Palestine's Tragedy... Britain's Disgrace - Report from IPSC demo at British Embassy on Nov 1st
dublin |
rights, freedoms and repression |
news report 
Wednesday November 05, 2008 16:49
by Kev - IPSC (pers cap)
info at ipsc dot ie
Commemorating the Balfour Declaration
1st Nov 2008: On a bright Saturday morning in Dublin, around 80 activists from all over the country gathered at the British Embassy in Ballsbridge to commemorate the 91st Anniversary of the Balfour Declaration and to highlight the British State's ongoing support for Israeli human rights abuses. The protest indicted British colonial policy as the root cause of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict.
British Labour MP and PSC patron Jeremy Corbyn roundly condemned British Imperialism's signing over of Palestine for the creation of a 'Jewish Homeland' at the expense of the indigenous population. He also spoke about his own experiences in Occupied Palestine, and the effects of the crushing siege on Gaza. Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh spoke both about Imperial policy in Palestine and in Ireland, and also related some of his own experiences while visiting Occupied Palestine. Marie Crawley - Chair of the IPSC - also spoke about Balfour, the siege and congratulated the Gaza siege breakers (including two IPSC members and two other Irish citizens) on board the SS Dignity. Statements of support from George Galloway MP and the British PSC were also read out.
The speeches were followed by spirited chanting and a short march to the Mount Herbert Hotel where a public meeting took place. At the meeting, in addition to Jeremy Corbyn and Aengus O Snodaigh, IPSC member and PhD Candidate Anaheed Al-Hardan spoke about the situation of the Palestinian refugees - in particular those who have fled Iraq in the wake of the US-led invasion and are now currently living in conditions akin to those faced by the refugees in 1948.
Balad Party member and Political Science Professor Mahmoud Muhareb (Al Quds University) gave an outline of what he feels the Israeli strategy for Palestine currently is. He also touched upon the struggle of the 1948 Palestinians that still reside in the State of Israel.
Finally, there was a live phone link-up to Gazan journalist Sami Abu-Salem who gave a firsthand account of the effects of the siege and gave an update on the activities of the SS Dignity and its heroic crew.
The IPSC would like to warmly thank all those who attended and helped us organise this, the final event in our Nakba 60 Calendar.
