Angry protesters condemn Israeli raids

Chanting "we want peace" and carrying anti-war placards, over 200 protesters yesterday marched in Valletta demomstrating against Israel's "continuous aggression" against the Lebanese and Palestinians.

The capture of two Israeli soldiers by the Lebanese resistance was just a pretext for Israel to execute its pre-meditated attack and create another civil and sectarian war, the Arab and Muslim community in Malta said.

A good number of Maltese people joined the vociferous protest organised by the Arab community in the wake of a deadly Israeli attack in Lebanon on Sunday, which left 60 civilians dead, the majority of them children.

As they walked along Republic Street, waving Lebanese and Palestinian flags, the protestors kept chanting "il-Gnus Maghquda fejn?" (Where is the United Nations?)

Carrying derogatory placards, others made it clear that in their eyes the resistance against Israeli occupation was not a terrorist act but fully legitimate.

Co-organiser Bader Zina, a Palestinian living in Malta, told The Times: "What we're seeing (in the Middle East) is nothing short of cruelty. How can anybody turn a blind eye to the carnage of innocent civilians?"

He urged sections of the media to stop relaying misleading information by giving the impression that the aggressor was the victim.

Mr Zina expressed shock at the UN's helplessness in light of the destruction perpetrated by Israel.

Just two days ago, Israel destroyed a UN post killing four peacekeepers and last Sunday the UN Security Council proved it doesn't wield any power, he said.

"Through this protest we're not changing the outcome of events but we're merely joining the rest of the world to protest against these atrocities," Mr Zina said.

Fr Oliver Borg Olivier, who fled Lebanon because of the attacks, was among the protesters.

"I'm taking part because the Lebanese are my brothers. How can I remain silent in light of all these injustices?" he said.

Fr Borg Olivier admitted he could not hold back tears when he learnt last Sunday that 37 children were among the dead in the attack on Qana.

"It's absurd when you learn that the US is sending the latest missile technology to Israel, while donating blankets to the Lebanese - to wrap their dead. The Lebanese people feel completely abandoned by the international community."

While condemning Hizbollah's capture of the two Israeli soldiers, Labour Party international secretary Joe Mifsud described the subsequent attack as disproportionate.

Civilians should never be targeted, even if they happen to be surrounded by Hizbollah, he said. In a statement, the Republican National Alliance made it clear it shared different views about the Middle East. While deploring the "one-sided" demonstration organised by the Arab community in collusion with the "usual left-wing" NGOs, the ANR said the protestors wanted to falsely portray Israel as being solely responsible for the unfolding tragic events in Lebanon.

The anti-immigration movement also revealed it had intended to hold a counter demonstration to this effect, but the necessary permits were refused by the authorities.

"ANR believes such demonstrations as well as biased media reporting only serve to boost anti-Semitism in Malta," the alliance said. ANR believes Israel's reaction is in legitimate self-defence against terrorist aggressions by Hizbollah and Hamas.

It was very surprising that the left-wing dominated media failed to bring up the facts that those who started this latest conflict were not the Israelis, and that hundreds of Hizbollah rockets were also indiscriminately killing Israeli civilians including children, ANR said.

The argument that Israel's response was disproportionate and that Israel was actively targeting civilians was "ridiculous" - Lebanese people were dying because Hizbollah had no qualms in operating from urban centres.