Bristol Demonstration Against Attacks On Gaza

by Bristol Blog Tue Dec 30, 2008 14:44

If the Hamas nutters stopped lobbing missiles into Israel do you honestly think Isreal wouls have the excuse to do this?

War is dispicable - blaming one side when both are as guilty is sin is monumental stupidity.

Personaly I now wonder if we should urge both sides on as much as possible in the hope that they wipe each other out and the survivors can then just get on with their lives.

It wont happen of course because these idiots can hold a family curse for generations.

Bloody pathetic.

by Number Six Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:07

It's F16s fighting a refugee camp.
Not really a war eh?

by Anarchist606 Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:18

Robert Fisk wrote an interesting article on blame; The blood-splattering has its own routine. Yes, Hamas provoked Israel's anger, just as Israel provoked Hamas's anger, which was provoked by Israel, which was provoked by Hamas, which ... See what I mean? Hamas fires rockets at Israel, Israel bombs Hamas, Hamas fires more rockets and Israel bombs again and ... Got it? Worth reading: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/....html

Also couple of other bits I've blogged if interested...
http://anarchist606.blogspot.com/2008/12/more-gaza-bomb....html
and on the asymmetric situation:
http://anarchist606.blogspot.com/2008/12/gazas-asymmetr....html

Thanks.

by Biases Wed Dec 31, 2008 14:03

'a day-long blitz by Israeli aircraft that kills almost 300 Palestinians is just par for the course.'

par means average... saturday's bombing were the deadliest in Gaza since 1967... that's over 40 years... how can the deadliest day in 40 years be average??? Answer: the writer is exaggerating to put across his bias.

'By last night, the exchange rate stood at 296 Palestinians dead for one dead Israeli.'

The article's now a couple of days out of date. But as of today the UN says that 62 palestinian civillians have been killed. 9http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7805558.stm) As opposed to 4 Israeli civillians. A ratio of 15.5:1 rather than Fisk's 296:1. Now 15.5:1 is still highly asymmetrical, and shows that far more Palestinian civillians than Israeli civillians are being killed, but it does beg the question as to why Fisk (again) paints a very one sided picture.

Or perhaps Fisk saying that killing a militant who is firing rockets at civillians is equivalent to bombing defenceless women and children (on either side)?

'Israel deserves security. But these bloodbaths will not bring it. Not since 1948 have air raids protected Israel. Israel has bombed Lebanon thousands of times since 1975 and not one has eliminated "terrorism". So what was the reaction last night? The Israelis threaten ground attacks. Hamas waits for another battle. Our Western politicians crouch in their funk holes. And somewhere to the east – in a cave? a basement? on a mountainside? – a well-known man in a turban smiles.'

At least I'd agree with Fisk's conclusions... But after such a one-eyed piece full of statistical wrangling in order to paint a very one sided picture, his credibility as a writer on the conflict in Gaza is less than intact.

by Tony Gosling Sat Jan 03, 2009 17:33

For full coverage, including Northcliffe owned Bristol Evening Post's censorship of Farooq Siddique's Bristol Muslim column just days before the Israeli attack on Gaza, have a listen to Dialect on Tuesday Week.

I estimated approximately 500 demonstrators.

Bristol Gaza demo 03jan09

Bristol Gaza demo 03jan09

Bristol Gaza demo 03jan09

Bristol Gaza demo 03jan09

Bristol Gaza demo 03jan09

by Boyd Sat Jan 03, 2009 17:39

I think Fisk means by 'par for the course' that Israel has carried out this kind of 'defensive operation' repeatedly over the last 20-30yrs and its 'par for the course' that an aerial bombing campaign of an urban area will inevitably kill 100's of people, a fair proportion of who will be innocent civillians.

Of course Fisk is biased, so am i, so are you. That doesn't diminish the power of his words, or ours, or governments - or make any of them less empty without corresponding action.

Robert Fisk's action is to present an alternative bias to the one given by western media, who still refuse to acknowledge that Israel have a policy of systematically assassinating elected representatives of another society, because in those terms the pressure to stop them would be much higher than it currently is.

by Timmy Jones Sat Jan 03, 2009 22:53

FOR THE PEOPLE OF GAZA FROM BRISTOL

Emergency Demo At Raytheon and Boeing
Thursday January 8th 3 till 6 Saturday 10th 1 till 3

HOW CAN WE STAND FOR THIS?? the bombs and aircraft killing innocent palestinian families are being supplied by companies based in our very own city. raytheon arent the only ones earning while bethlehem is burning this year. BOEING have had a long business history with the israeli military. their recent shopping list includes delivery of:

IAI-developed Arrow missiles
Boeing AGM-114D Longbow Hellfire missiles
18 AH-64D Apache Longbow fighter helicopters
63 Boeing F15 Eagle fighter planes
102 Boeing F16 Eagle fighter planes
42 BOEING AH-64 Apache fighter helicopters
F-16 *Peace* [?!] Marble II & III Aircraft
4 Boeing 777s
Arrow II interceptors

but guess what? its not all bad news. if youve got shares in boeing that is. they have conveniently gone up by 1.6% in the last 24 hours! (yes! while everyone else is going bust!)

perhaps youre not prepared to climb on a roof this new years eve. but if youre looking for somewhere to vent your anger, take the time to give boeing and raytheon a piece of your mind.

Transport leaving top of picton street Thursday at 2pm and Saturday 12 noon

www.raytheonout.wordpress.com
www.bristol.indymedia.org.uk

But visitors are welcome at anytime. The protesters are always at home! The Raytheon office is at Argentum House, Bristol business Park Frenchay.

by Tony Gosling Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:31

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUvPsFzY-k8