Sunday morning, May 16, 2004. The siege of Rafah - "Operation Rainbow" - is
underway. Over the past 48 hours, Israeli occupying forces have destroyed 88
buildings in this Gaza Strip community, leaving 1064 people homeless; 11
Palestinian civilians have been killed and scores injured.
I join 20 activists and concerned human beings in opposition to Vancouver's
annual "Walk with Israel." This year's theme: Walk with Israel - Loud and
Proud. The promise of free ice cream ("I scream for Israel") has not been
effective in drawing out the crowds; there are perhaps 300 people at the rally
outside Beth Israel Synagogue.
Among the walkers are Stephen Owen (MP representing Vancouver Quadra and
Minister of Public Works and Government Services), Ujjal Dosanjh (federal
Liberal candidate for Vancouver South), and Charley King (federal NDP candidate
for Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam).
We set up across the street from the rally. We unfurl our banners - END THE
ISRAELI OCCUPATION NOW - and raise our placards - TEAR DOWN THE WALL, I SUPPORT
ISRAELI REFUSNIKS, I LOVE ISRAEL BUT HATE THE OCCUPATION. We had thought of
offering popsicles for Palestinians, but under the circumstances didn't think
it appropriate. We have decided upon a silent vigil - spokespeople will engage
only with the media.
It is not long before one angry young man strides over to call us Nazis and
supporters of Hitler (I scream for Israel, indeed). He spits on the banner I'm
holding before a Walk with Israel marshal convinces him to return to the other
side of the street. Stephen, Ujjal, and Charley stand firmly with the rally.
It is instructive to attend such an event, though silence is not easy to
maintain. While clearly I was expecting to hear ideas I didn't agree with (I'm
not standing here by accident, after all) the racism is shocking: Palestinians
are "barbarians" and Arabs and Muslims, as evidenced by the removal of Israeli
soldiers' body parts and the beheading of Nick Berg and Daniel Pearl, do not
have the same appreciation for life that the rest of "us" do. Such respect for
life is, we are told, "Israel's Achilles' Heel".
Stephen Owen is welcomed to the stage, introduced as a member of
Parliamentarians for Israel and given a warm round of applause for his role in
having Hamas declared a terrorist organization.
He brings greetings from the Canadian Government. He does not condemn the
racism that preceded his introduction. He does not mention the siege of Rafah.
Ujjal Dosanjh is not invited to speak. Nor is Charley King, though his website
informs us: "It's a privilege to be attending this important event, and it has
never been more important to show solidarity with the people of Israel in their
struggle for a peaceful existence. . [It] is vital that we stand together
against anti-Semitism and all other acts of hatred."
The International Christian Chamber of Commerce is represented at the podium.
The reverend speaks, without irony, of building bridges not walls. The emcee
and others on stage look nervous. Is Israeli state policy being criticized?
No, it seems the reverend is simply unaware that the apartheid wall is
controversial, perhaps unaware that there is a wall. He is speaking
metaphorically, of reconciliation between the Christians and the Jews.
Rabbi Philip Bregman of Temple Sholom is the only one to acknowledge us in his
remarks. He agrees, he says, with our banners calling for an end to the
occupation. His interpretation is somewhat different, however. It is the
occupation of Palestinian minds, their abiding hatred of Jews, which must come
to an end.
As the rally begins its walk, Stephen, Ujjal, and Charley still in tow, I
wonder who on the Canadian political scene is screaming for the people of
Rafah? Who is walking with Palestine?
p.s. I note there were NDP party members on both sides of the street. There
was no representative of the Conservative Party at this year's walk -
surprising given the Conversative Party's public statements about Israel and
Palestine.
A "letter from an Israeli woman" read at the Walk with Israel:
