Last night, I marched with hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists taking to the streets of Melbourne and marching to Max Brenner as part of the Boycott, Disinvestment and Sanctions campaign against the apartheid state of Israel. These demonstrations continue despite attempts to persecute and intimidate the demonstrations and leading activists.
It was important to march last night on the week of the Nakba, the day Palestinians were evicted from their land, and in light of the inspiring stand Palestinian prisoners have been taking by going on hunger strike to draw attention to their unjust detention.
With the demo taking place in the middle of the trial of 16 activists who were arrested last year at a similar protest, police spared no expense. Hundreds of police swarmed the city, with a crack team of riot police following the peaceful march as it made its way through the city to Max Brenner in QV. At times, the march was flanked by a tight line of police on either side. It was a clear sign of intimidation as if those opposing Israel’s war crimes were the threat, not Israel itself. Many who would have come up and joined us kept their distance because of the heavy police presence. It is revolting that they do anything they can to try and dissuade people from exercising their right to protest. But it was inspiring that hundreds came out despite this and defied the intimidation.
The trial continues in the Melbourne Magistrates Court and defendants say that the police are trying to drag the trial out for as much as possible, putting a ridiculous amount of resources into the case. Already it has been revealed in the case that police were briefed before last year’s protest with specific intent to make arrests to send a message. QV management met with Zionist groups and the Victorian police to coordinate efforts to stop any criticism of Israel, and especially companies or the Australian governments ties with the state.
If you’ve been living under a rock, you might have missed the latest major development in Israel’s barbaric crimes against the Palestinian people and its supporters. A flotilla of boats with unarmed pro-Palestinian peace activists carrying dangerous and abhorrent things such as food, medical supplies and toys were hijacked in act of piracy by Israeli Navy and Military where at least 19 have been massacred and even more injured.
But I was disappointed to learn that Atwood had rejected calls to join the boycott, accepted the award alongside Amitav Ghosh, and has left me to conclude that her reputation as a left-wing novelist on the right side of social justice issues is just a hollow façade that she is unwilling to back up with action.
Dan David was a committed Zionist, a member of the Zionist Youth Movement and organised emigration to Israel as part of pushing the Palestinians off their land. Also, Tel Aviv University is responsible for funding numerous defence and military projects that have been directly used to murder Palestinians.
A Palestinian student replied: “We are not asking for sympathy! We want solidarity…You are either with justice or with injustice. There is no neutral zone.”
Once again, Israel has declared they’re going to build more illegal settlements in the West Bank. Once again, the United States has come out in mock condemnation. And once again, there will be no consequences for Israel’s actions. Does anyone honestly think the United States will do anything like withhold military funding?
The significant thing about the latest announcement is that they’ve locked down the West Bank for fear of unrest. Clearly, there are people in the West Bank sick of these empty promises and dead ends. The fact that al-Aqsa mosque has also been locked down is another significant move, given Ariel Sharon’s visit to the holy site in 2000 sparked the second intifada, the last major uprising of the Palestinians.
