Israel escalates war of terror in Gaza : Melbourne Indymedia

By Jean Shaoul

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s purpose is to establish the necessary “facts on the ground” that will weaken the militant groups, drive many Palestinians into exile, enable Israel to “disengage” from an emasculated Gaza and maintain control of what would be a glorified prison camp from outside its borders. In short, Sharon’s pledge of a Gaza withdrawal would be only a staging post in bringing to fruition his vision of a Greater Israel that extends to the Jordan river.

The Israeli offensive has been met by fierce Palestinian resistance and has led to some of the worst casualties and destruction since the uprising began in September 2000. At least 31 Palestinians have been killed, including children as young as 11, and scores more have been injured.

More than a thousand people have been made homeless in the past week as Israel creates what Defence Minister Shaoul Mofaz has called a “new reality”. Israel has bulldozed homes in order to create a no-man’s land or buffer zone between the southern border of Gaza, outside Rafah, and Egypt, that Israel would continue to control after withdrawing from other parts of Gaza.

Israeli Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Moshe Ya’alon told the cabinet that since the Supreme Court’s ruling on Sunday May 16 that the army had the right to demolish homes near the Egyptian border as a defensive measure, the army would press on with widening the buffer zone from 200 metres to 250 metres. He said that hundreds of Palestinian homes were targeted for demolition. According to an Israeli radio report, the army was also planning to dig a moat along the road on the Egypt-Gaza border.

On May 17, army bulldozers dug up the road out of the Saladin district of the Rafah refugee camp to prevent distraught Palestinians whose homes were slated for destruction from leaving with their belongings. Israeli helicopter gun ships pounded Gaza City for the third night running. Their targets were the buildings housing the political offices of Fatah, the political base of Yasser Arafat, president of the Palestinian Authority, and another used by the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The previous night missiles were fired on the offices of al-Resala, the weekly newspaper that supports the militant group Hamas. The previous day, Israeli forces fired missiles at the office of Mohammed al-Hindi, leader of the militant opposition group Islamic Jihad, injuring seven people.

On May 15, a fierce gun battle took place as Israeli forces used armoured bulldozers to demolish at least 80 houses and apartment blocks in Rafah. The 400 tents, set up in schools and public squares to provide shelter for those made homeless, were soon filled. There have already been 600 homes destroyed since last October, which has left thousands homeless. According to the United Nations, more than 12,000 people in Rafah have been made homeless since September 2000: one in 10 of the population.

Sharon’s security cabinet explicitly ordered last weekend’s incursions and house demolitions in revenge for the deaths of 11 Israeli soldiers when their vehicles were blown up in two separate and well-organised ambushes on May 11 and 12. These were the heaviest losses suffered by the army since the start of the intifada.

The Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City has seen some of the worst fighting. On May 10, Israeli forces invaded Zeitoun. The next day, eight Palestinians were killed and more than 100 injured in prolonged battles. A helicopter gunship launched a rocket attack that killed at least three more Palestinians as troops conducted house to house searches. Then, on May 13, Israeli forces mounted a campaign of demolition and intimidation, blowing up homes and destroying whole streets and a major highway in Zeitoun. The same day, helicopters fired missiles on Rafah, killing 12 Palestinians and injuring scores more. Gunboats fired repeatedly on the coast by Gaza City as the funerals of the Palestinians took place. Israel closed internal checkpoints in the Gaza Strip and journalists and aid workers were refused permission to enter.

Crimes under international law

Ahmed Qureia, the Palestinian prime minister, accused the Israeli government of practising “ethnic cleansing crimes and collective punishment of innocent civilians”.

Paul McCann, a spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), said that in the space of 48 hours in Zeitoun 15 people had been killed and 226 had been injured. Sixteen families had been made homeless and a further 32 families had had their homes damaged. “It is impossible to believe that every one of these houses shelters militants or the entrance to a tunnel,” McCann said.

Even before these latest demolitions, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees had said that Israeli military raids in the first nine days of May had left 1,000 people homeless. Some 131 homes had been razed to the ground in what it described as “one of the most intense periods of destruction” since the start of the Palestinian uprising.

Peter Hansen, UNRWA’s commissioner general, said that the Palestinians were suffering a form of collective punishment forbidden under international law. “The overwhelming majority of the more than 17,000 Palestinians who have lost their homes in Gaza since the start of the intifada have been guilty of nothing more than being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said.

Since September 2000, the Israeli armed forces have killed more than 3,000 Palestinians, at least 500 of whom were under the age of 18. At least 142 were the subject of targeted assassinations: 83 by the air force and 59 by ground forces. A further 98 Palestinians were killed in the course of these assassinations. During the same period 911 Israelis have been killed, illustrating the disparity in fire power between the two sides.

US backing for Sharon

The Sharon regime has stepped its war of terror in Gaza secure in the knowledge that it has Washington’s unconditional support, no matter what crimes it commits against the Palestinians.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell made a mild critique of Israel’s actions, while insisting that “Israel has a right to for self-defence”. But his real hostility was reserved for the Palestinians, accusing Arafat, who is a virtual prisoner in his derelict compound in Ramallah, of undermining American efforts to strengthen the Palestinian security forces and curb attacks on Israel.

Sharon’s wider political objective is to create the conditions for support both at home and abroad for his land grab in the West Bank, while appearing to make concessions in Gaza by withdrawing just 7,500 settlers and temporarily pulling out the army. This follows his deliberate wrecking in September 2000 of the 1993 Oslo Agreement, because the establishment of even a truncated Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza that would entail the surrender of any of the illegal settlements was too much for Sharon. For the same reason, he then torpedoed the US “Road Map”, spawned by President George W. Bush in the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq as a sop to his Arab coalition partners and to Britain.

In its place, Sharon proposed and won on April 14 US endorsement of his plan for a “unilateral withdrawal” from Gaza, in return for an even more truncated Palestinian state than that envisaged under Oslo made up of less than half of the West Bank. Israel would continue to exercise military, economic and political control over this Palestinian ghetto. Above all, the US agreed that the Palestinian refugees, who had been driven out or had fled their homes during the 1948 and 1967 wars, would have no right of return to their former homes in Israel.

The Likud Party’s rejection on May 2 of Sharon’s disengagement plan—because it entailed the surrender of a few settlements in Gaza and some isolated outposts in the West Bank—has only served to increase international support for Sharon. His disengagement plan is now routinely contrasted with the insistence by the tiny minority of fascistic settlers on all-out war until all the Palestinians have been driven out. Only last week, US National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, fresh from a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei in Berlin, called Israel’s proposed withdrawal from Gaza “an opportunity for progress”. “We happen to believe that there is nothing wrong with unilateral steps in the right direction. Not everything in the world needs to be negotiated,” she continued.

The reaction of the European powers

Despite Blair’s support for the “Road Map”, he dutifully fell in line with Bush and backed Sharon’s disengagement plan—calling on the European Union to finance it.

The EU’s initial stance was to criticise Bush and Blair’s endorsement of Sharon’s proposals. But in practice, the EU has followed where Bush has led in backing Sharon. Within days of the Likud “no” vote, the EU joined the rest of the “Quartet”—the US, Russia and the UN—in effectively endorsing Sharon’s land grab as “a step towards achieving the two-state vision” and even agreed to become “trustees” for Jewish assets in the Gaza Strip should Israel withdraw. This would mean deploying an international police force to protect public utilities, preventing the settlers from destroying their homes prior to their withdrawal, and helping yet again to finance the rebuilding of airport and seaport in Gaza that Israel destroyed.

Spain’s new Socialist Party government has been widely advanced as the flag bearer of a more critical and independent European stance on the Middle East. But Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos has agreed to promote Bush’s alliance with Sharon on the West Bank land grab, calling the proposed Gaza withdrawal the “new dynamic that has begun”.

Israeli Labour Party offers support

Within Israel, Sharon has also sought to turn the Likud “no” vote to his advantage and has been able to do so thanks to the politically criminal support extended to him by the Labour Party.

Should Sharon’s shaky coalition of right-wing forces fall, Labour has already indicated it would join his government—provided only that the corruption charges against the prime minister are dropped.

The overwhelming majority of the Israeli population, in the absence of any principled alternative, sees Sharon’s plans as the least bad option and support a pull out from Gaza. More than 100,000 people demonstrated in Tel Aviv on May 15, Israel’s “Independence Day”, calling on Sharon to pull out of Gaza. The rally’s organisers, led by the Labour Party, used it to boost illusions in Sharon’s so-called disengagement plans. Shimon Peres, the 80-year-old party leader and former prime minister, said that 80 percent of Israelis who backed a Gaza pullout should not be held hostage to the one percent of the population who had rejected it in the Likud referendum. “We have come here to say tonight, ‘This minority, this one and only percent, will not send us back to the wars, to the bloody path,’” he said

********TONIGHT**********

SBS TV - DATELINE: Israel -The Great Divide

8.30 PM Wed, 19 May 2004

Israel -The Great Divide
On DATELINE, screening on SBS Television on Wednesday, May 19 at 8.30pm, reporter Elizabeth Tadic takes a journey along the controversial Israeli security barrier.
When completed it will extend 700kms and be twice the height of the Berlin Wall. The Israeli Government says it hopes to protect the nation from suicide bombers. Tadic begins her report in East Jerusalem where a bus blown apart by suicide bombers lies beside the security barrier.

Many Palestinians criticise the barrier for destroying their quality of life and their livelihoods, and claim that in many cases their land is being illegally acquired. The final result of all this, some warn, will in fact be the very reverse of what the wall intends - a level of resentment amongst Palestinians which will guarantee a continuation of suicide bombings.

Latest atrocity: Wednesday, May 19, 2004 (news, websites).

At least ten people were killed, including two children, and at least 60 wounded when Israeli forces fired tank shells and helicopter missiles on about three thousand people demonstrating peacefully in the Rafah refugee camp against the incursion of Israeli military forces and demolition of hundreds of palestinian homes.

The "peaceful demonstrators" were willing shields for dozens or hundreds of armed and masked men who were marching in their midst. These guys were carrying M16s, Kalshnikovs, and RPGs. Is that a "peaceful demonstration?" I think not.

I've never been to Palestine, but the typical Palestinian behaviour I have personally witnessed here in Melbourne was as follows:

A desperately outgunned group of people stood proud and - despite provokation from police on horseback charging into the crowd, and drunken morons running out of pubs to start fights - also stood peacefully in order to raise awareness of their plight.

Sure there was a militant feel in the crowd, particularly amongst the young men, but that was faithfully channelled into refusing to be silenced.

Tell me, when was the last time you heard of a violent pro palestinian demonstration in Melbourne? 'cause I went to seven of the f#ckers and didn't see any violence.

How's that for a picture of typical.

Since you, TPT, have obviously only heard one side of the story, I will post some links to stories describing the Palestinian experience from the student's eye view. There's like a hundred of them, so read as many as you feel the need to before you can see the error of your ways in dehumanising these people.

Instrector Refused Permission to Leave / Israeli Violations to the Palestinians Right to Education
??
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803296.shtml

Using Dogs on the Roadblocks / Palestine
??
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803294.shtml

I was in my final year of university / Harrasament against Palestinian Students
??
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803289.shtml

Broken Leg on the Roadblock / Palestinian Story
??
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803288.shtml

I will not surrender my education to the occupying forces. -right to education in palestine
??
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/802986.shtml

Two Exams-Three Months/ An-Najah National University-Palestine
??
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/802985.shtml

Right to Education in Palestine/ Mr. Adnan Idrees Refused Permission to Leave
??
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/802969.shtml

The Israeli soldier tore the book into 2 pieces- Violations to Palestinian Right to Education
5 students of An-Najah University
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803072.shtml

I have to take an exam today- Students Updates from Palestine
5 students of An-Najah University
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803063.shtml

These flats have become overcrowded with students,
Abdul Ghafoor Owaydah - Student
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803114.shtml

we were finally allowed to leave
Ahmad Falah - Community college Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803158.shtml

It is curfew, go back home
Ahmad Odeh - College of Science Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803109.shtml

my mother looked thirty years older / Detained Students /Palestine
Ahmad Omran - College of Arts Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803172.shtml

I was in the torture room / Palestine
Ahmad Omran - College of Arts Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803170.shtml

Tanks and bulldozers were parked there / Palestine
Ala Khalid - College of Arts Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803142.shtml

The soldier checked all of our bags but one/ From Palestine with Love
Ala shtayeh - Arts Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803065.shtml

Our condition is so difficult and we want the world to know. /Palestine
Alaa - ITM Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803265.shtml

My Dreams Ran Away / Israeli Violations to the Palestinians Right to Education
Alaa Mohammad - College of Science Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803242.shtml

These checkpoints divide our country
Ali husain - Art Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803160.shtml

It was cold / Palestine
Amneh Yosef - College of Pharmacy Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803238.shtml

No place is like Palestine
Arwa Hazin/USA
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803311.shtml

Gaza: Issaeli terrorist military actions and Palestinina resistance
Astrid Essed - Amsterdam
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803273.shtml

God Bless Israeli Soldiers / Violations of Detained
Ayman Tahsein - College of Science Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803175.shtml

Academic Rights Abusing in Palestine
Baha Suhail - Economy and Administration of Sciences Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803075.shtml

The most interesting part for me was to talk with the local volunteers.
Carine/ France
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803307.shtml

I can be their voice, I am their hope.
Charles/New Zealand
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803308.shtml

The Israeli Army Checkpoint’s Controlling the Movement of Innocent People /Palestine
Duha - Fine Arts Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803261.shtml

Have you ever faced an Israeli soldier ! /Students Testemonies
Duha - Literature Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803283.shtml

He was forced to wait until night
Eyad Fawzi - Civil Engineering Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803156.shtml

There were no cars at all / Palestine
Fadi Ahmad - Pharmacy Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803164.shtml

I Ask Myself, Why Us? Palestinian Sufference
Feras - Engineering Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803253.shtml

This closure caused confusion
Firas - Science Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803269.shtml

I could not find this financial resource
Firas Abu Hasan - Educational Science Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803157.shtml

We are not the special ones, you are the special people, because of your kindness & strength.
Gianluca - Italy
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803298.shtml

The Israelis imposed a curfew leaving the people / Palestine
Hadil hasan - College of science Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803143.shtml

We were forced us to lie on the ground / Violations of Palestinian Students
Haidar Atef - Journalism Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803018.shtml

A Feeling of Extreme Fear and of Being Lost / Occupied Palestine
Hammad - Business Administration Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803257.shtml

Why Islam requires females to wear scarves
Hanin Sakef Al-Heit
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803224.shtml

I was shocked when I could not find my card / Palestine
Hasan Musa - Science Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803119.shtml

Each Room was Three Meter Square / Detained Palestinians
Hasan Salah - College of Engineering Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803173.shtml

Dance under rain / Much more humiliation on the Israeli Roadblock / Palestine
Hasan Salim - Student
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803106.shtml

The ground was muddy and dirty due to the rain/ Students in Palestine
Hasan Salim - Student
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803077.shtml

Israeli soldiers might invade the university at anytime / Palestine
Haya Samir - Mathematics Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803230.shtml

He can only hear their voices on the telephone / Palestine
Hazim Ali - Computer Science Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803118.shtml

They were pleased, because they avoided seeing the Israeli soldiers / Palestine rights to education
Hazim saleh - Law Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803111.shtml

They arrested both male and female students
Ikhlas Tahsein - College if Pharmacy Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803140.shtml

tied up at the military camp for an entire week / Palestine
Isam Awad - Local Community college Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803162.shtml

The sewage water tunnel is 3 meters wide/ Palestine
Isam Eshtayeh - Architectural Engineering Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803166.shtml

Palestine was a dream to me
Jehad/USA
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803313.shtml

I have to walk through the check point -Students of Palestine
Kanar Khori - Journalism Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803021.shtml

I really don’t know what to say, I will pray for them all.
Kate/USA
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803309.shtml

The Israeli Tanks were Following Us /Israeli Violations to the Palestinians Right to Education
Maha Ahmad - College of Pharmacy Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803240.shtml

Where are you Human Rights conviction / Palestine
Mahir Alawneh - College of Fine Arts Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803147.shtml

as we suffered the long curfew (A Vague Future) / Palestine
Mais - Pharmacy student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803255.shtml

who allowed you to open the door? Students Stories from Palestine
Mais Eleyyan - Pharmacy Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803026.shtml

My Father Tries to Hide his Fear / Israeli Violations
Manal Ahmaro - College of Arts Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803236.shtml

Try To Understand / Stories from Palestine
Marah - Faculty of Arts Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803282.shtml

Palestinians are routinely presented as either terrorists or victims.
Mark Corfield/UK
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803297.shtml

I'm really proud to be half Palestinian. Thank you all for helping me achieve this dream
Marsilina/Germany
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803299.shtml

I wondered how they could get used to such a difficult situation and how they could smile
Maurizio / Italy
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803301.shtml

I Have Re-evaluated My Entire Life / Witnesses from Palestine
Mitchell Oh/USA
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803300.shtml

Detention of Peace Activist / Palestine
Moein Masod - Journalism Department
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803290.shtml

Stop Hands Up / Palestinian Sufference
Mohammad - ITM Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803280.shtml

I was put into a small cage
Mohammad Tayseir - College of Arts Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803168.shtml

I was happy to finish my exams but many of the other students could not make it / Palestine
Mona - Engineering Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803263.shtml

Running Until she Became Breathless / Israeli Violations to the Palestinians Right to Education
Mona Sweileh - College of Arts Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803238.shtml

I saw a girl laying on the floor
Muna Ali - Art Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803136.shtml

when we were just waiting for death / An-Najah National University-Right to Education/Palestine
Nada Musleh - Economy and Finance Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803011.shtml

since the Israeli invasion of our land / Palestine
Nael - College of English Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803287.shtml

We Will Emerge / Palestine
Nagham - Fine Arts Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803276.shtml

Who Are The Terrorist? Palestine
Najwan - studying Science.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803286.shtml

Looking for the road / Israeli Roadblocks
Nasir Al-Shaer : Dean - Faculty of Sharia.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803291.shtml

a Smile Flashed Across his face
Nuha Abu Halaweh - College of Science Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803232.shtml

We were unable to breath / Palestine
Omar Basheir - Arts Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803155.shtml

This was a collective punishment
Omran Khader - Journalism Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803145.shtml

he asked the taxi driver to leave with girls
Osamah Jaber - Community College Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803081.shtml

I also discovered a part of the life in Palestine.
Paul/Belgium
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803306.shtml

Isn't this star more beautiful than the other mark? Humiliation on the Roadblock/ Palestine
Qasem Kayed Yousef Oweisat - College of Law Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803250.shtml

No Certainty That We Will Have Lectures / Palestinian Sufference
Raef - Fine Arts student
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803259.shtml

We were ordered to wait for one and a half hours / Palestine
Rana and Nesrein - Administrative Science Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803137.shtml

I became afraid and took off my trousers
Rana Dyab - College of Business Administration Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803236.shtml

Rana Hajaj /violation of palestinain students rights
Rana Hajaj - Engineering College Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/802945.shtml

we waited their for two and a half hours / Israeli Violations
Rana Hajaj - ngineering College Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803246.shtml

I sit at home and do nothing / Palestinian Student Testoemonies
Rawan - Fine Arts Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803284.shtml

Star of David on Palestinian Student
refused to mention his name - Fine arts Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803079.shtml

He tried to refuse
Reyad Odeh/21 years old - College of Pharmacy Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803113.shtml

Will Peace Cover The World? Story of Palestinian Student
Sabri - Engineering Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803278.shtml

my only hope is that the world will take a look at my land / Palestine
Samah - Business Administration Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803274.shtml

There was no fresh air at all
Samer Yahia - Arts Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803153.shtml

Go home, no University / Palestine
Sana - Fine Art’s College Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803267.shtml

I found my tree
Sehem/USA
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803312.shtml

Soldiers were Going up and Down the Stairs / Israeli Violations to the Palestinians Right to Education
Shirin Atwan - student - College of PharmacY
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803234.shtml

Take off your shirt / Israeli Violations/ Palestine
Student from An-Najah. (afraid to mention her name)
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803120.shtml

What joy they get through my pain
Subhi Radwan - Electrical engineering Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803151.shtml

The soldiers were very angry / Israeli Violations to the Palestinians Right to Education
Suha Abu Nabah - College of Pharmacy Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803244.shtml

I really loved people in Palestine
Suzana/Italy
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803310.shtml

Must We Leave Our Home? Palestinian Occupied Territories
Wafa - Interior Design Student.
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803271.shtml

Student Shot on the Road Block / Israeli Violations to the Palestinians Right to Education
Wasef Khatib 19 y-o student at An-Najah National University
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803295.shtml

Watch Out the Israeli Soldiers on Your Way / Palestinian Daily Life
Zeinab El Haj Hussein
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2004/05/803248.shtml

I've got to invoke Goodwin's Law thanx to Artifex's inflamatory post above.

Goodwin's Law of Usenet

Professor Goodwin, U of I, in 1981 made the observation that Usenet discussions gravitate downhill.

He postulated that as the length of a discussion thread grows, the probability approaches one (1) that one participant will introduce the terms "Hitler" or "Nazi".

The custom has evolved that the first party to utter "Hitler" or "Nazi" has lost the discussion, and the thread terminates.

I didn't mention "Hitler" or "Nazi" You Dickhead!!!

Oh good one Arty poos, but what does 'one people, one nation, one leader' allude to and imply?

It's always interesting how so-called Palestinians outside of the Middle East exercise their democratic rights of protest, despite their compadres having no such thing thanks to Arafat.

Do you hear them holding protests against inciting children to kill? Nope. protests against the terrorist and corrupt dictator Arafat? Nope. Protest against terrorism? Nope.

And yet then you hear them say they are interested in peace? Hardly.

Not sure about Melbourne, but they behaved like animals in Sydney (and this link isn't from a credibilitiy challenged site like Nazimedia) http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,4085443%255E1702,00.html

Sorry, Nazihunter (get a new handle...!) , but even by your OWN link, the aggressive protestors in Sydney were only a few in a splinter group...even the police acknowledge this. So, your contention that they are "all animals" is...oversimplifying? Racist?

Heck, I 'll just go with plain "wrong"

I've been to my share of protests, and splinter groups are the norm. You cannot judge a whole group by what a few individuals decide to do.

The police/occupying militia, however: are all organized under a centralized hierarchy, and so the actions of a few are a reflection upon them all.