In solidarity with Gaza victims
Video: Mark Zammit Cordina
The Muslim Community in Malta this evening chanted “free Palestine” as they walked down Republic Street, Valletta, in a peaceful protest against the recent Israeli attack on the Humanitarian Gaza Aid Convoy.
The demonstration is currently being followed by a vigil of prayers and poetry reading, supported by a number of non-governmental organisations to express solidarity with the Gaza flotilla victims.
Participants urged the local and international communities to work for peace in the Middle East and demand Israel to assume its responsibilities and respect human rights.
They called for the violation of human rights in Gaza to end and the blockade to be lifted as soon as possible.
The organisations supporting the event were Alternattiva Demokratika Zaghzagh, the Arabic Cultural Information Society (ACIS), Euro-Med, Kopin (Koperazzjoni Internazzjonali - Malta), Moviment Azzjoni Xellug, Moviment Graffitti, Peace lab, Stand4Palestine – Malta, Third World Group and Zminijietna.
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Joe Xuereb
Jun 6th 2010, 20:05
@ Charles Grixti. Don't you think you're belabouring the point somewhat? I mean, the claim on Jerusalem hanging on a flying horseman, a man who walks on water (admittedly, this faction has no claim to the city but I understand there are enough christian building about). And the Jews of course, still claiming to be waiting for a redeemer as I understand it. And I understand they have put a time limit for this momentous event to come about. I stand to be corrected. But if I'm right, what happens if the date comes and goes and nothing happens? A bit like us waiting for 1960 for the contents of the Fatima letter to disclosed. 1960 came and went and I recall it was a bit of a wet squibb. What I'm getting at Grixti, is, it's weird to make political decidions on stories going back to the time of a Jezebel, a name that has passed into language signifying a woman not to be trusted at any cost. It's like looking for reassurance from three old fogeys, all three vying for supremacy, like three Lady Gagas, dancing round a cauldron.
Charles Grixti
Jun 6th 2010, 23:10
Dear Mr. Xuereb
Jezebel was an "evil" woman in so far as she took King Ahab astray from worshipping the true god, and not because she was untrustworthy. Reverting back to their old gods or worshipping the same gods as their neighbours is something the ancient Israelites did time and time again and were supposedly punished by God for it. It is said that even wise King Solomon allowed this and even he himself worshipped the gods of his many wives.
The idea of Jewish Messiah is found in the Old Testament but there is no particular time limit or date tied up with it.
As you state, "It's like looking for reassurance from three old fogeys, all three vying for supremacy, like three Lady Gagas, etc". However, insofar as the Jewish claim to Jerusalem is concerned, the evidence is not just based on 'flying men', but on actual archaeological and historic records, such as the Temple Mount itself, which is the remnant of the second Temple build by King Herod, on top of the ruins of the original one built by King Solomon, which was destroyed. And there is a huge difference between this and the other two 'claims'.
Robert Callus
Jun 6th 2010, 15:28
Those stating Arabs should go and protest in their own countries are only showing their disrespect to our democracy. This was a completely legal protest, with police permission, where Arabs, Maltese and people from different countries were united against the oppression the Israeli govt. is doing towards Palestinians. Arabs protesting in Malta? What is the problem?
When I was in Turkey, a country with less democratic credentials than Malta, I joined a protest against the murder of Hrant Dink and Armenian journalist. Together with other people from the international community. No one told us to go and protest in another countries because we weren't Turkish.
Of course you can't make such a protest in Libya or Egypt. But does anyone here wish that our democracy will be reduced to a totalitarian regime where police come and beat you up for opening your mouth, instead of respecting your democratic rights?
Joe Xuereb
Jun 5th 2010, 23:20
So, Arab Palestinian sympathisers are now demonstrating on Maltese soil because they have a right to. This is dangerous but has to be allowed because Malta is a Western democracy, signing up to agreements, etc. From what I understand - I read that the flotillas that Israel attacked were manned by heavily armed pro-Palestine activists - Palestine should be re-established in its entirety.
@ Charles Grixti. Are you saying that claims on Jerusalem hang on men flying, or not flying, through the skies on a horse? As long as there is religion, as long as there is more than one religion vying for supremacy over this and that there will NEVER be peace. One does not build peace on a bed of ongoing discord. Any more than one would build a house on shifting sands.
To expect Palestine to condemn Iran's denials and calls for Israel's destruction is ridiculous. Given the situation, they cannot. Building problems on yet more problems won't work. The root of any problem needs addressing. Otherwise its an aimless going round in circles round the almond tree, as we say.
Charles Grixti
Jun 6th 2010, 14:54
Mr. Xuereb, what I said about Jerusalem is based on proven facts. If you want to real proof and historical/archaeological evidence, then by right Jerusalem is a Jewish city.
As you say, all the other claims are based on 'flying men". To be fair to the Christians though, they are not claiming Jerusalem as their capital.
@Martin Cassar
MEPA notwithstanding, It is funny that you quote the Old Testament, picking and choosing, because there are plenty of other passages that show that the Jews also made alliances with other tribes in the region and assimilated and inter-married with them. So probably what you define as a Jew today is probably a mixture of these people. In fact Jezebel was a Phoenician Princess married to the Hebrew King Ahab and many a times the Israelites had fallen to worshipping Baal and other idols, one of which is the golden calf when Moses was on Mount Sinai. In fact a recent book by two prominent archaeologists found that the ancient peoples of the Holy Land were a group of closely related tribes, sharing a common genetic and linguistic heritage, separate only by their various religions.
Martin Cassar
Jun 5th 2010, 22:42
@ L. Attard Bezzina to @ Ammar el Sadi
Once again you are hinting about what’s called god-Jew contract of a promise land! I couldn’t get a copy of this contract from MEPA I am afraid, so I had to check in the Bible. In the Bible I came across: 1 Samuel 15:3
‘Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'’
This is exactly what the Zionists have been doing for six decades. In my opinion, both Zionists and their god should be arrested and go for international court and trialed for war crimes and holding seeds of terrorism and any project of a Jew-wish state based on such Biblical promise must be discouraged by all civilized nations for human being safety’s sake.
Along with the good Jews I disassociate my self completely from such god anyway. What about you?
charles philip zammit
Jun 5th 2010, 16:49
israel.the sixth comandment that God handed moses says "thou shall not kill" do you hear israel the sixth comandment says 'thou shall not kill" do you hear isreal the sixth comandment says 'Lo Tirtzakh' the state of israel has sinned in the eyes of its god.
Mikiel Sciberras
Jun 6th 2010, 09:28
The sixth commandment says "thou shall not kill”. It does NOT say "thou shalt not defend yourself when attacked".
In addition, I would like to add to you and all those so concerned with Gaza and expressing such outrage at Israel's response, where was the outrage from you or the Islamists:
1) When Islamic murderers bombed Bali?
2) When Chechen Islamic barbarians murdered 300 children in Beslan?
3) When Islamic goons ethnically cleansed 400,000 Kashmiri Hindus from Kashmir valley?
4) When Sunnis recently bombed two mosques in puritan and killed 80 odd Ahmedians?
5) When Muslims routinely attack and burn churches in Indonesia, Iraq, and Egypt?
6) When China killed hundreds of Buddhists in Tibet two years ago?
Such Hypocrisy!
So please, spare us your selective outrage. However, since you are such a big supporter of GAZA/HAMAS, why don't you watch this video called "Free Gaza".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tOdW0qEy4g&feature=player_embedded
L. Attard Bezzina
Jun 5th 2010, 16:38
Ammar el Sadi stop living in a make belief world of fables and lies. Israel will not go away and you will never defeat it or make it disappear. Not all the combined muslims including Iran and Turkey will succeed in this. What you with your petrodollars are trying to do is demonising Israel with your lies and now trying to delegimitize Israel. Why dont you leave the Maltese out of this? If you feel so strongly aboutit why dont you and all those who demostrated go live in Gaza and try to hike a living and build up a democratic Hamastan? Stop blaming Israel for your woes. Stop attacking Israel with terrorism and rockets and Israel will leave you in peace. You envythe Jews because they
ade Israel an economic and military superpower not withstanding 62 years of hatred and constant wars. That country was Jewish before the invasion of the Arab hordes and 100s of years before the invention of Islam. Even after the Romans took many Jews as slavesafter their rebillions to chuck the romans outthere were always a Jewish presence there. Your distortion of history wont wipe that away. Am Yisrael Hai !
M Chetcuti
Jun 5th 2010, 15:07
Give Palestine back to it's people.
Mary Smith
Jun 6th 2010, 09:36
I couldn’t agree more with you on that.
Yes, by all means give Palestine back to its rightful people and remove all usurpers. Give it back to the Jewish People. And in case you have any doubts, go and read your New Testament.
martin chetcuti
Jun 5th 2010, 12:20
These Arabs protesting should go and protest in Arab countries, they are abusing our country's tolerance. First we should have our countries interest in our mind therefore by this "Arab" protests in our countries we are not doing good especially that our prime minister soon is going to visit Israel where we hope to get some investments.
Robert Louis Fenech
Jun 6th 2010, 14:57
Hold up there babe. Our prime minister is going to israel for some investment, and that is more important to you than the well being of 1.5 million people.
I think there is no need for any further comment.
JOe VELLa
Jun 5th 2010, 11:30
While I agree to free Gaza will someone remember Cyprus. How it is occupied by Moslem forces.
Ivan Vassallo
Jun 5th 2010, 11:05
While I'm not against the right of free associaton and expression. I cannot but give one consideraton. Nobody intervened in our Independence bid, why should we be embroiled in this quicksand which has been going on since 1948?
Malta is a small country, we have already too many problems and concerns of ours.
Robert Louis Fenech
Jun 6th 2010, 14:55
Because we invited the British, they didn;t invade us as such. They didn;t murder us and take our land. They left peacefully.
Gaza, on the other hand, is effectively a huge open air prison with people suffering.
That's why the outside world SHOULD care and help.
J.Borg
Jun 5th 2010, 10:59
Go protest in your own country please, we do not care about israel or palestine. Nor does malta support any terrorist run countries like palestine.
E.Muscat
Jun 5th 2010, 09:06
After the brutal murder of the bishop in turkey ( his head almost hacked off , typical islamic assassination ) and the ethnic cleaning that the turks are doing in Cyprus,we do know that the turks have not changed since 1565!
Gaza became a terrorist haven after the israelites left.Lebanon is again becoming a terrorist filled country,especially the area next to Israel.What are the terrorists expecting?:To cart away the israelites as slaves as they have done during the last 3000 years?
mustafa kaya
Jun 7th 2010, 20:18
John Ungaro
Jun 5th 2010, 05:24
As usual, the people taking part in the protest conveniently forgot to mention the fact that Hamas has butchered, kidnapped, tortured and executed hundreds of Fatah supporters when the terror organization took over Gaza. The local (Maltese?) Muslims gathered in Valletta should also have chanted protests against Turkey's constant repression of the Kurds in Turkey and reminded the Imam to pray for the souls of the million or so Armenians brutally murdered by Turkey during the 20th Century.
Bonello David
Jun 5th 2010, 17:55
Agree with you 100% John. We dont want our country having these protests. Where were the so called NGO's when IRAN declared that ISRAEL should disappear from the face of the earth, or when Saddam invaded Kuwait? If you want to protest go with them to Gaza & leave our people & our country to live in peace. How can our politicians permit such things. We became the carpet of everyone who wish to step on us. Will Peppi & the rest make a chat show on this issue to see the maltese people's views? Everybody is taking advantage of our good heart. FREE MALTA to begin with SUR NGO's.
Robert Louis Fenech
Jun 6th 2010, 14:49
I cannot speak on behalf of the Muslim community, but I'm sure I speak for all the NGOs present that we do not in any way support the terrorist acts of Hamas. But hey, chill with the condemnation. Back in WWII didn't we shoot at Nazi planes and try to kill them? Why? Because they tried to invade. Israel invaded Palestine, and when the Palestinians defend themselves the Israelis call foul. Nigga please! :O Am I the only one who sees this as utterly outrageous?
And you Mr Bonello. Are you saying politicians shouldn't permit Arabs living in Malta the right to protest? I hope you have family living abroad, in Canada or England for example. Now, imagine your family, hearing that Malta was getting pwnd somehow, maybe due to an unjust war. And you are saying the e.g. Canadian government shouldn't allow them the right to protest. That is what you're saying. I half hope we do have war so I can hear you cry to yourself at night over how idiotic your statement is.
Carmel Attard
Jun 5th 2010, 03:57
The collective punishment aginst civilians in Gaza is a Crime, these people still live in tents the collective punishment continues ..the crime against humanity goes on thanks to the US, Europe and Egypt. It is Naive to think Hamas armed only with primitive weapons, can rise against the Zionists armed with around 200 Nuclear warheads, t!! It is Naive to think that hamas has the capability of erasing Israel to the Ground ..so this bullshit talk about hamas vowing to destroy Israel is all rhetoric and bluff!! The facts are that Gazans are living in an open Air prison and the world should end this and give Gazans their dignity back, to be able to live like human beings. Israel has a long History of Rejecting all United Nations Implementations. The US, the Mesenger of Democracy and Freedom does nothing to save the Palesinians from the Scourge of the Zionists ..yet destroyed Iraq under the pretences of Freedom . ..We all know the End Result!! Israel have to either drop their Violent approach to preserve thier existance or also in the long run be isolated and suffer the consequences!!
Charles Grixti
Jun 5th 2010, 21:16
Please watch this horrendous video of the poor starving Palestinians of Gaza. Shocking!
http://www.paltoday.ps/arabic/News-64161.html
Franco Xuereb
Jun 5th 2010, 02:10
Ah! I feel sorry and I wonder what future my beloved country has.............seeing Malta being invaded with Arabs and seeing local women turning to Islamic religion ….......
We are seeing our country being ruined in front of our eyes, and this government won’t do any thing to clean our country and thus leave it in the hands of the Maltese, it won’t be long before we see this once great nation turn into ashes.
What a future our children have………..
Wake up Malta before it’s to late.
Robert Louis Fenech
Jun 6th 2010, 14:43
You sicken me.
George Pace
Jun 5th 2010, 00:02
The motley crowd would be more credible when it utters a word against the Iranian president
E.Vella
Jun 4th 2010, 23:49
Mhuwiex accetabli li kien hemm wiehed fil-bidu tal-protesta bl-armi ta Hitler...mhux sew jekk gew maqtula nies li kienu bla difiza...ghax qallu li kien pacifici (hadid, zbandoli u bil-bocci, etc) imma lanqas hu sew li bhal donnu napprovaw l-Holokawst. F'pajjizna kulhadd ghandu dritt jipprotesta imma hadd m'ghandu dritt joffendi l-vittmi ta l-Olokawst billi jurina armi ta Hitler...qatt ma protestaw tiskanta ghax l-Iran jichad l-Olokawst.
pro xi hadd m'iniex imma jghidu li biex tiskongra trid tkun pur
malcolm seychell
Jun 4th 2010, 23:28
This is a political war. All those involves in this were practically left wingers!!
K.Littlejohn
Jun 4th 2010, 23:11
Are they proposing that Israel should be abolished and have a Palestinian state instead?
Andrew Farrugia
Jun 4th 2010, 22:13
The usual propaganda tactics of terrorist sympathisers and fundamentalists; they feel that Malta belongs to their rabid kind of hatred. And they are aided and abetted by the usual leftist criminals who do not march to protest against the atrocities committed on a daily basis against Jews and Christians all over the world. The last episode took place in Turkey where a bishop was massacred by a Turk who told police that he had a vision to murder the bishop. Turkey in the EU, you must be joking.
Robert Louis Fenech
Jun 6th 2010, 14:42
Where did Turkey entering the EU come into this. We never claimed that Turkey are angels. They should really fix up their own mes with the Armenians and the Kurds, and if it turns out they are actually joining the EU without fixing these problems, you can rest assured that I for one will be pissed and I would file a complaint.
Please, stick to the issue at hand, unless you're suggesting a global revolution to take down the ruling elite.
Also, we not protest against a Turk who killed a bishop? Because, as you yourself said, the police took care of him. Why would I take to the streets and protest about something so banal? This issue warrants the reaction it is getting because as we are seeing Israel basically took a dump on international law, put up the middle finger to the world, and the US made sure to handle the UN properly.
Nice. Speaks a lot about the current state of affairs.
MSciberras
Jun 4th 2010, 22:11
DO THESE PEOPLE - OR ANY MALTESE FOR THAT MATTER , SUCH AS THE CLEVER POLITICIANS OPENING THEIR BIG MOUTHS- KNOW THAT THE BLOCKADE OF GAZA IS ENFORCED BY BOTH EGYPT AND ISRAEL, THE TARGET BEING HAMAS??????????????????????? I too am against the blockade .....but how about knowing the facts!!
AMMAR ELSADI
Jun 5th 2010, 00:58
WE ARE LIVING IN THE YEAR 2010 THERE IS NO NEED TO BE A POLITICIAN TO KNOW THE FACTS. A RIGHT IS A RIGHT. THE FACTS ARE THAT PALESTINE WAS ,IS ,AND WILL BE AN ARABIC STATE NO MATTER WHAT. THE FACTS ARE THAT THE ZIONISTS WERE LITERALY PLANTED BY THE WEST AND ITS ALLIES ( BRITISH) IN 1948. THE MOSLEMS , CHRISTIANS AND JEWS HAVE LIVED IN PEACE FOR CENTUARIES BEFORE THE STATE OF ISRAEL WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE UN AND GIVEN A SMALL PART OF THE PALESTINIAN LAND TO LIVE ON. THE FACTS ARE THAT THE WHOLE WORLD SUPPORTS DEMOCRACY BUT WHEN IT COMES TO HAMAS WHICH WAS ELECTED BY THE PALESTINIANS WHERE THE AMERICANS THEMSELVES MONITORED THE ELECTIONS REFUSED TO HAVE ANY POLITICAL RELATIONS WIH IT. THE EUROPEANS ( POLITICIANS) WHO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THE EU WAS BUILT ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE HAMAS ASWELL. UNBELIEVABLE ITS A SHAME. I DO NOT WANT TO WASTE MORE TIME ON FACTS SINCE THEY ARE AVILABLE AND UNDERSTANDABLE TO ANY PERSON WITH SOME COMMON SENSE . OUR POINT NOW IS THAT 2 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN GAZA ARE HUMILIATED AND TREATED LIKE ALIANS KEPT IN QUARANTINES
Wilfred L Camilleri
Jun 4th 2010, 21:59
Participants urged the local and international communities to work for peace in the Middle East and demand Israel to assume its responsibilities and respect human rights. I agree, but the Palestinians and Hamas also need to assume their responsibilities including renouncing their decree to destroy Israel, stopping all terrorist attacks including suicide bombings and rocket launches into Israel, and respect human rights. They also called on the blockade to be lifted as soon as possible but Israel has to ensure that no weapons and materials for bomb making are allowed into Gaza. I also noticed one placard saying that "Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine". Israel will never agree to this I'm sure. Jerusalem should be turned into an autonomous area run jointly by the three religions that have a stake in the city, namely Muslims, Jews, and Christians.
Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Jun 4th 2010, 22:06
Jerusalem is owned by the Vatican ever since 1993.
AMMAR ELSADI
Jun 5th 2010, 01:34
AS FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE SUCH AS HAMAS OR ANY OTHER PARTY THEY HAVE THE RIGHT NOT TO RECOGNIZE THEIR OCCUPANTS . THE LAND BELONGS TO THE PALESTINIANS AND THE BLOCKADE WILL NOT REFREIN THEM FROM DEFENDING THEIR LAND BY WHAT SO EVER MEANS . THE BLOCKADE IS HUMILATING AND KILLING INNOCENT CIVILIANS EVERY DAY WITH NO WATER , ELECTRICITY, FOOD MEDICINE ETC . PALESTINIANS DO NOT NEED TO CONVINCE ANY ONE TO SUPPORT THEM BUT ON THE CONTRARY THE ZIONISTS NEED TO . UNFORTUNATLY THEY ARE BEING SUPPORTED BLINDLY BY THE US GOVERNMENT WHICH INSISTS THAT ISRAEL HAS THE RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF AS IF THE PALESTINIANS ARE OCCUPYING THE LAND AND NOT THE ZIONISTS. WE ( THE WHOLE WORLD ) MUST UNITE AND ORGANIZE CONVOYS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AND HEAD TO GAZA TO BRAKE THE SIEGE . ITS A SHAME ON OURSELVES WE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY TO STAY THERE AND WATCH WHAT IS HAPPENING IN PALESTINE. AFTER ALL THE JEWS WERE NEVER THROWN OUT OF ANY ARABIC OR MOSLEM COUNTRY AND WILL NOT BE THROWN OUT EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO WERE IMPORTED BY THE ZIONIST TO MULTIPLY THE ZIONIST POPULATION AFTER 1948.
Mikiel Sciberras
Jun 5th 2010, 07:07
The Palestinians are the ones who have created this mess themselves. They want to look like the oppressed people. They are the bad ones that refuse to go along with Israel's offerings of peace. They are the Arabs who insist that Israel and all the Jews in Israel must be eliminated.
Hamas, Hezbollah, and prior to that the PLO created the completely explosive and divisive situation. Yasser Arafat, although considered somewhat of a diplomat, was still a Nazi at heart and his sole ambition was to eventually wipe Israel off the map. Since his death, Hamas and Hezbollah have pretty much taken control. They still work on Arafat's Nazi ideological thinking.
Now with the help of Iran and an increasingly Islamised Turkey, they have succeeded in getting world sympathy for themselves. That is the goal of these flotillas - placing Israel in a very bad light on the world stage.
This is outright incitement to war. Hamas and Hezbollah are to blame from the very start and the Muslim Brotherhood has always been to blame. And the dead will be the brilliant martyrs that brought about war.
Read up a little bit on this subject here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1444377/posts
Charles Grixti
Jun 5th 2010, 07:41
Actually, of the three faiths mentioned the least tenuous claim on Jerusalem is that of the Muslims. Jerusalem was the capital of ancient Israel from the time of Kind David and archaeological finds prove that this was first and foremost a Jewish city.
The next claim is that of the Christians who follow the teachings of Christ and his ministry in the land of Israel and Palestine, with Jerusalem featuring predominantly in the gospels of the New Testament. Jerusalem contains some of Christianity’s the holiest shrines including the tomb of Christ where he was resurrected from the dead.
The prophet of Islam, Mohammed never actually visited Jerusalem in person; however Muslims believe that he was magically transported to Al-Aqsa, that is the farthest Mosque or Temple (that is The Temple Mount, the site of the Jewish Temple) on the steed “Al-Burāq” from Mecca to Jerusalem. While at the Temple Mount, Mohammed is said to have visited the various heavens before being transported back to Mecca.