Today’s Boston Demo to Oppose Gaza Closure
I spent my time on the subway to this afternoon’s demonstration in opposition to the closure of Gaza reading about the toppling of the wall separating Gaza’s Rafah from Egypt’s Rafah. This has gotten a lot of coverage since Hamas, apparently, decided to unilaterally devise a way for Gaza’s increasingly desperate residents to shop for food, clothing, cement, and other necessities. As Jeff Halper, director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, put it in a widely distributed piece yesterday,
I am not a Palestinian; I am not one of the oppressed. I only hope I can use my privilege in an effective way in order to redeem the gift the people of Gaza have given all of us: the realization that the people do have power and can prevail even in the face of overwhelming power.
Despite the euphoria of Gaza’s residents at their unexpected opportunity to stock up, there’s no guarantee the breach in the wall will remain. Israel might act at any moment to stop the shopping spree, as might Egyptian officials if they feel threats of destabilization at home. Under the circumstances, opposition to Israel’s closure policy remains important.
Today’s small demonstration, sponsored by Jews for Human Rights in Gaza, ewish Voice For Peace Boston, and the Boston Coalition for Palestinian Rights, took place outside the Israeli Consulate in cold downtown Boston.
We tried to bring medical and other supplies inside, to give to the consulate to pass along.
Didn’t get very far.
So we just kept walking around.
Listened to a pep-talk.
Held signs.
Another demonstration is planned for Saturday across the river in Harvard Square. This will be in solidarity with Saturday’s planned convoy of Israeli peace activists and others who will try to bring in carloads of supplies through Gaza’s Erez Crossing.
Technorati Tags: Gaza, Rafah, Israel, Jewish Voice for Peace, Palestine
February 2nd, 2008 at 5:43 pm
[...] and robbery … elder of ziyon – Last Updated – Monday January 28 Request a Trackback Today’s Boston Demo to Oppose Gaza Closure I spent my time on the subway to this afternoon’s demonstration in opposition to the closure [...]