The speech that Uri Avnery could not give at a Tel Aviv peace rally

On Saturday (January 3),  right-wing activists shut down a peace rally in Tel Aviv, which was attended by some 10,000 protesters.

According to the Web site of the Israeli group Gush Shalom, which opposes the occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, the police "disappeared from the scene" when the right-wingers surrounded the demonstrators.

Circumstances made it impossible to hold a public rally at the end of the march, according to Gush Shalom.  Below is a translated  copy of the speech that Gush Shalom founder, journalist, and former Knesset member Uri Avnery  was unable to  give at the end of the demonstration:

"They tell us we are traitors.

They tell us we are destroyers of Israel.

They tell us we are criminals.

But we tell them: The criminals are those who started this criminal and unnecessary war!

An unnecessary war because it was possible to stop the qassams by the government stopping the blockade on the 1.5 million  inhabitants of Gaza.

A criminal war because, on top of everything else, it is openly and shamelessly part of Ehud Barak's and Tzipi Livni's election campaign.

I accuse Ehud Barak of exploiting the IDF soldiers in order to get more Knesset seats.

I accuse Tzipi Livni of advocating mutual slaughter in order to become prime minister.

I accuse Ehud Olmert of trying to cover up rot and corruption with a disastrous war.

I call upon them from this tribune, on behalf of this courageous and decent audience: Stop the war at once! Stop shedding the blood of our soldiers and civilians for nothing! Stop shedding the blood of the inhabitants of Gaza!

The ground invasion will cause an additional disaster,  a mutual massacre, and even more terrible war crimes!

At the end of this war no general will be able to set foot on European soil without fear of being arrested for war crimes.

We are told that there is no alternative. Not true!!! A ceasefire is possible even now, yes, this very minute, if we agree to lift the murderous siege, if we allow the Gaza people to live in dignity, if we talk with Hamas.

I wish to address the people of the south, the people of Sderot, Ashdod and Beersheba: We know your anguish. Even though we don't live with you, we know well. But we also know that this war will not change your situation.

The politicians exploit you; the politicians conduct a war on your back. You too know that!

I call upon Olmert, Barak and Livni: Do not send the soldiers into the Strip! All three of you will be accused of war crimes! All three of you will pay the price!

The masses in Israel saluting you now will punish you tomorrow. That happened in the second Lebanon War. That will happen again this time!

And  you who are standing here, women and men, young and old, Jews and Arabs, you who have protested against this horrible war from the first day, from the first minute--isolated and cursed--you are the real heroes!

You can be proud, very proud, because you stand in the middle of a hurricane of hysteria and ignorance, and are not swept away by it! You are retaining your sanity, not only at home  but here, in the street!

Millions around the world see you, salute you, salute each one of you.

As a human being, as an Israeli, as a seeker of peace, I am proud to be here today."

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