Letter from Susan H to Hull Daily Mail

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 

Dear Sir,
 
I took part in the pro-Palestinian demonstration held in Hull city centre on Saturday 3rd January, and was aware that some people passing criticised the demonstrators as being "supporters of terrorism" or as "harbouring terrorists".
 
I, personally, do not support violence or aggression in any form, be it local/domestic, national or international/militaristic.  However, whilst I therefore do not condone the Hamas action of firing rockets into the southern Israeli area of Siderot, I cannot bring myself to condemn it, since it is their only - rather ineffectual - way of making their voice heard in protest against a 60-year-old seizure of much of their land and property, beginning with the unfortunate l948 mandate and continuing in more appropriation by successive generations of Israeli governments. 
 
The air strikes, and now ground invasion of Gaza are at best ill-advised - there is tremendous anger and outrage in the Arab world, hardly a harbinger of world peace and understanding - and at worst the actions of a bullying superior power, backed by the biggest super power on the planet.  It is akin to the retaliation of a householder whose windows have been broken a couple of times by stone-throwing vandals, and who then takes to the street with his friends and machine-guns the whole neighbourhood in which the vandals live, killing all the inhabitants.
 
Those who shout back at us when we demonstrate but are too cowardly to come and discuss their views with us should really begin to read up on the history of this unfortunate conflict; they might also learn - and I say this with no disrespect to the many good Jewish citizens of Hull - that there were Israeli terrorists in the l940's operating in Israel, the King David Hotel massacre being just one instance of their campaign.
 
I would finally like to stress that the above is my own personal view, and does not represent necessarily the views of any of the groups demonstrating on Saturday last.  I am neither anti-Jewish/Israeli nor anti-Arab, but pro peace and dialogue, as happened eventually in the case of the Irish troubles.

Yours faithfully,
 
Susan H

If Hull were Gaza

Gaza Petition here

Wed 7.1.09 - Candlelit Vigil for Gaza, 5pm

At the Cenotaph, Ferensway (war memorial opposite the station) 5pm to protest the ongoing Israeli aggression against 1.5 million Palestinians of Gaza. 

Friday - 7.30pm, Film at Jericho Cafe, 7.30pm

 A free film showing of Gaza Strip. With collection for Medical Aid to Palestine. (Jericho Cafe, 41 Cottingham Road, Hull)

Saturday 10.1.09 - Hull Queen Victoria Square, 1.30pm

Collect for a demonstration and rally against the Israeli ground invasion of Gaza and continued assault on the Palestinians.

29.12.08   The horrendous attacks on Gaza demand a response from us all. Please join us for an hour this Saturday 3rd January as we gather for 11am in Queen Victoria Square, central Hull for a demonstration.  

27.01.09

CAGEPRISONERS presents, TUE 27th JAN, 7pm, Quakers, Bean Street, Hull

Moazzam Begg, "Enemy Combatant", detainee

Sami Al Haj, Al Jazeera journalist, detainee

Chris Arendt, US marines, guard  

"How to become a concentration camp guard and not even notice." 

Author and former guard at Guantanamo Bay, speaks out on the dehumanization process involved. 

At Hull Society of Friends, Bean Street, 7pm, Tue 27 Jan, 2009