Please repost both article and photos on Beirut Indymedia.
 http://beirut.indymedia.org/- Thanks.

reposted on beirut imc. thanks for the suggestion.

I saw these hate-mongers and they were chanting "Long live Hezbollah" "Death to Israel" and other hateful messages. They had their children out there as well doing the same thing. Their signs had swastikas, Hitler pictures, and others saying "Islam will Dominate" with the White house underneath flying a Palestinian flag, another sign said "Allah will destroy Israel" and it had a swastika on it.

Why can't you post these pictures IndyMedia? Why can't you tell the real story if the Times and other news outlets won't?

Those pics were posted:
 http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2006/07/73342.html

children of israel

Israeli child

Children from Israel

Israel children write messages on shells bound for Lebanese children.

I grew up with the big lie that "the Arabs wish to push us [the Jews] into the [Mediterranean] Sea" and that "Israel was Gods promised land for Gods chosen people." I was blind to this Hitlerian lie that western imperialists and their zionist stooges were pushing on me, namely the ethnic cleansing of the indigineous and native peoples of Palestine was not only acceptable but right.

This ethnic cleansing is the true hateful and undemocratic act. It denies people their human rights because of their ethnicity and religion. Also whatever happened to inclusion and multi-culturalism?

As a Jew (and a person who lost quite a few members of my family in the Holocaust) I am appalled. I demand that the state of Israel permit those families who were ethnically cleansed during the time of the Nakba (1947/1848) to be able to return to their homes. That is only just and right.

Until that time I pledge to stand with those and fight for those who were so wronged, for the recovery of their land & property, their dignity and their human rights.


Free, Free Palestine!

first of all, I was there during the entire protest and there were no chants of "death to isreal" or anything of the sort. secondly, you're right about the signs of "islam will dominate" and there was a poster with israel representing nazis. however, both these posters were held by members of the "islamic thinkers society" which is an extremist group whose members composed like 4 people out of the entire crowd. they did not represent almost all of the other 700 people.

1500 New Yorkers Demand End to Israel's Attacks on Lebanon and Palestine

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 18, 2006

New York, NY- 1500 New Yorkers packed the city block opposite the Israeli Consulate in Manhattan today, chanting and waving Lebanese and Palestinian flags. This was the third in a series of growing protests in New York City over the last two weeks. The protests have been organized by an ad hoc New York coalition against Israeli aggression.

Protesters demanded, "Stop bombing Lebanon." "Free, free Palestine," and "End the occupation now." They chanted, "No justice, no peace, US out of the Middle East." Speakers called for an end to the US and Israeli wars in the Middle East. They criticized the US' one-sided support for Israel, and the lack of media coverage of Lebanese and Palestinian civilian deaths. The demonstration concluded with a spirited march past Grand Central Station and into Times Square.

Israel's attacks on Lebanon are a disproportionate response to the detention of two Israeli combatants. Israeli bombing has killed over 230 Lebanese people, including entire families, and many children, and destroyed Lebanese ports, roads, bridges, power plants, apartment buildings, and Beirut's International Airport. In Gaza, Israel has killed more than 90 Palestinians in two weeks, bombed Ministry buildings, roads, and homes, and jailed Palestinian Cabinet Ministers. This has plunged Gaza's 1.4 million residents into a humanitarian crisis, with little access to electricity, water, medical supplies and food. Israel's actions have been widely criticized by human rights groups and the UN.

Issa Mikel, a spokesperson for the ad hoc coalition against Israeli aggression, said, "Israel must be held accountable for its grave violations of international law, reminiscent of those of the South African apartheid regime. For peace, based on justice, we call on international civil society organizations and people of conscience around the world to carry out broad boycotts, implement divestment initiatives against Israel, and demand their governments impose sanctions on Israel until it ends its apartheid system, respects the sovereignty of its Arab neighbors and the right of refugees to return to their homes and lands, and fully complies with international law."

The protest organizers vowed to maintain the pressure with continued New York demonstrations. Endorsers of today's demonstration included: The National Council of Arab-Americans – New York, International Solidarity Movement – NYC, the New York Campaign for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions, ANSWER Coalition, Campus Anti-War Network, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee – ADC NY, International Socialist Organization, United for Peace and Justice - NYC, International Action Center, US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, The Party for Socialism and Liberation, Women in Black Union Square, Jews Against the Occupation – NYC, West Queens Greens, and Sunnyside Woodside Peace.

For information contact:  protectpalestine@gmail.com

Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq
Stop US/Israel War
on The Middle East
Emergency Forum

In the last 2 weeks, Israel has unleashed a brutal campaign of destruction against the Palestinian and Lebanese people.

Using the pretext of recent capturing of 3 soldiers by Hamas and Hezbollah, Israel has been bombing power plants, bridges, airports and roads in Gaza and Lebanon thus leaving millions of Arab civilians without electricity, water and food.

Israel’s crimes against humanity are taking place with the support of the US government. Meanwhile, the UN and the Arab regimes have failed to act to stop this brutality.

But millions of ordinary people around the world want to see Israel's attacks stopped.

Come hear Solidarity activists discuss the real reasons behind Israel's current rampage and what we can do here in the US to bring about real justice in the Middle East.

Speakers:


Huwaida Arraf
Co-founder, International Solidarity Movement
www.palsolidarity.org

Anthony Arnove
Author, Iraq: The Logic of Withdrawal
International Socialist Organization
www.internationalsocialism.org

Riham Al Barghouti
NY Campaign for Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions

Jafer Al Jaferi
National Council of Arab Americans
www.arab-american.net


Saturday July 22nd @ 5 PM
Judson Memorial Church
55 Washington Square South
A/B/C/E/V Train to West 4th
N/R Train to 8th
1/2/3 Train to Christopher St.


Endorsed by: International Socialist Organization, National Council of Arab Americans-NY, Westchester People's Action Committee (WESPAC), International Solidarity Movement-NYC.

To endorse : Email:  yusef.khalil@gmail.com

It is pretty obvious by looking at these pictures that most of these people simply support the destruction of the state of Israel and endorse Hezbollah's shelling of Israeli cities. The one girl with the sign and the last picture of the Lebanese flag are they only pro-peace images here.

It is pretty amazing that the fringe-y left in the U.S. wants to condemn Israel for the killing of 300-400 civilians and support Hezbollah, while Hezbollah has shelled Israeli towns constantly during the last week and still is with 1000+ rockets and counting. (See www.haaretz.com) Why won't the AP, BBC, and Reuters talk about that.

The way to create peace is to talk about justice for all, ceasefire for all, and NO TARGETING OF ANY CIVILIANS. Until people can understand fairness beyond their family, their tribe, their nation, no peace will exist.

It is obvious that elements of the U.S. left want to use Israel-bashing as an organizing tool; activists: BEWARE of all it signifies and implies. You know what I mean, and if you don't, try graduating from Activism 101 and take History 102 and then Activism 102.

it's interesting that this last post didn't mention how many israeli civilians have died. to even compare the state-sponsored terrorism of israel, which has turned entire neighborhoods into rubble--displacing some half million lebanese already, with katyusha rockets is ridiculous. learn really history. it always comes down to oppressed vs. oppressor. colonized vs. colonizer. and where there's oppression and occupation, you will always find resistance.

***Forward Widely***

Organizing Meeting and March Across the Brooklyn Bridge


-End Israel's brutal assault on the Lebanese and Palestinian people.

-Release all Lebanese and Palestinian political prisoners.

MARCH ACROSS THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE

Saturday, July 29
2 PM
Meet Location: TBA (SEE ORGANIZING MEETING BELOW)


Called by the Ad-Hoc Coalition for Justice in the Middle East which was formed in response to Israel's attacks on the people of Palestine and Lebanon. We organized a petition, signed by more than 1000 organizations and individuals, that we delivered to the office of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. We have also organized several actions against Israel's brutal assaults, including, most recently, a demonstration of 1,500 people infront of the Israeli mission to the UN. Come help us organize!
For more information e-mail:  protectpalestine@gmail.com


Organizing Meeting
Come to an open organizing meeting to help us and many others organize a march of thousands on Saturday and further actions and events in solidarity with the people of Lebanon and Palestine. Thousands of people have participated in solidarity actions in NYC. Thousands and thousands more are looking for opportunities to come out. Get involved in the organizing!!



Monday, July 24
7:30 PM
Alwan for the Arts
16 Beaver Street, 4th Floor

 http://www.alwanforthearts.org/directions.html
Trains:
4,5 Bowling Green
N,R Whitehall
1,2 Wall Street
J,M Broad Street
A,C Broadway


Demonstration

Friday, July 28
3:30PM to 6:30PM
Location: Israeli Mission to the UN (42nd St. & 2nd Ave.)


Israel out of Gaza! Israel out of Lebanon! Justice for the people of the Middle East!

WHO IS ANTI-SEMITIC, WHO IS ANTI-AMERICAN ??

68% of the people of Jewish Faith residing in America, are opposed to the Lobby (AIPAC) and
other so called Jewish organizations.
They do not believe that the actions of Israel are
justified in any way. Nor do they want such government and organizations associated as
being a part of their faith.
Are they really anti-semitic as others are accused.
Or are they proud to be American, and concerned
about the dirrection of such foreign policy as lead
by a lobby and its money trail.

They see this administration, the Zionist movement
the same as we do. Anti-american.

BIGGEST STRIKE IN AMERICAN HISTORY COMING!!

We the American people demand that the WAR be ended and our troops be brought home.

We are prepared to STRIKE and cause complete
shut down.

We expect the Senate and House to demand
such end to the atrocities committed.

No more appropriation bills, no more immigration bills, no more spending at all until the vetoed bill
is resubmitted and signed.

No action on any issue until this Illegal War Issue
is resolved.

Petition all agencies, offices, unions, organizations,
and faternities regarding an end to the conflict.

We Americans know that 911 happened.
We also know that it could have been prevented.
We know something could happen again, and the
necessary steps to secure us and borders has not
happened. We are no safer, in fact are less safe.
We know that Israel, has caused MOST ALL the
problems in the Middle East.
None of you talk about steps to be taken against
Israel. Their aggression and terror activities for
59 years now.
We do not want to continue giving and giving to that
regime, as if they were another part of the USA, they
are not, nor do we want them to be.
We understand, more then you corrupt officials that
accept AIPAC money & support, how and why we
there.
The fear factor of terrorist, is not so much about our
safety as it is Israel's.
We do know that Iraq had nothing to do with 911, and
there is question as to who was. Answer the questions
about Mossad agents, and Saudi royalty and flights.
You want to trace history and other wars.
Have we ever pre-empted an attack under such pretense
in the past. If so what were those results.
We know six more wrongs, will never correct the first,
and until some one is held responcible, and made
accountable, nothing good will come out of this mess.
It seems you all are in bed together. No one wants to
hold BUSH/CHENEY to account for their actions.
The UN has tried to make Israel responcible for their
evil actions, but is always vetoed by the USA.
If we don't bring fair, honest, & credible solutions to
the table. Which means holding the culprits to pay
for the injustice we all have witnessed, and you all
denied and continue to.
We know we will pay dearly for your mistakes,
Bush/Cheney mistakes, and Israels mistakes,
simply because of your unwavering support
for a regime that is absolutely the worst in the
region.
We want America to be the America we knew,
prior to the ambush of AIPAC and other such
foreign influences.
Will any of you stand up for the principles of
consequence and truth...
Regardless, we Americans know the truth, and
when you all decide to face it, do something about
it.
We then will be behind you 150 %, but until that, the
captain is going down with his ship. Mission accomplished or not.

IT IS UP TO YOU, IF YOU ALL STAY IN DENIAL !!

Israel’s form of Apartheid is borderline genocide. In South Africa, we did not see tanks with guns blazing protecting armored bulldozers reducing homes to dust. We did not see helicopter gunships taking out militants with their families, children and their homes with calculated precision. In South Africa, we did not see the destruction by bombing of apartment blocks such as in Rafah in the Gaza Strip where children were sleeping. We did not see town centers such as Jenin and Ramallah razed to the ground reminiscent of the bloody suppression of the Jewish uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto during the Second World War. In fact, only around 26,000 people were killed in South Africa during the height of the struggle against apartheid, between 1960 and 1994. Israel, on the other hand, has killed more than 265,000 Palestinians since its invasion. According to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the violence of the apartheid regime was a picnic in comparison with the utter brutality of Israel's occupation.

AIPAC'S DANGEROUS GRIP ON WASHINGTON:

The congressional reaction to Hezbollah's attack on Israel and Israel's retaliatory bombing of Lebanon provide the latest example of why AIPAC's lock on US foreign policy in the Middle East must be examine:


In early March, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) held its forty-seventh annual conference in Washington. AIPAC's executive director spent twenty-seven minutes reading the "roll call" of dignitaries present at the gala dinner, which included a majority of the Senate and a quarter of the House, along with dozens of Administration officials.

As this event illustrates, it's impossible to talk about Congress's relationship to Israel without highlighting AIPAC, the American Jewish community's most important voice on the Hill. The Congressional reaction to Hezbollah's attack on Israel and Israel's retaliatory bombing of Lebanon provide the latest example of why.

On July 18, the Senate unanimously approved a nonbinding resolution "condemning Hamas and Hezbollah and their state sponsors and supporting Israel's exercise of its right to self-defense." After House majority leader John Boehner removed language from the bill urging "all sides to protect innocent civilian life and infrastructure," the House version passed by a landslide, 410 to 8.

AIPAC not only lobbied for the resolution; it had written it. "They [Congress] were given a resolution by AIPAC," said former Carter Administration National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, who addressed the House Democratic Caucus on July 19. "They didn't prepare one."

AIPAC is the leading player in what is sometimes referred to as "The Israel Lobby" -- a coalition that includes major Jewish groups, neoconservative intellectuals and Christian Zionists. With its impressive contacts among Hill staffers, influential grassroots supporters and deep connections to wealthy donors, AIPAC is the lobby's key emissary to Congress. But in many ways, AIPAC has become greater than just another lobby; its work has made unconditional support for Israel an accepted cost of doing business inside the halls of Congress. AIPAC's interest, Israel's interest and America's interest are today perceived by most elected leaders to be one and the same. Christian conservatives increasingly aligned with AIPAC demand unwavering support for Israel from their Republican leaders. (In mid-July, 3,000-plus evangelicals came to town for the first annual "Christian United for Israel" summit.) And Democrats are equally concerned about alienating Jewish voters and Jewish donors -- long a cornerstone of their party. Some in Congress are deeply uncomfortable with AIPAC's militant worldview and heavyhanded tactics, but most dare not say so publicly.

"The Bush Administration is bad enough in tolerating measures they would not accept anywhere else but Israel," says Henry Siegman, the former head of the American Jewish Congress and a Middle East expert at the Council on Foreign Relations. "But the Congress, if anything, is urging the Administration on and criticizing them even at their most accommodating. When it comes to the Israeli-Arab conflict, the terms of debate are so influenced by organized Jewish groups, like AIPAC, that to be critical of Israel is to deny oneself the ability to succeed in American politics."

There are a few internationalist Republicans in the Senate and progressive Democrats in the House who occasionally dissent. Representative Dennis Kucinich and twenty-three co-sponsors have offered a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire and a return to multiparty diplomacy between the United States and regional powers, with no preconditions. But even the resolution's supporters admit it isn't likely to go anywhere. Another bill introduced by several Arab-American lawmakers that stressed the need to minimize civilian casualties on both sides was "politically swept under the rug," according to Representative Nick Rahall, a Lebanese-American Democrat from West Virginia who voted against the House resolution. Dovish American-Israeli groups, such as Americans for Peace Now, have largely stayed out of the fight.

The latest hawkish Congressional activity is primarily intended to show voters and potential donors that elected officials are unwavering friends of Israel and enemies of terrorism. "It's just for home consumption," said Representative Charlie Rangel, a powerful New York Democrat who signed on to Kucinich's resolution. "We don't have the support of countries that support us! What the hell are we going to do, bomb Iran? Bomb Syria?" His colleagues, said Rahall, "were trying to out-AIPAC AIPAC."

Discussion in Congress quickly widened beyond Israel to include a broader policy of confrontation toward the entire Middle East. Congressmen sent a flurry of "dear colleague" letters to one another, hoping to pressure the Administration into tightening sanctions on Syria and Iran, Hezbollah's two main state sponsors. Former Middle East envoy Dennis Ross addressed a packed AIPAC-sponsored luncheon on the Hill, where, according to one aide present, Ross told the room: "This is all about Syria and Iran ... we shouldn't be condemning Israel now." Said Representative Robert Andrews, a Democrat from New Jersey and co-chair of the Iran Working Group, which this week hosted an official from the Israeli embassy: "I concur completely with that approach."

Democrats, as they did during the Dubai ports scandal, used the crisis to score a few cheap, easy political points against the Bush Administration. The new prime minister of Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki, found himself engulfed in a Congressional firestorm after he denounced Israel's attacks on Lebanon as an act of "aggression." Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair Rahm Emanuel, who volunteered in Israel during the first Gulf War, called on Maliki to cancel his planned address before Congress. Asked Senator Chuck Schumer, who skipped Maliki's July 26 speech: "Which side is he on when it comes to the war on terror?" Howard Dean one upped his colleagues, labeling Maliki an "anti-Semite" during a speech in Palm Beach, Florida.

Ironically, during the 2004 campaign Dean called on the United States to be an "evenhanded" broker in the Middle East. That position enraged party leaders such as House minority leader Nancy Pelosi, who signed a letter attacking his remarks. "It was designed to send a message: No one ever does this again," says M.J. Rosenberg of the center-left Israel Policy Forum. "And no one has. The only safe thing to say is: I support Israel." In April a representative from AIPAC called Congresswoman Betty McCollum's vote against a draconian bill severely curtailing aid to the Palestinian Authority "support for terrorists."

Not surprisingly, most in Congress see far more harm than reward in getting in the Israeli lobby's way. "There remains a perception of power and fear that AIPAC can undo you," says James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute. He points to the defeats of Representative Paul Findley and Senator Charles Percy in the 1980s and Representatives Cynthia McKinney and Earl Hilliard in 2002, when AIPAC steered large donors to their opponents. Even if AIPAC's make-you-or-break-you reputation is largely a myth, in an election year that perception is potent. Thirty-six pro-Israel PACs gave $3.14 million to candidates in the 2004 election cycle. Rahall said his opponent for re-election issued his first press release of the campaign after Rahall voted against the House resolution. "Everybody knew what would happen if they didn't vote yes," he says.

AIPAC continues to enjoy deep bipartisan backing inside Congress even after two top AIPAC officials were indicted a year ago for allegedly accepting and passing on confidential national security secrets from a Defense Department analyst. "The US and Israel share a lot of basic common values. The vast majority of the American people not only support Israel's actions against Hezbollah but also the fundamental US-Israel relationship, and the bipartisan support in Congress reflects that," says AIPAC spokesman Josh Block. Rosenberg, himself a former AIPAC staffer, puts it another way: "This is the one issue on which liberals are permitted, even expected, by donors to be mindless hawks."

By blindly following AIPAC, Congress reinforces a hard-line consensus: Criticizing Israeli actions, even in the best of faith, is anti-Israel and possibly anti-Semitic; enthusiastically backing whatever military action Israel undertakes is the only acceptable stance.

Recent Gallup polls show that half of Americans support Israel's military campaign, yet 65 percent believe the United States should not take sides in the conflict. But it's hard to imagine any Congress, or subsequent Administration, returning to the role of honest broker. What the region needs now, according to Brzezinski, is an American leader brave enough to say: "Either I make policy on the Middle East or AIPAC makes policy on the Middle East." One can always dream.