Trip to Palestine/Israel. 2007.

London demonstration against Israel's apartheid policies towards the Palestinians. Israel is selling goods coming from the illegal settlements, built on Palestinian land.

Trailer, sort of

Peace protester injured in demo
Brian Haw
Brian Haw said he was "dragged" by police into the police van
Seven people were arrested, one of them anti-war campaigner Brian Haw, during a demonstration outside Downing Street.

Mr Haw, who has been encamped in Parliament Square since June 2001, was filming the protest when arrested.

He accused police of using "violent and humiliating force" but Scotland Yard said no complaint was made at the time.

A police spokesman said 100 people took part in the march against the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (Socpa), which limits protests near Parliament.

Mr Haw, from Redditch, Worcestershire, said: "I was filming the students lying down in the road when one officer stepped forward, as I was walking back, and pushed the camera with his hand. It struck my face."

He said he was "dragged" by police into a police van, who pushed "my head close to the ground with my arms handcuffed high above my back".

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said they were forced to act because the march contravened the Socpa legislation.

"They did not seek authority from the Metropolitan Police Service for the demonstration," he said.

Free gaza demonstration. London January the 19th 2008

"GAZA: LIFT THE BLOCKADE" - The Relief Convoy on its way

The initiative for the large action that took place today (26.1.08) started when the well-know psychiatrist, Dr. Eyad al-Sarraj, the human-rights activist from Gaza, met in the Gush Shalom office with a small group of Israeli peace activists, in order to tell them about the desperate situation in the strip. It was decided on the spot to organize in Israel a relief convoy for the Gaza Strip people, and to fight by all political and juridical means for the right to get it in. It was agreed that two parallel protest rallies would be held simultaneously on the two sides of the wall.

26 Israeli peace groups joined the initiative, under the single slogan: "Gaza: Lift the siege!" Many activists from different organizations worked day and night. Gush Shalom prepared a special poster and started a fund-raising campaign among its sympathizers. Hundreds of checks came pouring in from Israel and a dozen other countries, enabling the Gush to carry alone the full costs of the supplies. Many added words of thanks for the opportunity given them to express their opinion this way and join the struggle.

Warm thanks to all of them!

In consultation with Dr. al-Sarraj it was decided to buy not only five tons of essential foodstuffs - flour, sugar, rice, oil, salt, beans and lentils - but also water distillers. "The water in the Gaza Strip is undrinkable," al-Sarraj reported, "therefore there is an urgent need for distillers."

The weather forecasts promised rain and thunderstorms all over the country. In spite of this, old and young peace activists came to the starting points in six towns. As requested by the organizers, hundreds of families came in their private cars. Together with the people who came by bus, their number reached about two thousand.

"In the night we were woken up by strong thunderbolts. It started to rain cats and dogs, and we were very worried: who is going to get up early on Shabbat morning in such stormy weather in order to participate in an open-air protest rally and carry sacks of food?" recounted one of the organizers.

Ya'akov Manor had the idea to ask the demonstrators to bring private relief parcels and to add personal letters "from family to family". The response was beyond all expectations. Families brought not only food and mineral water, but also blankets, warm clothing and many other useful articles, even electrical stoves. The parcels were fastened to the tops of the cars or put in the baggage holds of the buses. They added up to two tons.

When the demonstrators assembled in the towns - Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Nazareth and others - a slight rain was falling. But all who hoped for a brightening up were soon disappointed: during the drive to the Erez border crossing, a very heavy rain started to pour down, making it almost impossible to see the road, and slowed down the huge convoy towards the Gaza strip extremely difficult.

About half of the protesters were Jewish, the other half Arab. The rally was conducted the same way: Side by side with the Jewish speakers - Uri Avnery, Nurit Peled-Elhanan, Professor Jeff Halper and former minister Shulamit Aloni (who was ill and sent a written speech, read by Teddy Katz), speeches were made by advocate Fatmeh al-Ijou, and MKs Izzam Mahul and Jamal Zahalke.

At the height of the rally, the moderator, Huloud al-Badawi, called Dr. Sarraj by cellular phone. He was participating at the parallel rally in Gaza and his words were conveyed by loudspeaker. They amounted to a stirring call to the Israeli peace camp to support the Palestinians in their struggle against the blockade.

A sensation was caused by a young woman from Sderot, Shir Shusdig, who called out: "For seven years I am suffering from the Qassams in Kibbutz Zikim and Sderot. I know that the people on the other side are also suffering very much. That's why I am here!"

Jeff Halper mentioned that demonstrations of solidarity with the people of Gaza were taking place in dozens of cities around the world. Advocate al-Ijou pointed out that the Attorney General had asserted in a Supreme Court hearing that the blockade on Gaza was similar to the boycott against the former apartheid regime in South Africa. "This is absurd when it comes from a government which is building apartheid roads all over the West Bank!"

Miraculously, the rain stopped just before the rally, and started again a few minutes after it was finished.

Since the Israeli army has not allowed the relief supplies into the Gaza strip, they were stored in a neighboring kibbutz. If the military will not permit their transfer to Gaza in the next two days, we shall apply to the High Court of Justice and start a legal fight until we succeed.
zope.gush-shalom.org
http://www.icahd.org/eng/
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/

London joins the Campaign to Boycott Lev Leviev!

Diamond and settlement mogul Lev Leviev is violating international law through the building of Israeli settlements in the West Bank by his Africa-Israel company. These settlements include Har Homa, Ariel, Modi'in Illit, and Maale Adumin. Additionally, his diamond company has been accused of supplying blood rubies from Burma used to finance Myanmar's military junta. Human rights organization Adalah-New York: the Coalition for Justice in the Middle East began the campaign to boycott Leviev last November.

Leviev, one of Israel's richest businessmen, recently opened a diamond store on Old Bond Street and relocated to London earlier this year. Mainstream London media has showered him with praise, failing to report on any of his illegal activities.

Join us this romantic season as we give Lev Leviev a justice Valentine and tell all shoppers that 'Lev's diamonds are a crime's best friend.'

52 Palestinians were killed in the last 48 hours.
Israel is ready for a ground invasion which will cost the lives of thousands.
We have to stop this.

ACT NOW!

www.palestinecampaign.org

EMERGENCY ACTION:

End Israel 's killing of Palestinians now!

Lift the siege on Gaza !

Wednesday 5 March 1-2pm Parliament Square - Emergency protest.

Called by PSC, BMI, PFB, supported by Stop the War, Association of the Palestinian Community UK and Friends of Al Aqsa.

www.palestinecampaign.org

Stop the war