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Archive for the ‘Gaza’ Category

The Pope Supports Palestinian State

1:15 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Gaza| Politics| Religion| israel · Comments Off

13 May 2009

My posts regarding the Pope normally criticize whatever brand of hate, divisiveness and false morality he happens to be brewing up for us at the moment. But this one won’t, simply because I don’t know what to make of his stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. While the previous Pope spoke about importance of peace in the region, this one is outright supporting Palestine’s right to exist, which seems crazy coming from such a conservative figure. This week on a trip to Israel, Pope Benedict addressed the Palestinian people in Bethlehem:

“In a special way, my heart goes out to the pilgrims from war-torn Gaza. I ask you to bring back to your families and your communities my warm embrace, and my sorrow for the loss, the hardship, and the hardship, and the suffering you have had to endure,” he said.

Israel granted permits to about 100 Christians to leave the Gaza Strip and attend the Mass in Bethlehem.

The enclave is under tight restrictions imposed by Israel and Egypt on the movement of people and goods, by land, air, and sea. The embargo, which Israel says is due to security reasons, has resulted in shortages of supplies, including construction materials needed to rebuild from the recent war.

In his homily, the pope said he is praying for an end to the closure.

“Please be assured of my solidarity with you in the immense work of rebuilding which now lies ahead, and my prayers that the embargo will soon be lifted,” he said.

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Prayer Poem for Gaza

2:40 pm By la Macha · Gaza · 10 Comments

14 Jan 2009

From the always amazing Suheir Hammad, comes the following prayer poem for Gaza.

gaza

a great miracle happened here

a festival of lights

a casting of lead upon children

an army feasting on epiphany

i know nothing under the sun over the wall no one mentions

some must die wrapped in floral petroleum blanket

no coverage

i have come to every day armageddon

a ladder left unattended

six candles burn down a house

a horse tied to smoke

some must die to send a signal

flat line scream live stream river a memory longer than life spans

the living want to die in their country

no open doors no open seas no open

hands full of heart five daughters wrapped in white

each day jihad

each day faith over fear

each day a mirror of fire

the living want to die with their families

the girl loses limbs her brother gathers arms

some must die for not dying

children on hospital floor mother beside

them the father in shock this is my family

i have failed them this is my family i did

not raise their heads i have buried them

my family what will i do now my family is bread

one fish one people cut into pieces

there is a thirst thefts life

there is a hunger a winter within winter

some must die to bring salvation

i have come to end times always present

the woman lost parents her children and screams

my sister i have lost my sister i want to die

my sister’s eyes were honey her voice mine

i can’t face this only god only god my sister

medics killed schools hit convoys bombed

the injured are dying the dead are buried in three

hours the people pray together and curse the people

mourn loud and quiet always too loud not enough

some must die because they are the vicinity

some must die because it was written

no army does not apologize has never

apologized authority chases paper assembly

occupation settles deeper

a great miracle here

the living are dying and the dying living

a festival of lights

a strip a land a blaze

the sea a mirror of fire

a casting of lead upon children

their heads roll off their shoulders into streets

their tops spin in hands

an army feasting on epiphany

driving future into history

carrying torches into women

–By Suheir Hammad

Children Testify Their War Experiences

12:14 pm By la Macha · Gaza · Comments Off

14 Jan 2009

The following clip is from AlJazeera, one of the only news outlets that have managed to remain in Gaza despite the ban on journalists by Israel. Two children testify to their war experiences.

via the Heathlander

gazacasualties.jpgThe horrors in Gaza continue unabated. The following is a segment from an interview a Palestinian professor who is living in Gaza right now gave:

I STRONGLY believe the United Nations, the European Union, the Arab League–really, the international community at large–have failed the Palestinian people.

I think the example of the United Nations Security Council resolution issued yesterday, that called for a durable and respected cease-fire, is a good example. It treats the whole issue as if there are two sides–as if you have two equal armies at war.

Israel has killed more than 830 people and injured more than 3,000 people so far. Israel is a colonizing power. It is based on deep-rooted racism, and it has reoccupied parts of the Gaza Strip. And the Security Council acts as if there are two equal parties that have to declare a cease-fire.

That is why I strongly believe we can’t count on the international community any longer. I think the UN Security Council and the international community in general reflect the balance of power, and that balance of power is still in favor of the U.S. and Israel.

I can’t separate the United States and American imperialism from Israel and Zionism. And that’s why I see the war conducted against us now as part of the Bush Doctrine. This is part of what Condoleezza Rice called “the birth pangs of a Middle East” out of what she called “creative destruction.” I think that’s exactly what is happening right now.

Read the whole thing here

The Israeli Government Does Not Influence Our News Sources

5:56 pm By la Macha · Gaza · Comments Off

9 Jan 2009

Now, pay no attention to editor behind the curtain!

What the hell, CNN? Why in the holy hell does the Israeli Government get a freaking *disclaimer* at the beginning of news segments? As if some how attempting to delegitimize an entire news segment?

Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos’ Speech on Gaza

12:00 pm By Maegan La Mala · Gaza| mexico · Comments Off

8 Jan 2009

marcos.jpgThe statement is the full text of Marcos’ speech on Gaza, given at the World Festival of Dignified Rage on January 4th. As Jen wrote Monday, the EZLN is celebrating their 15th anniversary through the Festival of Dignified Rage. In his statement, Marcos specifically addresses how the war crimes of Israel will create a new generation of dignified rage in Palestine.

Read the entire statement after the jump.

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While I know some readers don’t appreciate the connection I made between U.S. colonialism in Latin America and what is happening in Gaza, in Latin American protests against the continuing massacre of people in Gaza, the connections are being made.

The Colombian blog Equinoxio has some images and audio from a march on Tuesday in the capital city of Bogotá.
3174336081_edfee4c9fb.jpg

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Jon Stewart on Gaza

12:47 pm By la Macha · Gaza · 5 Comments

7 Jan 2009

What do you think?

gaza_obama_cartoon.jpgWhile the message that many are parroting, even in comments here and everywhere in the mainstream media, is that the Israeli assault on the people of Gaza is an act of self-defense. As if a nation who is propped up gracias to the patronage of the United States needs that much defense against hand made rockets from people who right now are burying their children. Explain to me how bombing a United Nation school full of refugee children is an act of self defense and not an act of showing extreme power, of sending the message to the people of Gaza that “We will kill your children”.

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shlomo.jpgSo much for the restraint Jen yesterday wrote about Hugo Chavez showing. Venezuela yesterday expelled the Israeli Ambassador, saying it was an act of solidarity with the people of Gaza.

From an official statement:

The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela expresses, yet again, together with people across the world, horror at the death of innocent women and children—a product of the Gaza Strip’s invasion by Israeli troops and the continual aereal and ground bombardment systematically unloaded by the State of Israel on the Palestinian Territory.

At this tragic and indignant hour, the People of Venezuela manifests its unrestricted solidarity with the heroic Palestinian people; share the pain that has overcome the thousands of families for the loss of their loved ones; and standing with them, the Venezuelan government affirms that it will not rest until those responsible for these criminal atrocities are severely punished.

The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela sharply condemns the flagrant violations of the international law which the State of Israel has incurred, and denounces its planned use of State terrorism, with which this State has positioned itself at the margins of National order.

For the reasons outlined above, the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has decided to expel the Israeli Ambassador and part of its personnel at the Israeli Embassy in Venezuela, reaffirming its vocation of peace and its existence that international law be respected.

The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has prepared its mission in accordance to the UN so that, together with the majority of governments who require it, pressure is put on the Security Council to apply urgent and necessary measures to stop the current invasion of the State of Israel against the Palestinian Territory.

President Hugo Chávez, who has supported encounters with high representatives from the World Jewish Congress and has always opposed all anti-Semitism as he has all types of discrimination and racism, makes a brotherly plea to the Jewish community throughout the world to oppose the State of Israel’s criminal policies that serve as a reminder of the worst pages in the history of the twentieth century. With the genocide of the Palestinian people, the State of Israel will never be able to offer its own people a prospect toward a necessary and long lasting peace.

Via / Kabobfest

Image Via / Inca Kola


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