Palestine Takes Centre Stage
At The European Social Forum
By Victor Kattan
22 October, 2004
Countercurrents.org
"End
the oppression, end the occupation" was the rallying cry at the
European Social Forum in London last weekend, where thousands of delegates
from all walks of life descended on Alexandra Palace united in the belief
that "another world is possible." Delegates spent three days
discussing issues ranging from Palestine, Iraq and the Basque country
to privatisation, animal rights and globalization.
On the first day
of the forum, in a show of solidarity and cooperation, Palestinians
and Israelis universally condemned the government of Ariel Sharon. "I
am calling for international sanctions on the Israeli regime" shouted
Jonathan Shapira, a former helicopter pilot turned refusenik to rapturous
applause. "Sharon must be put in Jail" thundered Mustafa Barghouti
of Medical Relief for Palestine.
A young man then
approached the stage from Jabaliya refugee camp where over a hundred
Palestinians, including many civilians, were killed by the Israeli army
in Gaza last week. "Jonathan is my hero" he said as he shook
the hand of the former Israeli pilot who had admitted that "lately,
I learnt how to say no." Shapira was the first of twenty-six pilots
in the Israeli air force to refuse "illegal and immoral orders."
Towards the end
of the talk, a young woman approached the microphone. "I am a Palestinian
refugee from Chatila" she said. "When I was a child I had
to walk over the bodies of my dead brothers and sisters. I have never
seen Palestine" she lamented as the audience tried to hold back
their tears.
Palestine was so
popular at the forum that people had to sit on the floor, or stand at
the back during the plenary. Speaking at a seminar on "Palestinian
resistance and European solidarity" Dennis Brutus, a poet, professor
and former political prisoner who spent time on Robin Island with Nelson
Mandela "breaking stones", said it was "encouraging to
see the crowds that have attended on each occasion to discuss the issue
of the Palestinian people and their struggle for social justice."
He urged the audience to build a "global movement in support of
the Palestinian people" just like was done in South Africa. "We
can do this by boycotts, divestments, embargoes and sanctions"
he said.
Ben Soffa, co-convener
of "Jewish Students for Justice for Palestinians" was handing
out leaflets at a seminar on Palestine. He told me there are "an
awful lot of people" who sympathize with his organization even
though they don't always stand up and say so. In a recent poll, Soffa
told me that "more British Jews say they are frequently critical
of Israel than say that they are frequently supportive of the Israeli
government."
In the Great Hall,
Cubans sold Che Guevara books, badges and mugs. Communists distributed
Marxist literature. Palestinians sold olive oil. Persians protested
the Ayatollahs. Feminists campaigned for women's rights, greens for
the environment and Iraqis for Iraq. Activists drew attention to the
plight of political prisoners throughout the world, and artists protested
against the war. "It's not who you are against but what you're
for" declared one banner.
An elaborate network
of translators, called Babels, volunteers from all over Europe, sat
in little boxes translating the cries against imperialism, capitalism,
colonialism and occupation into English, French, Spanish, German, Turkish,
Kurdish, Arabic and a plethora of other languages including Euskera.
Headphones were free of charge and a travel card was included with the
price of the ticket. Food and beverages were provided at extra cost.
Due to immigration restrictions there was a heavy demand for Arabic
and Turkish interpreters.
Primal Scream, a
major British rock band, performed in Brixton Academy on Saturday evening
in solidarity with the Palestinian people. The lead vocalist, Bobby
Gillespie, wrote in the Guardian that "most people can see what
is taking place on the ground in the Middle East. And they can see who
needs our support. Everyone knows who is under the boot and who's got
the mouthful of broken glass. The Palestinians are a prisoner nation,
refugees and exiles treated like ghosts. Now we want them to feel our
solidarity."
Victor Kattan is Arab Media Watch correspondent (and a member of its
advisory committee)