Arabs Against Discrimination[“Israel is a racist state! It is an apartheid regime!”]

“ Israel is a racist state! It is an apartheid regime!”

Source: www.nfc.co.il, May 23, 2005

By: Hadar Farber

On Saturday, a pro-Palestinian rally, organized by the British Palestine Solidarity Campaign, was held in Trafalgar Square , one of the main tourist squares in London . During the rally, Respect Party MP George Galloway delivered a speech calling for the imposition of a general boycott on Israel . Other speakers called for the destruction of Israel .

Previously, in 1994, Galloway praised Saddam Hussein for his courage and perseverance. He was kicked out of the British Labor Party in October of 2003 after statements he made about the war in Iraq, which the head of the party claimed had incited people to attack the British army.

The Jerusalem Post reported that the protestors raised Palestinian flags under the rain, held up anti-Israeli banners, and filled the square with speeches filled with anti-Israeli slogans. The protesters also chanted, “Victory to the intifada.” The voices of other prominent personalities also echoed in Trafalgar Square , including that of Stop the War Coalition member, Andrew Birgin, who called for the destruction of the state of Israel . “ Israel is a racist state!” he said. “It is an apartheid regime with Apache helicopters and F-16 bombers! When there is real democracy, there will be no more Israel !” The crowd responded with chants of, “God is great.”

The Jerusalem Post also reported that Palestinian representatives participated in the rally, claiming that Israel has been implementing a policy of ethnic cleansing since 1948 and calling for the right of return. The protesters also described Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the US President George Bush as “the two most dangerous men in the world.”

Paul Mackney, the president of NATPHE—the second largest teachers' union in the UK —called for solidarity with the Palestinian people. “Palestinian refugee camps are like open air prisons,” he said. The Israeli army frequently invades them. There will be no peace in the Middle East until there is justice for the Palestinian people.”