Syed Akbar Kamal: Terror – Made in Israel

A small group of Palestinian students belonging to Students for Justice in Palestine staged protest in front of Aotea Square in Auckland protesting against Israel’s siege of Gaza. The peaceful protest while small in numbers did garner lot of support from the busy passing traffic who honked and gestured at the group.

The protest march was organised by Sahar Ghumkhor, President Students for Justice in Palestine in conjunction with RAM, Palestine Human Rights Campaign, Aotearoa Jews for Justice and Socialist Worker.

Veteran activist John Minto who recently spurned an award from the government of South Africa was there to lend his support. He urged the New Zealand government to severe ties with Israel and issued call for complete boycott on all fronts of what he termed as “a terrorist state.”

Mr. Minto said the people of Palestine are being punished for defending their human rights and their right to political representation. He said 1.5 million Palestinians are being subjected to indiscriminate bombing raids and are deprived of not only their human rights but basic necessities for survival because of Israel’s inhuman blockade.

He said under international law, this is considered a war crime. Israel should be held accountable for its callous acts. He termed it as a ‘racist state’.

He singled out Israel as the root cause for instability in the entire Middle East region. He was also critical of the United States blind support to Israel.

He said the world is turning a blind eye to Israel’s aggression and occupation of Palestinian lands. He remarked “Israel has already stolen 78% of Palestinian land and is still relentlessly pursuing for more. It’s involved in killing of innocent Palestinians particularly children. It’s a fascist and terrorist state.”

The group of students who were mainly from Palestine wondered at what they term it as the dubious role the United Nations was playing serving the interests of USA and Israel. They questioned the absence of United Nations in solving their over four decade long occupation and mindless torture of Palestinians.

They wanted an end to the siege of Gaza and urged the international community to isolate Israel for its terroristic actions.

Among a host of placards one stood out bearing Israel’s flag with a message in the middle that read “Terror – Made in Israel.”

The students lamented that the fight back of Palestinians should be seen as resistance to the brutal occupation of their homeland and not construed as terrorism. They said the Palestinian resistance is against the occupiers and that those resisting are defenders & freedom fighters and would go down in the annals of history as ‘freedom fighters’ and ‘heroes’.

Syed Akbar Kamal is Producer/Director for current affairs programme Darpan-The Mirror nation-wide on Stratos & Triangle TV. Please visit www.teamworkproductions.co.nz

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