Standing for Palestine

Letters

This letter was originally published online at www.seven oaks.mag. It is reprinted with permission.

Editor: Sunday morning, May 16. The siege of Rafah - "Operation Rainbow" - is under way. Over the past 48 hours, Israeli occupying forces have destroyed 88 buildings in this Gaza Strip community, leaving 1,064 people homeless; 11 Palestinian civilians have been killed and scores injured.

I join 20 activists and concerned human beings in opposition to Vancouver's annual Walk with Israel. This year's theme: "Walk with Israel – Loud and Proud." The promise of free ice cream ("I scream for Israel") has not been effective in drawing out the crowds; there are perhaps 300 people at the rally outside Beth Israel Synagogue.

Among the walkers are Stephen Owen, MP representing Vancouver Quadra and minister of public works and government services; Ujjal Dosanjh, Liberal candidate for Vancouver South; and Charley King, NDP candidate for Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam.

We set up across the street from the rally. We unfurl our banners –"End the Israeli occupation now" – and raise our placards –"Tear down the wall," "I support Israeli refusniks," "I love Israel but hate the occupation." We had thought of offering popsicles for Palestinians, but under the circumstances didn't think it appropriate. We have decided upon a silent vigil – only spokespersons will engage with the media.

It is not long before one angry young man strides over to call us Nazis and supporters of Hitler. (I scream for Israel, indeed.) He spits on the banner I'm holding before a Walk with Israel marshal convinces him to return to the other side of the street. Stephen, Ujjal and Charley stand firmly with the rally.

It is instructive to attend such an event, though silence is not easy to maintain. While clearly I was expecting to hear ideas I didn't agree with (I'm not standing here by accident, after all), the racism is shocking: Palestinians are "barbarians" and Arabs and Muslims, as evidenced by the removal of Israeli soldiers' body parts and the beheading of Nick Berg and Daniel Pearl, do not have the same appreciation for life that the rest of us do. Such respect for life is, we are told, "Israel's Achilles' heel."

Owen is welcomed to the stage, introduced as a member of Parliamentarians for Israel and given a warm round of applause for his role in having Hamas declared a terrorist organization. He brings greetings from the Canadian government. He does not condemn the racism that preceded his introduction. He does not mention the siege of Rafah.

Dosanjh is not invited to speak. Nor is King, though his Web site informs us: "It's a privilege to be attending this important event, and it has never been more important to show solidarity with the people of Israel in their struggle for a peaceful existence.... [It] is vital that we stand together against anti-Semitism and all other acts of hatred."

The International Christian Chamber of Commerce is represented at the podium. A reverend speaks, without irony, of building bridges not walls. The emcee and others on stage look nervous. Is Israeli state policy being criticized? No, it seems the reverend is simply unaware that the apartheid wall is controversial, perhaps unaware that there is a wall. He is speaking metaphorically, of reconciliation between the Christians and the Jews.

Rabbi Philip Bregman of Temple Sholom is the only one to acknowledge us in his remarks. He agrees, he says, with our banners calling for an end to the occupation. His interpretation is somewhat different, however. It is the occupation of Palestinian minds, their abiding hatred of Jews, which must come to an end.

As the rally begins its walk, Stephen, Ujjal and Charley still in tow, I wonder who on the Canadian political scene is screaming for the people of Rafah? Who is walking with Palestine?

Erica Lamacraft on behalf of the Canada Palestine Support Network (www.canpalnet.ca)

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