[Peace-discuss] Signs for Aug. 5 demo

[C. G. Estabrook]

	"Olmert agreed with Bush: War and occupation"
	
	"Stop the war monstrosity"
	
	"Say no to the brutal bombardments on Gaza" 	

	"Peretz, don't worry, we'll be seeing you at The Hague."

	"Negotiate with Hamas, Hizbullah"


[I regret that I won't be able to be there, but if we want to make signs 
about the Israeli invasion for the Aug. 5 Main Event, it occurs to me 
that we might adapt some of those slogans from the peace demonstration 
held in Israel Sunday night.  This account is from Ynet, a website 
associated with the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. --CGE]


Left-wing rally: Negotiate with Hamas, Hizbullah


Some 1,000 protestors joined Sunday evening in a rally in Tel Aviv to 
protest the IDF strikes in Southern Lebanon. Police have arrested three 
of the protesters claiming they were holding a demonstration without a 
permit.


The protesters, who marched from Hen Boulevards toward King George 
Street, chanted slogans such as "Olmert agreed with Bush: War and 
occupation." "Stop the war monstrosity," and "Say no to the brutal 
bombardments on Gaza." They also accused Defense Minister Amir Peretz of 
murdering children in Gaza, and recited: "Peretz, don't worry, we'll be 
seeing you at The Hague."


Rally in Tel Aviv. 'No to brutal bombardments' (Photo: Eli Elgarat)


"They keep telling us that there is a consensus in support of the war, 
and that's not true. They keep telling the citizens that this is the 
only way, and I think that there is another way," said Abeer Kopty of 
Mossawa, The Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens in Israel.


The organizations Ta'ayush, Yesh Gvul, The Women's Coalition for Peace 
and other left-wing groups have joined forces "to voice a different 
opinion against the war and in favor of negotiations," she explained.


'Israel is overreacting'


Eitan Lerner, who took part in the rally, said: "Israel is entering 
another cycle of fighting and continues the foolishness of exaggerated 
aggression. I came here to protest because there's a link between 
starving and oppressing the Palestinians and the bombings in Lebanon."


"It's true that what Hizbullah did was unacceptable, but Israel is 
overreacting. Since when is the entire population to blame for all 
this?" he asked.


Rela Mazali from the New Profile organization explained: "This is a 
stupid, unnecessary and evil war. Our leaders could have prevented it. 
eventually the hostages will be released through negotiations, but 
hundreds will be killed along the way in Lebanon, and I don't know how 
many will die here. I think that we must make our voice heard."


Manal Amuri from Jerusalem called on the Israeli government to hold 
talks with Hamas and Hizbullah. "The Israeli aggression leads to an 
overall war no one wants. I think that Israel should negotiate with 
Hizbullah and Hamas and release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 
the hostages. This way this story will come to an end."


"What Israel is doing now resulted in the death of civilians, innocent 
children, and it serves no purpose except for the government's 
vindictiveness. I think it's good we're showing that there are Arab and 
Jewish citizens in Israel who oppose the war."


Protesting against 'second Lebanon war'



MK Dov Hanin of Hadash told Ynet: "We are protesting against the second 
Lebanon war. The war is a disaster for Israelis, Palestinians and 
Lebanese. We call for the secession of this war, for the secession of 
harm to Israeli and Lebanese civilians, we demand an immediate ceasefire 
and the commencement of negotiations which is the only alternative to a 
catastrophic regional deterioration."



To the question that no minister has expressed opposition to the war he 
said: "Also during t he 1982 Lebanon war Hadash was the only one that 
opposed the war from day one and also in the second Lebanon war. I am 
sure that opposition to the war will swiftly intensify."



"I regret that Amir Peretz has stepped into the shoes of Mofaz; I regret 
that no member of the Labor and Meretz parties voiced opposition to the 
war."



Noa Levi of Tel Aviv said: "The choice of whether to escalate the 
situation or not is in our hands and the question of saving lives or not 
is also in our hands…there is no military solution. Only negotiations."


Lavi Zeitner supported her position: "I am not for violence, not for 
Hizbullah. But also not for bombarding a whole country."


<http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3276906,00.html>.