5 comments so far.Peace Walk in solidarity with innocent Israeli and Palestinian victims
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Moviment Graffitti, Peace Lab and Kopin are holding a peace walk in Valletta on Tuesday at 5.30pm, to protest against the attacks by Israel in Gaza, which have already killed over 300 people during the past 3 days.
People attending the protest are being asked to bring candles and Palestinan flags with them.
“As one of the bloodiest military offensives by the State of Israel against the people of Gaza is taking place, causing hundreds of casualties including over 300 deaths, we, as members of Maltese civil society, are hereby forcefully expressing our full condemnation of these brutal attacks,” the NGOs said.
“We also urge governments which believe in human rights as well as civil society to put pressure on the Israeli government to start respecting the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people who have been prisoners in their own country for the past 60 years.
“The state of Israel is claiming that it is only acting in retaliation to the firing of rockets by Hamas. However, nothing justifies such a harsh and brutal attack which is killing and wounding hundreds of Palestinians. Although we cannot justify the shooting of rockets by Hamas, we acknowledge that these shootings occurred within the context of long months of living under an unacceptable and illegal siege enforced by the Israeli military on the people of Gaza.”
Meanwhile, Alternattiva Demokratika have said they will be participating in the peace walk in solidarity with the innocent Israeli and Palestinian victims of this senseless bloodbath.
Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party Chairperson, said, “We shall be at the peace march to say stop to the hatred being fueled between the Israeli and Palestinian people, who deserve to be able to live together freely side by side in peace, as two states with equal dignity.”
“We totally deplore the eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth policies that are being implemented by Hamas leaders on the one hand and by the Israeli government on the other. It is about time that the leaders of the two communities put the real interests of their people first and not their own political interests.”
“Two wrongs do not make a right, and the disproportionate reaction by the Israeli authorities is totally unacceptable. The international community should put pressure on the Israeli authorities and on Hamas to lay down their arms and sit around the negotiating table once and for all,” concluded Prof. Cassola.
In what way can this charade be described as a peace walk? The walk is in support of one side only, which just so happens to be the terrorist side ruled by Hamas.
I think these three NGO’s are going down a dangerous road by organising a rally in support of terrorists. Can you just imagine what the scene would look like with Maltese people standing in Freedom Square waving Palestinian flags and candles? Disgusting.
These NGO’s say that they want to put pressure on the Israeli government to start respecting the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people. What about the fundamental rights of the Israeli people? Don’t their men women and children have a fundamental right to live their lives without the threat of terrorist attacks on a daily basis?
The blood of hundreds of innocent Palestinian people rests fair and square on the hands of Hamas. They have used the age-old tactic of operating from civilian areas in order to ensure the deaths of their own people when the other side retaliates. By organising this sick protest march you are showing solidarity with a terrorist group who have no interest in peace talks. This is what Hamas were hoping for and you three groups have delivered. Shame.
I sincerely hope that the Maltese people will recognise the total naivety of the NGO’s in question in showing support for a terrorist group and give this ‘peace walk’ a wide berth.
Freedom of assembly and expression.
As far as I’m concerned they do well (Message of solidarity) and do it well (non-violent).
And what do you expect from people and organisations who its in their direct and principle based interest to speak against violence?
And I will just remind you a quote your 30 years of experiences might have led you to hear.
“I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it.”
by François-Marie Arouet aka Voltaire
Well Joseph, no doubt you will be at the front of the line with a candle in one hand and a Palestinian flag in the other. I suppose it will make for a nice day out for you and then you can go back home and put your feet up. Unfortunately in my ’30 years of experience’ which you refer to I didn’t have that luxury!
I don’t see the relevance in your quote from Voltaire. This is not about defending words but about defending terrorist acts of aggression against Israel. Let me give you a better quote Joseph from the English philosopher Edmund Burke; ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’
From the Guardian
Sorry Joseph but were you trying to make a point here? We all know that people are dying as a result of the bombing. The point is that if Hamas were in the least bit interested in peace talks this wouldn’t be happening. Also if they insist on firing their useless little fireworks into Israel why don’t they do so from an unpopulated area?
If you didn’t like your neighbour and you knew he was armed to the teeth with every type of modern weapon, do you think it would make sense to fire stones at his house from your catapult after being told to stop?