[Marxism] Sydney rally in defence of Gaza

[Greg Adler]

There was a very powerful rally and march in solidarity with Gaza
today(Sun 18/01/09). A radio report put the numbers at the rally at 5000.
However from my own observations and having spoken to others with much
experience of such things I estimate the rally and march to have been more
in the range of 7500 to 10000.

The rally was adressed by Palestinian activists, a leader of the Maritime
Union, a Green member of state parliament and the, Anthony
Lowensteinactivist journalist John Pilger.

Pilger made a blistering attack on the role of the media in nabling Israeli
propaganda saying it had erected a wall between the massacres and the
outside world.

Chants of Israel out of Gaza; Free free Palestine ; Palestine must be free
from the river to the sea and others were enthusiatically taken up.

The rally had support from Palestinian, Arab and Muslim groups the green
Party,Jewishgroups opposed to the slaughter in Gaza unions and left groups
and attracted many politically unattached people expressing their outrage at
the daily horrors they have seen inflicted by the Zionist war machine.

Although the whole event was completely non-violent as have been previous
rallies against the Israeli violence policing was way over the top. Mounted
police, the riot squad,police rescue uniformed and a number of
plainclothes/undercover police-I believe-circle around the rally and march.

Police were conspicuously videoing the march. When I called out to one of
these cops that they should video the Israeli consulate because it was full
of terrorsts he laughed- just maybe there was degree of understanding just
how bizarre it was to be engaged in such work.

Be that as it may the rally was a powerful assertion of solidarity with
Palestine that was not affected by the fraudulent ceasefire reported in the
morning. It may have even been strengthened by hearing the unspeakable
Olmert apologise for any "discomfort"
that may have been unjustly caused.

There was also a demonstration today in Melbourne but I haven't yet heard
how tha went-hopefully it was at least as strong as the one here.

A brief comment on the discussion about Hamas tactics and advice to them. I
find it farcical and presumptuous to dispense such advice . I am not
qualified to advise the Palestinian resistance on tactics under the
conditions of mass slaughter.
I do however think  am qualified to say that if US, German or Australian
marxists have concerns about the Zionists gaining a PR advantage in
declaring a ceasefire that we play whatever role we can in breaking down the
wall erected by the capitalist media
hiding the truth about Israel ; that we defend and support any Palestinians
willing to carry on their courageous and inspirational resistance whether
organised in Hamas or otherwise: and that we
campaign  on the basis that a necessary (but not sufficient) condition of
peace in the world is that Palestine be united and free from the river to
the sea.

(While I have written this there has been a docudrama on TV about the
relationship between Hitler and Albet Speer. In a scene that has just taken
place they are in a work space of Speer's looking at a model of their
Ozymandias-like plans for Berlin. Hitler asks about plans in relation to
resettling German displaced bhy the rebuilding of Berlin and the need for
them to have plenty of space for swarms of children ,then ( slightly
paraphrasing):

Speer:" German cities such as Berlin and Nuremburg could have sister cities
in the east. We coud rebuild Petersburg to be like Nuremberg to make
resettled Germans more comfortable there.
The Russians we allow to stay would be housed in simple villages.
Hitler: The Russians we allow to stay would be housed in simple villages I
like that. If there were any uprisings we could easily bomb them)

Greg Adler