Palestine Protest Picnic

by Oliver O'Driscoll Fri Jul 05, 2002 18:22

Interesting to note that some people consider the IPSC to be a serious organisation, some time ago I contacted them re setting up a branch where I live. I am still waiting for a reply. Re SWP, their methods have pissed of a hell of a lot of people, including yours truly.

by GluttonMan Fri Jul 05, 2002 04:50

Well, I can only speak for myself, but I see the intifada as violent resistance to both the Israeli State occupation and to the Palestinian Authority/ Arafat.

The intifada is violent (starting with kids throwing rocks at soldiers armed with the latest in weaponry!) and this is because violence works.

I support national liberation struggles, I think it is preferable to allow people to choose their government and State than to force them to accept a particular government/State. I would argue that they are misguided if they think that a State is where they should stop in their struggle for self-determination and that they're better off rejecting control by local elected despots, not just "foreign" despots.

I support the right to self-defence. Palestinians are defending themselves against people that are forcibly taking land that they use and forcibly controlling their political and social institutions.

Black blocs are not even half as violent as the intifada (more's the pity). They have mostly been about anonymity with a bit of property destruction thrown in on occasions. So, I don't think that the comparison stands up there.

by anarcho-syndicalist Fri Jul 05, 2002 00:46

Its the Israelis who are not only murdering,but SLAUGHTERING the palestinians,asshole!

by path Thu Jul 04, 2002 06:06

Let him ask the question. I think that if the SWP are behind something then the 'organisation' usually peters out within a month or so of the event that sparked it. Does the "Irish Anti War Movement" exist in itself or is it just an SWP thing?

Also, he might want to know just because he (or she, sorry) doesnt want to spend an afternoon with people trying to flog a shit newspaper in his face (most amounts of times I was asked if I wanted to buy the paper on a Saturday protest: 14 - and two or three people asked me more than once. I thought at that stage they'd know my face and my answer combined with snarl and dirty look).

Also, just a quick thing about supporting the intifada. Why is it that a lot of irish socialists (not just the SWP) and even some anarchists, support the intifada, one result of which is the death of innocent Israeli citizens (not forgetting the lives of young Palestinians also), but wont support something like a Black Bloc in Seville? Which is the more violent? This was prompted by the article on infoshop (http://www.infoshop.org/rants/corpse_last.html) which has some good points (but also some very weak arguments which are paper thin), namely the one about leftists supporting violent struggles abroad but then saying stuff like 'violence alienates the workers' for stuff at home...

Hmmm...

I sympathise with the Palestinians getting fucked over so badly but I dont think that the current intifada is the way forward, its just a cycle of violence against the person that piles up the bodies on both sides...

by Lalric Thu Jul 04, 2002 04:25

If the Palestinian Arabs would stop murdering jews they might have a chance of a state even if they don't deserve one.

by IMCer - not SWP member Thu Jul 04, 2002 00:50

Well Terry and Observer,
I presume you wont be at the picknic then?
Tell us then what are you going to do then? "observe"
The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign are a serious groupe and have very serious and pressing issues to deal with, please take your petty bickkering elsewhere.
why not write an article about "SWP hijackings" instead of all these crap unintresting sarcastic postings

by Observer Wed Jul 03, 2002 22:58

No, it's another SWP attempt to hijack an independent group.

by Terry Wed Jul 03, 2002 20:22

Could somebody me if the IPSC equals the SWP, if so then the Palestinian people are doomed.

by Paul Kinsella - ATGWU (Strictly Personal Capacity!)! Wed Jul 03, 2002 18:58 paulkinsella53 at yahoo dot com 53 Lorcan Grove, Santry, Dublin 9, Eire 087-9748511

This is needed to highlight to the Americans and to the general public at large about what's happening in Palestine. Unfortunately it clashes with the All-Unions Reinstate Mick O'Reilly/Eugene McGlone Public Meeting also on tomorrow night at 8:00PM in Wynns Hotel, Abbey Street - And I certainly know which event that I'll be going to tomorrow night. As I say you can't be everywhere and at everything at the same time! Certainly the Reinstate Mick O'Reilly/Eugene McGlone Campaign is taking up most of my time outside of work at the moment.