Tim lawsonIsraeli official's Melbourne visit sparks protests
March 31st 2010 04:12
On the 6th of December this year, close to 200 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Melbourne to protest the attendance of the Israeli Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development, Silvan Shalom.
As part of his role as Minister for Regional Development, in particular the development of the Negev and Galilee regions in Israel, Shalom’s policies involve settling Israelis into these predominantly Arab areas.
Pro-Palestinian and anti-war groups such as Australians for Palestine (AFP), Students for Palestine (SFP) and Women in Black gathered at the Park Hyatt Hotel to protest Shalom’s attendance at the Australia Israel Leadership Forum.
The protesters expressed their anger over Israel’s settlement activity as well as Australia’s complicity towards and failure to condemn Operation Cast Lead – a three-week military conflict between Israel and Hamas that took place in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel at the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009. During the conflict there were a large number of Palestinian civilian casualties, many of them women and children.
SFP activist Vashti Kenway explained that, “The SFP felt that it was important to send a clear signal that Israeli war criminals are not welcome in Australia. We felt it necessary to kick up a stink when the Australian government fetes top level Israeli politicians like Ehud Olmert and Silvan Shalom: both of whom are responsible - either directly or indirectly - with the massacre of over 1400 Palestinians in Gaza earlier this year”. It was rumoured that Ehud Olmert, the former Prime Minister of Israel, would also be attending the event.
Vashti also stated that “We wanted to highlight our ongoing solidarity with the Palestinian people whose loved ones were unceremoniously slaughtered in the Gaza Offensive in December and January. We also wanted to highlight that the oppression of the Palestinians continue in a thousand other little ways as well: from those whose land is being stolen in the West Bank and East Jerusalem to those who are being systematically discriminated against within the 1948 borders of Israel."
As the protesters converged at the main entrance to the hotel, pro-Palestinian speakers took turns highlighting the main issues. One of the speakers, Ennas Sammak, questioned Australia’s motives in building a strong political relationship with Israel. In her speech she stated: “Why should Australia want to be Israel’s best friend? Is it because we want to make role models of corrupt criminals such as Olmert? Is it because we encourage the stealing of indigenous land, as does Shalom through settlement expansion? Is it because we don’t care about war crimes, such as those committed by another Israeli visitor Avi Dichter, who has been accused by the US based centre for constitutional rights of ‘extrajudicial killing and war crimes’ . I really cannot understand why a democracy, such as ourselves, welcomes such dishonoured, undignified, amoral guests. As an Australian I am ashamed of our government’s welcome.”
The protesters moved to the side entrance of the hotel and some of the crowd attempted to breach the doors. Victorian police used capsicum spray to disperse the protesters, three people were taken to hospital for treatment and fifteen others were severely affected.
Sergeant Steve Burke expressed disappointment that the protesters had reneged on their earlier agreements with police for a peaceful protest. “We are fairly disappointed that they have broken that agreement," he said.
It has been confirmed that three people who gained entry to the building were arrested. SFP activist Vashti Kenway, in response to the action of police, stated: “This was an unacceptable use of force by the Victorian Police.”
As part of his role as Minister for Regional Development, in particular the development of the Negev and Galilee regions in Israel, Shalom’s policies involve settling Israelis into these predominantly Arab areas.
Pro-Palestinian and anti-war groups such as Australians for Palestine (AFP), Students for Palestine (SFP) and Women in Black gathered at the Park Hyatt Hotel to protest Shalom’s attendance at the Australia Israel Leadership Forum.
The protesters expressed their anger over Israel’s settlement activity as well as Australia’s complicity towards and failure to condemn Operation Cast Lead – a three-week military conflict between Israel and Hamas that took place in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel at the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009. During the conflict there were a large number of Palestinian civilian casualties, many of them women and children.
SFP activist Vashti Kenway explained that, “The SFP felt that it was important to send a clear signal that Israeli war criminals are not welcome in Australia. We felt it necessary to kick up a stink when the Australian government fetes top level Israeli politicians like Ehud Olmert and Silvan Shalom: both of whom are responsible - either directly or indirectly - with the massacre of over 1400 Palestinians in Gaza earlier this year”. It was rumoured that Ehud Olmert, the former Prime Minister of Israel, would also be attending the event.
Vashti also stated that “We wanted to highlight our ongoing solidarity with the Palestinian people whose loved ones were unceremoniously slaughtered in the Gaza Offensive in December and January. We also wanted to highlight that the oppression of the Palestinians continue in a thousand other little ways as well: from those whose land is being stolen in the West Bank and East Jerusalem to those who are being systematically discriminated against within the 1948 borders of Israel."
As the protesters converged at the main entrance to the hotel, pro-Palestinian speakers took turns highlighting the main issues. One of the speakers, Ennas Sammak, questioned Australia’s motives in building a strong political relationship with Israel. In her speech she stated: “Why should Australia want to be Israel’s best friend? Is it because we want to make role models of corrupt criminals such as Olmert? Is it because we encourage the stealing of indigenous land, as does Shalom through settlement expansion? Is it because we don’t care about war crimes, such as those committed by another Israeli visitor Avi Dichter, who has been accused by the US based centre for constitutional rights of ‘extrajudicial killing and war crimes’ . I really cannot understand why a democracy, such as ourselves, welcomes such dishonoured, undignified, amoral guests. As an Australian I am ashamed of our government’s welcome.”
The protesters moved to the side entrance of the hotel and some of the crowd attempted to breach the doors. Victorian police used capsicum spray to disperse the protesters, three people were taken to hospital for treatment and fifteen others were severely affected.
Sergeant Steve Burke expressed disappointment that the protesters had reneged on their earlier agreements with police for a peaceful protest. “We are fairly disappointed that they have broken that agreement," he said.
It has been confirmed that three people who gained entry to the building were arrested. SFP activist Vashti Kenway, in response to the action of police, stated: “This was an unacceptable use of force by the Victorian Police.”
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