You have to subscribe before seeing it, but this was in the Belfast papers this week:
Double standards exposed
Irelandclick.com 22/08/05
As Israelis disengage from Gaza, Belfast women observe expansion in the West Bank
A group of women from the Falls Women’s Centre last week joined the International Women’s Peace Service in a demonstration against the expansion of settlements in Palestine’s West Bank.
About 60 women, many from an international organisation called Women in Black, protested outside the Ariel Settlement, the largest of the illegal settlements in the West Bank. They were pointing out that although Israel is disengaging 8,000 settlers from Gaza, there are another 400,000 in the West Bank, and there are plans to expand these settlements further.
The women protested in silence and held up signs declaring “This is stolen land” and “End the Occupation,” however as soon as the women arrived the area was declared a closed military zone and they were told to disperse.
They were met with hostility by the settlers and were spat upon. At one point a man stopped his car and attacked the demonstration, ripping up a Palestinian flag.
While the demonstration was under way, a few miles away in Shiloh, close to Ramallah, three Palestinian workmen were shot dead by a settler.
Brenda Downes, from Andersonstown, said of the demonstration: “I feel that the demonstration was very positive. You can see that these people want peace. They just don’t want to be caged like animals but to be treated like human beings.
“Since I have been in Palestine I have seen tear gas and stun grenades used, and it is commonplace for children to be killed by plastic bullets. My husband [Seán Downes] was shot dead by the RUC, and there was never a conviction. I see the same impunity being enjoyed by the Israeli army.”
And Andrew Lyons, a coordinator with the International Solidarity Movement added: “While the world is being told that disengagement is the beginning of the end of the occupation of Palestinian territories, the people here see it as it actually is; it’s a diversion meant to distract attention from rapid expansion of settlements in the West Bank.
“So long as the Israeli government continues to violate international law with the construction of illegal barriers and settlements, any talk of peace will remain nothing more than words.”
Tags: activism, drew3000 in the press, Ireland, Israel, media, occupation, PalestineBrowse Timeline
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