Login / RegisterVancouver protesters condemn Israeli attack on Gaza aid flotilla
A little rain and short notice didn’t keep protesters from voicing their anger over the attack by the Israeli military on aid-carrying boats off the coat of the Gaza Strip on Monday (May 31).
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The flotilla included Victoria resident Kevin Neish, a 53-year-old retiree who planned to work as a human shield.
A crowd of about 100 people—including members of the Palestinian and Jewish communities—gathered at 300 West Georgia Street, chanting slogans such as “End the siege on Gaza now, free, free Palestine”.
Canada Palestine Support Network founder Mordecai Briemberg told the Georgia Straight at the protest that he was “disgusted with Israel”.
In a speech to the crowd, he reminded protesters that there are still two more ships making their way to the Gaza strip in an attempt to provide humanitarian aid to the 1.5 million Palestinians under siege in Gaza.
Emotions ran high and people were volatile at the protest, which saw members of the Jewish community get into a war of words with pro-Palestinian supporters, despite fighting for the same cause.
Rabbi David Mivasair of the Ahavat Olam synagogue told the Straight that he was shocked by the violence used by the Israeli army on the activists, and hoped that more members of the Jewish community would show their support by standing with the protesters.
“To open fire and kill people is so completely out of proportion,” he said. “This is a further turning point in the decline of Israel’s relationship with the world.”
While trying to explain his synagogue’s support for Palestinians, Mivasair was faced with an outraged man carrying a Palestinian flag who began to rebuke Mivasair without hearing what the rabbi had to say.
“There is a lot of suffering and people are very emotional and reactive right now,” Mivasair said understandingly.
The protest stopped traffic as it headed up Georgia Street and continued to Howe Street.
Those who didn't make it to the protest today can attend one planned for Tuesday (June 1) at 6 p.m. outside the Vancouver Public Library's central branch.
Pro-Palestine protesters march up Georgia Street on Monday May 31
Mordecai Briemberg speaks during the protest.
** ¡Viva Palestina!**
Why nobody reports that the un-armed soliders were attacked by knifes and metals rods as soon as they boarded the ship, and 2 soldiers were critically wounded, and only AFTER that they came back with the weapons.
Now, what will happen if you cross a boarder in ANY country, and assault a security officer with a knife when they came to check your suitcases?
The Israeli's are master strategists both in foreign relations and militarily. Benjamin Netanyahu, after his rebuff in Washington by Obama, may not have wanted to meet again with Obama just yet or at all. So an international incident that 'forced' the Israeli Prime Minister back to his country may have been the plan all along?
Since when are international waters part of Israel's territory? Even the IDF does not deny the attack (yes, attack) took place outside of its territorial waters.
No wonder the "facts" you mention are not reported...
Many of you are falling into the same bluff. If you critic Isreal's policy's, you are labeled Anti-semetic. The U.S. has also adopted this stance towards they're own policies. Disagree with an American policy, and you you are Anti-American, and a terrorist)
Isreal is america's well armed (by America) deputy in the middle east, complete with nuclear missiles.
I challenge many of you to try and see the other side of the story that is happening there. Yes Hammas is a terror group. The Gaza people are not all Hammas. In fact, Hammas is a group not even from the region, who is using the Gaza people, to do they're dirty work. It is not very hard to recruit people to blow themselves up, when there is no hope left in their lives. They see many members of they're families, they're friends killed, they're houses, hospitals, schools buldozed / blown up / or badly vandalized (including human feces thrown all over)
Lets change this around a bit. Lets say that Iran attacked canadian/US/British floatilla, in international waters, killed 9 of them, hijacked the boat, kidnapped the passengers, and took them to an Iranian port. (and when they were being boarded, they fought as best they could with what they had available... chairs, kitchen knives, pipes) What would happen?
Before jews ever give up an inch of the place they claim as rightfully there's, by their god's promise that they are his chosen people and has delivered to them the promised land, they will ignite ww3. Like a grand finale version of Masada.