Demonstrations across the globe call for peace with justice

-24/07/06

As pressure grow


Demonstrations across the globe call for peace with justice

-24/07/06

As pressure grows on the United States, the European Union and the United Nations to help secure a ceasefire in Lebanon, peace protestors ñ including many from churches and faith organisations ñ took to the streets across the world this weekend to call for peace in the Middle East and for a just settlement to the crises in Lebanon and Gaza.

Some 15-20,000 people rallied in London, on a protest headed up by the Stop the War Coalition and the Muslim Association of Britain. 2,000 similarly gathered in Manchester, 2,000 in Glasgow and 1,500 in Edinburgh, Newcastle and Sheffield.

Protests also took place in Geneva, Chicago, Beirut itself, Basra (Iraq), Tel Aviv, Warsaw, Sydney, Stockholm, Paris, Montreal and Mexico City, according to Stop the War and IndyMedia.

The China Daily has reported on further pro-peace demonstrations in Chile and in Colombia, both of which countries have known their own share of conflict and suffering in recent years.

Meanwhile, some 7,000 people attended a pro-Israel event in North London. Among the men, women and children of all ages, many waved Israeli flags while others waved British flags. Some held placards reading: “Yes to peace, no to terror.”

Israelís Ambassador to Britain, Zvi Heifetz, claimed at the gathering that his country had the support of the international community in its retaliatory campaign against the Hizbullah militia group and against Hamas.

Jewish pro-peace demonstrators organised a counter-rally nearby to emphasise that, as one participant put it, ìbeing Jewish or being in favour of security for Israel is not the same as backing the violent and counter-productive policies of the current administration, ignoring the suffering of Palestinians or justifying the destruction of Lebanon.î

[Also on Ekklesia: Christian Aid emergency appeal swings into action 24/07/06; Mennonites issue action alert on Middle East crisis 24/07/06; Middle East churches document and condemn Lebanon horror 23/07/06; US churches appeal to Bush as Israel seizes Lebanese village 23/07/06; Aid agencies say Blair must call for immediate Middle East ceasefire 22/07/06; WCC urges churches to support Middle East appeals 21/07/06; Churches redouble efforts and prayers for an end to Middle East hostilities 21/07/06; Williams laments Lebanon vicious spiral of violence 20/07/06; Gaza, Israel and Lebanon crises are imperilling Middle East security 19/07/06; Historic Galilee sites hit by rocket attacks 18/07/06; Pope condemns Lebanon raids as G8 converges and Blair blames Iran and Syria 17/07/06; Christians call for end to Lebanon violence as Israel vows revenge 16/07/06; Middle East Christians in anguish over Lebanon violence 14/07/06; Embattled Hezbollah backs Iraq ‘doves of peace’; Christian warnings substantiated as Israel targets Hamas; Ex-spy wages peace on terror in the Middle East; UK church and aid agencies concerned over Gaza situation]


Demonstrations across the globe call for peace with justice

-24/07/06

As pressure grows on the United States, the European Union and the United Nations to help secure a ceasefire in Lebanon, peace protestors ñ including many from churches and faith organisations ñ took to the streets across the world this weekend to call for peace in the Middle East and for a just settlement to the crises in Lebanon and Gaza.

Some 15-20,000 people rallied in London, on a protest headed up by the Stop the War Coalition and the Muslim Association of Britain. 2,000 similarly gathered in Manchester, 2,000 in Glasgow and 1,500 in Edinburgh, Newcastle and Sheffield.

Protests also took place in Geneva, Chicago, Beirut itself, Basra (Iraq), Tel Aviv, Warsaw, Sydney, Stockholm, Paris, Montreal and Mexico City, according to Stop the War and IndyMedia.

The China Daily has reported on further pro-peace demonstrations in Chile and in Colombia, both of which countries have known their own share of conflict and suffering in recent years.

Meanwhile, some 7,000 people attended a pro-Israel event in North London. Among the men, women and children of all ages, many waved Israeli flags while others waved British flags. Some held placards reading: “Yes to peace, no to terror.”

Israelís Ambassador to Britain, Zvi Heifetz, claimed at the gathering that his country had the support of the international community in its retaliatory campaign against the Hizbullah militia group and against Hamas.

Jewish pro-peace demonstrators organised a counter-rally nearby to emphasise that, as one participant put it, ìbeing Jewish or being in favour of security for Israel is not the same as backing the violent and counter-productive policies of the current administration, ignoring the suffering of Palestinians or justifying the destruction of Lebanon.î

[Also on Ekklesia: Christian Aid emergency appeal swings into action 24/07/06; Mennonites issue action alert on Middle East crisis 24/07/06; Middle East churches document and condemn Lebanon horror 23/07/06; US churches appeal to Bush as Israel seizes Lebanese village 23/07/06; Aid agencies say Blair must call for immediate Middle East ceasefire 22/07/06; WCC urges churches to support Middle East appeals 21/07/06; Churches redouble efforts and prayers for an end to Middle East hostilities 21/07/06; Williams laments Lebanon vicious spiral of violence 20/07/06; Gaza, Israel and Lebanon crises are imperilling Middle East security 19/07/06; Historic Galilee sites hit by rocket attacks 18/07/06; Pope condemns Lebanon raids as G8 converges and Blair blames Iran and Syria 17/07/06; Christians call for end to Lebanon violence as Israel vows revenge 16/07/06; Middle East Christians in anguish over Lebanon violence 14/07/06; Embattled Hezbollah backs Iraq ‘doves of peace’; Christian warnings substantiated as Israel targets Hamas; Ex-spy wages peace on terror in the Middle East; UK church and aid agencies concerned over Gaza situation]