4 Responses to “Eyewitness in Gaza: Talk by Brian Dooley”

1. seb says:

   15, September 2009 at 10:46 am

   i’m better not get into this `hot button` political issue except to say :

   i wanted to vote for a socialist alternative to the labour party at the european election but both of the far left parties were anti-israel and pro-arab which is not a position i want to support.

   although i’m not opposed to humanitarian ventures such as george galloway’s favourite charity :

   http://www.vivapalestina-us.org

   (Report comment)

   Reply to this comment
   • +4 RTUC says:

     16, September 2009 at 8:57 am

     Why people on the Isle of Wight are supporting Palestine.

     There is a phenomenon on the Isle of Wight that is growing. People are supporting the Palestinian people and in particular Gaza at the moment. It is growing so quickly in fact that the Friends of Palestine (FOP) is increasing in numbers and wants to organise bigger events. The latest is to take part, this Christmas, in a convoy being organised nationally to deliver essential items and medical equipment to the blockaded Gaza. We are sending lorries, containers and island drivers. Also people are visiting the occupied territories (through FOP) in greater numbers to show solidarity with the Palestinian people, learn about their situation and even work alongside them. This is all taking place here on the island and if you want to join us and take part, you can!

     The reason people on the Isle of Wight are interested in Palestine is because the island has a tradition of support. It has great democratic feelings and when this tiny island speaks out the rest of England suddenly pays attention, why is this place that represents the homely sentiment of the nation giving its view? Well, when it comes to the heart of the matter it is what everyone else thinks and feels.
     People have been so moved by the TV pictures that showed the atrocities committed by Israeli Zionism against the people of Gaza and were stirred by it and also remember other similar atrocities by fascists in the Second World War that deeply disturbed world peace, the people on the island want to say something about it too. They want to participate just like they did in the past. This is why our citizens are even asking whether it is possible to twin the island with the people of Gaza, an issue FOP is prepared to pursue. People on the Isle of Wight are not averse to a “bit of politics” and recognise the importance of the Middle East and in particular Palestine, just as they see their own significance as the little island south of mainland Britain.
     The international support of the Palestinian cause is growing throughout Britain, and Isle of Wighters are a part of this trend. Not only the big manifestations and demonstrations in London and other cities, but also the students who have continuously staged actions in support of Gaza around the nation’s universities and colleges have tallied with our own feelings and actions.
     The Friends of Palestine recently sprang up with enthusiastic organisers in recent months and has organised meetings and practical activities to concretely support Palestine both politically and materially. This unstoppable process and organisation has been supported by the workers’ Trades Council in Ryde and other organisations such as Amnesty International, religious organisations and many, many ordinary people from all kinds of backgrounds.
     The Palestine cause is a just cause and is essential for the people of the Middle East and has obvious implications for the resources of the world. The Zionists are interested in “ethnic cleansing” and genocide as has been proved by their atrocities in Gaza and attempts to squeeze out the people on the West bank by building settlements to steal more land and colonise it. The Zionists want to eradicate the Palestinian right to be, to even exist. This can never be accepted or allowed, the Palestinians cannot be driven out.
     It is essential that the rights of the Palestinians for their homeland are secured and their rights of return too. Every nation has the right to independence and sovereignty against occupation. This has been the lesson of the Second World War and shows how essential this is. It is not beyond our imagination to see how other islands, the island of Jersey or the island of Crete, for example suffered under the Nazi jackboot during that war for world freedom. And where would we be without the sacrifice of the resistance? The resistance of the people then is not unlike the resistance of the people of Palestine now. The resistance fighters then were called “terrorists” when they gave their lives, just like the Israeli Zionists similar to the Nazis are calling the resistance and organisations like Hamas “terrorists” in Palestine now. This can never be allowed to pass and we will not bad mouth the elected representatives of the Palestinian people as we would not have bad mouthed and copied the propaganda of Goebbels against the heroic resistance fighters of France, Holland or Norway in World War 2. We will not be misled by hysteria about terrorism and putting resistance in the same boat.
     It is from this standpoint that the people of the Isle of Wight want to make it clear to Israeli Zionist supporters in the Government and opposition parties. We have shown you in recent elections that you had better watch your step. Cameron and Brown have shown that British complicity with the Israeli Zionists is not acceptable. We do not agree with what you are doing in support of the United States in siding with Israel. What you do is not in our name. We intend to break the blockade of Gaza and get humanitarian aid in. We will not allow Palestine to be isolated and we vigorously condemn the building of settlements and the Wall on the West Bank. Our campaign against Israeli goods is widening and we will support the fair trade of Palestinian produce in shops and supermarkets.

     (Report comment)

     Reply to this comment
2. +2 BigEars says:

   16, September 2009 at 10:43 am

   the Nazis
   demonized the Jews politically and socially, disenfranchised them by making laws to remove them from their land and businesses. Germans occupied the property which had been removed from Jews. Many Jews were forced into ghettos and eventually in Warsaw in particular they were bombarded by artillery and tanks and bulldozers rolled over their houses while they were still inside.

   The Jewish people cried ‘Never forget the Holocaust’

   The Israelis have
   demonized the Palestinians politically and socially, disenfranchised them by making laws to remove them from their land and businesses. Israelis have occupied the property which has been removed from Palestinians. Many Palestinians are forced into ghettos and in Gaza in particular they have been bombarded by helicopter gunships and tanks and bulldozers have rolled over their houses while they are still inside.

   We knew the Nazis were criminally wrong. What is it we understood then that is not obvious to everybody now? The Jewish people need a homeland, but it is high time we heard more Jews saying ‘Not in my name!’. The main difference between the Nazis and the Israelis is that the Nazis put a name to their policy. They called it The Final Solution.

   (Report comment)

   Reply to this comment
   • +1 No.5 says:

     16, September 2009 at 1:14 pm

     Here here.

     I have been a supporter since my student days in 1979.

     The Blind eye turned to the actions of Israel and its treatment of its native population is a shame on the West

     (Report comment)

     Reply to this comment