ad-hoc protest
what will this ad-hoc protest of an athlete really achieve?
you are just making the whole palestinian justice movement weaker by reducing popular support for it through your stupid actions, pick your battles !
Why are you not also protesting the chinese player here? free tibet not as important?
http://indymedia.org.nz/artic
http://indymedia.org.nz/article/78157/1-arrest-israeli-tennis-player-demo check out the discussion below this article.
WHAT THE QUR'AN REALLY
WHAT THE QUR'AN REALLY SAYS
by Shaykh Prof. Abdul Hadi Palazzi
THE QUR'AN SAYS THAT ALLAH GAVE THE LAND OF ISRAEL TO THE JEWS
AND WILL RESTORE THEM TO IT AT THE END OF DAYS
THE QUR'AN SAYS:
SHAYKH PROF. PALAZZI COMMENTS:
God wanted to give Avraham a double blessing, through Ishmael and through Isaac, and ordered that Ishmael's descendents should live in the desert of Arabia and Isaac's in Canaan.
The Qur'an recognizes the Land of Israel as the heritage of the Jews and it explains that, before the Last Judgment, Jews will return to dwell there. This prophecy has already been fulfilled.
****************************************
MUSLIMS MUST RECOGNIZE THE STATE OF ISRAEL AS A JEWISH STATE
Is there any fundamental reason which prohibits Muslims from recognizing Israel as a friendly State?
I realize that a negative answer to the above question is taken for granted by popular opinion. My approach, however, is not based on popular opinion or the current political situation, but on a theological analysis of authentic Islamic sources.
Viewing the Jewish return to Israel as a Western invasion and Zionists as recent colonizers is new. It has no basis in authentic Islamic faith. According to the Qur'an, no person, people or religious community can claim a permanent right of possession over any territory. The Earth belongs exclusively to God, and He is free to entrust sovereignty over land to whomever He likes for whatever time period that He chooses.
From the above Qur'anic verse we deduce a basic principle of the Monotheistic philosophy of history: God chooses as He likes in the relationship between peoples and countries. Sometimes He gives a land to a people, and sometimes He takes His possession back and gives it to another people.
In general, we can say that He gives as a reward for faithfulness and takes back as a punishment for wickedness, but this rule does not permit us to say that God's ways are always plain and clear to our eyes, since His secrets are inaccessible to the human intellect.
Using Islam as a basis for preventing Arabs from recognizing any sovereign right of Jews over the Land of Israel is new. Such beliefs are not found in classical Islamic sources.
Concluding that anti-Zionism is the logical outgrowth of Islamic faith is wrong. This conclusion represents the false transformation of Islam from a religion into a secularized ideology.
Such a false transformation of Islam was in fact made by the late Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin el-Husseini. He is the one person most responsible, both morally and materially, for the repeated Arab defeats in their conflict with the Jews in Israel.
Husseni not only incited Arabs against Jews. He also encouraged the torture and murder of all Arabs who correctly understood that Arab cooperation with Jews was a precious opportunity for the development of the Land of Israel. Husseini ended his woeful life by putting his perverted religious teachings at the service of the evil and pagan Nazis.
After Husseini came Jamal al-Din 'Abd al-Nasser. Nasser based his policy on Pan-Arabism, hatred and contempt for Jews, and an alliance with the atheistic Soviet Union. Nasser's terrible choices were critical factors in maintaining Arab backwardness. Fortunately, most of Nasser's mistakes were afterward corrected by the martyr Anwar Sadat. (3)
After the defeat of Nasserianism, Islamic fundamentalist movements made anti-Zionism the primary feature of their propaganda. They presented the negation of any Jewish rights to the Land of Israel as rooted in authentic Islam and derived from authentic Islamic religious principles.
***********************************
THE LAND OF ISRAEL IN QUR'ANIC EXEGESIS
The fundamentalist Muslim program to use Islam as an instrument for political warfare against Jews finds a major obstacle in the Qur'an itself. Both the Bible and the Qur'an state quite clearly that the right of the Israelites to the Land of Israel does not depend on conquest and colonization. This right flows from the will of almighty God Himself.
Both the Jewish and Islamic Scriptures teach that God, through His chosen servant Moses, decided to free the offspring of Jacob from slavery in Egypt and to constitute them as heirs of the Promised Land. Whoever claims that Jewish sovereignty over the Land of Israel is something new and rooted in human politics denies divine revelation and divine prophecy as explicitly expressed in our Holy Books (the Bible and Koran).
The Qur'an relates the words by which Moses ordered the Israelites to conquer the Land:
Moreover - and those who try to use Islam as a weapon against Israel always conveniently ignore this point - the Holy Qur'an explicitly refers to the return of the Jews to the Land of Israel before the Last Judgment - where it says: "And thereafter We [Allah] said to the Children of Israel: 'Dwell securely in the Promised Land. And when the last warning will come to pass, we will gather you together in a mingled crowd.'" [Qur'an 17:104]
Therefore, from an Islamic point of view, there is NO fundamental reason which prohibits Muslims from recognizing Israel as a friendly State.
*********************************************
ISLAM AND NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ISLAMIC STATES AND THE JEWISH STATE
PLO documents can in no way be regarded as Islamic. The PLO leaders are a gang of criminals and thieves, and Arabs will be the main victims of any supposed "Palestinian State" under their leadership.
I do not believe that Islam is the factor preventing normalization between Arabs and the State of Israel. The real problem is that members of the ruling classes in Arab countries believe their authority and power would be threatned by democracy, modernization, and education in the Arab world. They use a distorted interpretation of Islam as a political tool, and unfortunately the majority of uneducated Arabs believe their poisonous propaganda.
I believe that we must return to the time when Islam was in the vanguard of scientific progress and interfaith dialogue. Instead of false "leaders" such as Qadhafi, Saddam Hussein, Arafat [el-Husseini] or Yasin, we Muslims again need true leaders such as al-Ghazali, Ibn Rushd and Ibn Khaldum.
King Faysal of Iraq said: "The Arabs, and particularly the educated ones among them, must look at the Zionist movement with the deepest sympathy."
Tragically, true leaders such as Faysal were silenced, and fanatics such as Haj Amin al-Husseini prevailed.
The evil consequences of the victory of fanaticism are clear for all to see: Jews expelled from Arab countries where the lived in peace for over one thousand years, "Palestinian" refugees, terrorism, etc. To avoid future mistakes, we must learn from our past ones.
Unfortunately, there are Arabs who believe that they must fight against Israel until they completely destroy it (a tragedy which I do not believe the God of Israel will ever permit to happen - Never again!).
Unfortunately, there are also naive and foolish Israelis who believe, incredibly to me, that they will achieve "peace" with their Arab neighbours by giving the murderer "Arafat" [el-Husseini] a State, an army, etc. This is insane. You Jews are supposedly famous for your intelligence. How can some of your "leaders" be so stupid?
From the perspective of the natural world, I am not optimistic about what the future holds. However, from the supernatural perspective of faith, we who believe in God must face the future with a positive attitude.
We must have faith that we will see the day when real peace and prosperity - which can only be based on true faith in God and His Word (the Bible and Rabbinic Tradition for you; the Bible, Qur'an and Authentic Islamic Tradition for us) - will spread throughout the world. Meanwhile, we must work together to prepare for a better future.
********************************************
MUSLIMS MUST RECOGNIZE JEWISH SOVEREIGNTY OVER JERUSALEM
From an Islamic point of view, is there any fundamental reason which prohibits Muslims from recognizing Jerusalem both as an Islamic Holy Place and as the capital of the State of Israel?
I realize that a negative answer to the above question is taken for granted by popular opinion. My approach, however, is not based on popular opinion or the current political situation, but on a theological analysis of authentic Islamic sources.
JERUSALEM IN THE QUR'AN
The most common argument against Muslim acknowledgment of Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem is that, since al-Quds [Jerusalem] (4) is a Holy Place for Muslims, Muslims cannot accept that it is ruled by non-Muslims, because such acceptance amounts to a betrayal of Islam.
Before expressing our point of view on this question, we must reflect upon the reason for which Jerusalem and Masjid al-Aqsa [the Al Aksa mosque] hold such a sacred position in Islamic faith.
As is well known, the inclusion of Jerusalem among Islamic holy places derives from al-Mi'raj, the Ascension of the Prophet Muhammed to heaven. The Ascension began at the Rock, usually identified by Muslim scholars as the Foundation Stone of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem referred to in Jewish sources.
Recalling this link requires us to admit that there is no connection between al-Miraj [the Ascension] and Muslim sovereign rights over Jerusalem since, in the time that al-Miraj took place, the City was not under Islamic, but under Byzantine administration. Moreover, the Qur'an expressly recognizes that Jerusalem plays for Jews the same role that Mecca does for Muslims.
We read:
All Qur'anic commentators explain that "thy qiblah" [direction of prayer for Muslims] is clearly the Ka'bah of Mecca, while "their qiblah" [direction of prayer for Jews] refers to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
To quote only one of the most important Muslim commentators, we read in Qadn Baydawn's Commentary:
In complete opposition to what "Islamic" fundamentalists continuously claim, the Book of Islam [the Qur'an] - as we have just now seen - recognizes Jerusalem as the Jewish direction of prayer.
Some Muslim commentators also quote the Book of Daniel (7) as a proof for this.
After reviewing the relevant Qur'anic passages concerning this matter, I conclude that, as no one denies Muslims complete sovereignty over Mecca, from an Islamic point of view - despite opposing, groundless claims - there is no reason for Muslims to deny the State of Israel - which is a JEWISH state - complete sovereignty over Jerusalem.
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ISLAMIC HOLY PLACES
Anti-Jewish sentiments expressed by Islamic leaders throughout the Middle East are, in fact, not religious in nature, but, rather, political. The best proof of this is in the fact that Islamic anti-Judaism is quite recent.
Omar ended the Roman ban that prevented Jews to enter Jerusalem, the Ummayad caliphs in Cordoba built a synagogue for Maimonides, and Salahu-d-Din, after defeating the Crusaders, wrote to the Jewish leaders, "Your exile is over. Whoever wants to come back is welcome."
The late King Faysal of Iraq openly expressed his sympathy for the Zionist movement, while King Abdullah of Jordan was compelled to wage war against Israel by the other Arab leaders.
Recently, the Resident Arab ["Palestinian"] Wakf has made pronouncements, such as that the Western Wall (Kotel) is not a Jewish shrine, but, rather, the wall to which the Prophet's [steed] was tethered, or, at best, the wall surrounding the Muslim Mosque. The Wakf has also stated that all of Hebron should be turned over to the Resident Arab ["Palestinian"] Authority, and that Jews would be forbidden to pray in the Cave of the Patriarchs.
These kinds of declarations by the PLO gangsters are ridiculous and absurd.
The Kotel was effectively, according to the Islamic tradition, the place where al-Buraq [the Prophet's steed] was tethered, but it was already an existing part of the Herodian structure. Muslims have never prayed close to it, and it has never had a special relevance in Islam. On the contrary, everyone knows how important it is for Jewish worshippers.
Apart from Mecca, no Islamic holy place is off-limits for non-Muslims. Historical sources say that the Prophet Muhammad entertained a delegation of Christians from Najran in the Mosque of Medina, and permitted them to celebrate a mass inside the Mosque, notwithstanding the fact that Christian rites can include words that are against Islam [such as stating that Jesus is God].
There is nothing in Jewish worship that can be offensive for Muslims, and nothing in Islamic Law prevents Jews to pray on Haram al-Sharif/Har Habayyit (the Temple Mount), in the Cave of Machpela or in any other place that is regarded as holy by Muslims.
Every time I meet those who say otherwise, I ask them to identify a single authoritative Islamic source as legal proof of their claim. None of them has ever answered such a request of mine.
********************************************
The Tibetan freedom movement
The Tibetan freedom movement has not called for boycotts of Chinese sport. That is why no one is protesting the Chinese player. However, the Palestinian freedom movement have called for boycotts.
I think any Palestine
I think any Palestine solidarity protest is almost certainly going to be portrayed somewhat negatively in the media, so this isn't really a fair criticism. It simply means that half the job should be trying to inform people in a way which bypasses the media.
werent you (squirrel)
werent you (squirrel) involved in organising animal rights stuff a short while back?
im not really into 'cause hopping"
Oppression
I view oppression and injustice in any form as wrong and something to fight against. I see the struggle for Animal Liberation as inherently connected to the oppression of people, the environment etc. If you want to choose to focus on fighting one form of oppression then good on you, criticizing others for working to combat a range of issues is pretty immature.
i dont think its immature at
i dont think its immature at all ,animal liberation is not coonected to human oppression at all .pretty stink that just walked away from animals and their plight
successful demo again - Peer out
Shahar Peer lost today, thanks in part to the loud chants from the vocal demonstration in the Domain park opposite the tennis stadium. Protesters timed chants for when Peer was serving, and it worked :)
For those trolls like 'Jules' above, here is some more info about why GPJA and PHRC called the boycott demos:
<em>Background to Global Peace and Justice Auckland support for the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) campaign against Israel. (Notes prepared by GPJA Spokesperson Mike Treen)
1) Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) is a demand by the Palestinianpeople, and the Palestinian unions in particular. An appeal was issued in July 2005
by Palestinian civil society. More than 170 bodies, including trade unions,
political and social organizations, and women's and youth groups. Its signatories
represented all three components of the Palestinian nation: refugees, those living
under occupation and Palestinian citizens of Israel. It has support from Jewish
Israeli advocates of genuine peace. They demand that Israel: 1. End its occupation
of all Arab lands, dismantling the Wall and freeing all Palestinian and Arab
political prisoners; 2. Recognize the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian
citizens of Israel to full equality; 3. Respect, protect and promote the rights of
the Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN
General Assembly resolution 194.
2) In 2004 the International court of Justice (ICJ) declared illegal the
"Separation Wall" and settlement-colonies Israel is building on Palestinian occupied
land. The ICJ also ruled that Palestinian whose lives have been damaged must be
compensated and that all nations have an "obligation to ensure Israel complies with
international law."
3) In September UK Unions supported the initiation of a mass boycott movement ,
divestment and sanctions. Similar calls have been issued by union federations in
South Africa, Norway, Ireland and Scotland.
4) In the midst of the assault on Gaza last year 500 Israelis, dozens of them
well-known artists and scholars, sent a letter to foreign ambassadors stationed in
Israel. It called for "the adoption of immediate restrictive measures and sanctions"
and draws a clear parallel with the anti-apartheid struggle. "the boycott on South
Africa was effective, but Israel is handled with kid gloves. This international
backing must stop."
5) The "Apartheid" comparison is legitimate as the consequences of an
occupation that has lasted over 40 years that has seen two generations of
Palestinians grow up in the occupied territories effectively denied rights of
citizenship. Any rights associated with the territory nominally under Palestinian
control is effectively circumscribed in much the same way the Bantustans were in
South Africa. The comparison has been made by former US President Jimmy Carter, the
Israeli Human Rights group B'Tselem, and Bishop Tutu of South Africa. The editorial
board of Israel's leading newspaper Ha'aretz observed in September 2006 that "the
apartheid regime in the territories remains intact: millions of Palestinians are
living without rights, freedom of movement or a livelihood, under the yoke of
ongoing Israeli occupation." Chris Hedges, Foreign Correspondent of the New York
Times wrote in December 2006: "Palestinians in Gaza live encased in a squalid,
overcrowded ghetto, surrounded by the Israeli military and a massive electric fence,
unable to leave or enter the strip and under daily assault.This is more than
apartheid."
6) A campaign around BDS of Israel has a power in NZ precisely because of its
association with similar, successful campaigns against South African apartheid.
7) The rights of Palestinian citizens of Israel are increasingly circumscribed
as the Israeli state insists on its "Jewish" character to the exclusion of the
Palestinians. This affects access to health, education, water , housing and land.
Acceptance of the Jewish character of the state is now a pre-condition of the
renewed peace talks' farce.
8) Israel now has 300,000 settlers in 200 plus settlements on the West bank
plus at least 180,000 more settlers in East Jerusalem. Some are twice the size of
Manhattan with their own schools, universities, shopping malls and billions of
dollars invested in infrastructure and a segregated, for-Jews-only highway system,
300 kilometres long, cutting up the West Bank with Palestinians imprisoned between
these concrete and asphalt barriers.
9) For the two-state solution to remain valid -there must be an unconditional
withdrawal to the 1967 borders with no conditions. The settlements must be
dismantled.
10) Failure you do so will increasingly raise the other legitimate alternative
future - a unitary, democratic and secular state over the whole territory with equal
rights for all its citizens.
11) The existing state of Israel justifies its continuing war and occupation of
Palestine on the basis that some people in these territories and abroad won't
recognize the state of Israel. This is simply another version of the Big Lie. Every
faction in Palestine recognizes the "fact" of Israel in its pre-1967 border
(including Hamas). Israel itself, however, will not recognize its own borders.
There is no Israeli map with the 1967 border delineated. East Jerusalem has been
annexed. The Apartheid Wall follows no border. All Israel political leaders refer to
the West Bank as "Judea and Samaria". The continuing existence of the settlements is
declared to be non-negotiable. There is no acceptance of Palestinian refugees right
of return (a condition for UN recognition of Israel in 1948). There is no
"recognition" of the Palestinian right to even establish a state let alone what
borders it may have. Now Israeli leaders insist that not just the "State of Israel"
that must be recognized but the "Jewish" character of that state - ie the eternal
dispossession of the Palestinian refugees and second class status of Palestinian
citizens.
12) The Palestinian organization which have endorsed the appeal for a BDS (Boycott,
Divestment and Sanctions) campaign against Israel include:
· Council of National and Islamic Forces in Palestine
· General Union of Palestinian Workers
· Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU)
· Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO, 132 member organizations)
· Federation of Independent Trade Unions
· Union of Arab Community Based Associations (Ittijah, 74 member organizations)
· Global Palestine Right of Return Coalition (12 member organizations)
· Occupied Palestine and Golan Heights Initiative (16 member organizations)
· General Union of Palestinian Women
· Palestinian Farmers Union
· Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign (STW, 13 member
organizations, 50 popular committees)
· Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI)
· National Committee to Commemorate the Nakba (20 member organizations)
· Civic Coalition for the Defense of Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem
(CCDPRJ, 18 member organizations)
· Coalition for Jerusalem (41 member organizations)
· Union of Palestinian Charitable Organizations
· Palestinian Economic Monitor
13) With the background described above it is both appropriate and compelling for
New Zealanders to give their support to the BDS campaign.
</em>
'Protesters timed chants for
'Protesters timed chants for when Peer was serving, and it worked :)'
nice!
Good little
Good little nazi!
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During a 1968 appearance at Harvard University, a student stood up and asked Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to address himself to the issue of Zionism. The question was clearly hostile. King responded, “When people criticize Zionists they mean Jews, you are talking anti-Semitism.”
From goose-stepping with
From goose-stepping with perfect timing to chanting with perfect timing.
Impressive.
You're 30% better nazis than normal nazis.
You still suck though.
LOL using a megaphone isn't
LOL using a megaphone isn't going to make people listen to you you twats.
Everyone ignores you, so you try and scream louder. No one cares.
Glad you got arrested, just trying to spoil other peoples day out you sad fucks.
Next time you lot have a hippy festival of some sorts, how bout I bowl down with my megaphone and scream to the whole world how you lot are a bunch of inbred, uneducated, angry little trolls and ruin your guys day out eh? hey I know, maybe throw some meat balls at you? lay down in front of one of your stalls and make sure no customers eat your tofu crap. yeeeahhh
You went limp and the police dragged you?! Cos you went limp you retard, how else are they supposed to carry dead weight. You're being as irritating as you can be, and they handled it well Thumbs up to them. Personally, I think they should of beat your ass silly, maybe knock some sense into that shriveled brain of yours.
The sooner you annoying scums of society piss off, the happier I will be.
Nothing ruins my day more than seeing protesters wahhing about some pointless crap that no one give a rats ass about.
and yep thats right, I speak for the majority of people.....no one cares.