At last a UK PM urging ‘justice’ for the Palestinians
By Iqbal Tamimi • Jul 22nd, 2008 at 8:21 • Category: Israel, Nakba and Right of Return, Newswire, Opinions and Letters, Palestine, Religion, Zionism
Palestinians have lost hope a long time ago with the many governmental and state personalities making their routine visits to Palestine, making their rounds as if they came for tourism, turning the blind eye on the misery of the Palestinians and their plight.
The Palestinians were feeling disappointed with the previous British PM Tony Blair when he cancelled his visit to Gaza lately, without considering even to mention a valid reason, or any reason for that matter. But then his succour PM Gordon Brown came today to heal the wounds of many Palestinian families, and to tell them to hang on to their dream, for peace is on its way, and that the UK’s efforts to participate in creating a just, long-lasting peace in Palestine was sincere and real.
Gordon Brown has called for “justice” for the Palestinian people today during his visit to the West Bank, and condemned the Israeli settlements. He even pledged another £30 million of British support to help the Palestinians with economic reconstruction and improved security.
Having passed the massive Israeli security barrier “the wall” on the way to his meeting in Bethlehem, Mr Brown commented: “As a child, I learned about Bethlehem from the Bible as a symbol of peace and a symbol of hope. But today, the wall here is graphic evidence of the urgent need for justice for the Palestinian people and an end to the occupation and the need for a viable Palestinian state.”
He went on to call for an end to Israeli incursions into Palestinian territories. He made his words crystal clear: “We want to see a freeze on settlements. Settlement expansion has made peace harder to achieve.” He called for all acts of violence to stop too from both sides.
I can say as a Palestinian I feel extremely happy, I feel as if my hopes are sprouting wings. For ages we felt the neglect of the International society. They all have seen the wall climbing on the shoulders of heaven until it has hidden the tallest minaret, and the sounds of shooting have silenced the sounds of all the churches’ bells in Bethlehem.
Can we dream now of a new era? Can we expect that this PM is different and he really stands for what he promised before taking office, and that he will be on the side of peace and democracy? Can we dream of abolishing the wall, and children going to school without being stopped and harassed at the checkpoints? Can we dream of more than 11.000 Palestinian prisoners being fairly tried? Can we dream that our olive trees will not be uprooted? Can we dream of peaceful neighbourhoods and people exchanging good wishes? Can we dream of ambulances allowed to arrive to hospitals before someone dies?
Mr Brown …many Palestinian children count on you to be their knight, do what others could not do. Do not be UK PM only, but please be the father. We hope our children will have a better future than ours.
See also: BBC
Iqbal Tamimi is a Palestinian journalist and poet from Hebron. She is the creator of a vibrant and important activists' network Palestinian Mothers, open to all who share the vision of peace and justice, men and women alike. She is working now in UK.
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Iqbal, while I share your hope, I don’t share your optimism! But then again….. you are from the mighty people of Hebron, the place of miracles, so perhaps, in the end you are right.
I looked at the BBC report of the event, and this is why I’m pessimist:
1) photo op with skullcap at Yad Vashem. Why can he not don a symbol of support of Palestinians and visit some site where there has been tragic loss of Palestinian lives because of racism?
2) He will support investments, not for things that perhaps mean more to Palestinians, like hospitals, but to enhance the security forces for Abbas.
3) He calls for the Palestinian state and uses the codeword “security” for Israel.
well, there are other things, and time will tell which of us has the right attitude.
It is nice and a kind of him (the UK PM), but I am afraid he will not be able to come back to his home or to continue his duties there, as only little parties in there agree with his ideas, although he has only talked about humanity issues, and not about the whole occupation.
But still it is better than nothing, and we should all be optimistics for the occasion.
Thanks,
Salaam Igbal-
I am hopeful and happy to hear of Brown’s committment to Palestine. In times where very few leaders/politican’s step forward to stop or oppose this massive genocide-this is a good sign. If more leaders from around the world took steps such as Brown perhaps a coalition of support will be effective in bringing to light the atrocities which are taking place-and-an end to the occupation.
I applaud Brown in his stance on Palestine. Here, if a politician or “running candidate” were to show spport for Palestine, severe ramifications would follow from certain lobby groups -which runs this country and that politician’s career would quickly go down hill. However, to initially agree to the current underpinnings of political needs-and once in office-I hope that initial beliefs, ethics, morals and obligations to Palestine will be followed out. However, as we know all these “leaders” are under a select few-who run things and determine what WILL be done-worldwide…it is this powerful group which politicians or candidates must deal with and deter their agenda and missive. Not an easy task. Hence my respect for Brown in his dedication and public declaration.
On the other hand, I also agree with Mary. She brought out some very valid points. The issue I think however lies in the strength and conviction of Brown’s determination to free Palestine, while at the same time placating to the powerful lobby groups which are pro-genocide-which can make or break his career. In order to do this-he must tread carefully and gain enough support and backing so as to not lose his postion and hence his ability to intervene. As Mary pointed out– ” you are from the mighty people of Hebron, the place of miracles,” (Mary Rizzo, 2008) and I believe in miracles and I believe in the srong and beautiful people of Palestine who have suffered so long and yet remain standing in faith, determination, peace and hope. Palestine shall prevail.
Yours in Peace, love and solidarity
A’isha
Dear Iqbal…
It’s a nice gesture from Brown and it seems sincere; future will tell how heartfelt this apology is. Actions must follow words.
Was there a filmed speech? This would be good to have sound bites from. Reading the BBC account of it, it seems to be all “referred”..
I agree with Aisha here, politicians would be slammed hard if they even suggested that things were less than hunky dory in Israel, and in America this is truer than anywhere else.
But, using the word Justice, I hope someone asks him to elaborate on the theme! Then we will know what it really means to him.
http://www.redress.cc/global/slittlewood20080723
oy oy, his speech to the Knesset was terrible. Stuart Littlewood wrote a great piece about it here on Redress.
To say: “don’t trust politicians” is a truism, and this is no less true in the cae of Brown than it was of his predecessor.
We are witnessing the implementation of a plan, worked out years ago, for a New World Order. Israel plays a vital part in this plan, which is backed by some of the world’s most powerful people. Brown, Blair, and many of their colleagues in almost all political parties in Britain are part of this plan.
There will be a place for Palestinians, but it won’t be in Palestine, or anywhere else that the Israelis have their eyes on for themselves. Subjugating Islam is part of the plan. Unfortunately for them, Islamic countries occupy land that is rich in oil. These countires will be allowed to live in peace as long as they are controlled economically, and politically through puppets rulers, by the West. The Palestinians have no powerful champion, unlike Israel, which is propped up by the USA for reasons of its own.
Sadly, there will be no justice for Plaestinians until there is a seismic shift in political thinking among the powerful countries of the world. It is difficult to see what could bring this about, other than a massive natural disaster.
Well said, David! This is absolutely what I think.