PEACE ACTIVISTS RALLY FOR ANTI-WAR ISRAELI MP
from the Morning Star
Israeli leftwingers rallied outside a Tel Aviv court on Tuesday before the “political” trial of MP Mohammed Barakeh, who leads the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality, or Hadash.
From 2006-9 Mr Barakeh participated in hundreds of rallies against Israel’s bloody 2006 assault on Lebanon and the illegal separation wall in the West Bank, at which the Israeli police or military tried to suppress the non-violent protests.
Mr Barakeh played a leading role in mediating with the police or the military on behalf of protesters and in some instances was subjected to violence from the police and the military.
His supporters alleged that the same officers submitted false complaints against him in a bid to justify their own wrongdoings.
Mr Barakeh was indicted in November 2009 for assault and interfering with a policeman in the line of duty.
The Adalah Arab legal rights centre insisted that the indictment was based on “false evidence” and “simply criminalises his legitimate political activities and attempts to harm his reputation.”
Mohammed Barakeh, MP?? I assume he must be jewish with broad-minded parents with a name like that. He can’t be muslim ‘cos Israel’s apartheid isn`t it and muslims can`t vote and aren`t allowd in, right?
Maybe there were black MPs in the old S Africa. Dunno - it`s all a bit confusing..
Comment by Geoff Henry — 10 March, 2010 @ 10:20 pm
It’s especially confusing if you don’t want to find out anything about the facts. Most people can travel to Israel - the exceptions being those who lived there, or whose parents lived there before 1948. Their land is now being sold off by the government to private hands. Land owned by the Jewish national fund, of which Britain’s prime minister is patron, can be sold only to Jews. Laws are passed by the knesset democratically yes,and there are a few non-Zionist M.K.’s yes, but they are racist laws all the same. Do you promise to try to go there and find out or at least read about the facts from all sides and then say why you are confused instead of attemting to make clever remarks based on ignorance ?
Comment by David Hillman — 10 March, 2010 @ 10:37 pm
Ooh that smarts. I feel well and truly chastised by your comptemptible brand of left-wing hypocrisy and selective indignation. Anywhere else you think might be worthy of the ‘apartheid’ label, or don’t islamic dictatorships count?
Comment by Geoff Henry — 10 March, 2010 @ 10:56 pm
Geoff Henry: “comptemptible brand of left-wing hypocrisy and selective indignation”
Hmmm. The West provides Israel with billions of dollars worth annually in military and financial aid, diplomatically supports its occupation of the West Bank and the Golan Heights, backs up its inhuman siege of Gaza, and effectively endorses continued land seizures and illegal settlement-building.
More and more Westerners are objecting to this. Obviously you, Mr Henry, are not one of them.
As for Mohammed Barakeh, and the others in Israel- Muslims, Christians, Jews and atheists- who oppose the racist and colonialist policies of the Israeli state. They are fighting a brave and principled struggle, and deserve our solidarity.
Comment by Noah — 10 March, 2010 @ 11:44 pm
Apartheid is not my label, it is clearly defined in international law - as a crime against humanity. According to exact legal definitions the state of Israel is guilty of this crime. Settlement in occupied territory, forced evictions, refusal to let refugees return, racist marriage laws and pass laws and land laws and so on and so on and so on. As for your comment on selective indignation you have no evidence for this silly ad hominem attack. you really are a daft one.
Comment by David Hillman — 10 March, 2010 @ 11:47 pm
it is nice to be able share many things here… hopefully our post make the world better ..
Comment by sovi — 22 March, 2010 @ 10:55 pm