[JNV] New Anti-War Briefing - Blair vs Peace - and other reports/events

[JNV]

1) Anti-War Petitioning Success
2) JNV Anti-War Briefing 94: Blair vs Peace
3) National Demo, London 5 August
4) National Emergency Assembly for Direct Action
5) Funding Appeal from Activist heading for Lebanon

Dear friends,

Please find here some responses to the current crisis. The new anti-war briefing 94 'Blair vs Peace' is, as usual, available as double-sided, formatted pdf from the JNV website www.j-n-v.org. (Incidentally, the recent briefings are designed to be read all together, and do not repeat information.)

JNV is at a low ebb financially. Any donations, however large or small would be very gratefully received. Please make cheques payable to 'JNV' and send them to: JNV, 29 Gensing Road, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex TN38 0HE.

Best wishes

Maya Evans
Emily Johns
Milan Rai
JNV


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1) Lebanon/Gaza Petitioning Success

JNV is based in Hastings, not noted as a particularly radical or left-wing town (the British National Party had a significant showing in the local elections recently). We've cooperated with Hastings Against War, the local anti-war group with whom we have an overlapping membership, to launch a petition drive using the JNV petition on the Lebanon/Gaza crisis. (It's available from www.j-n-v.org)

On our first test outing, on Friday 21 July, we gathered 73 signatures in an hour on a rather slow Friday lunchtime (it was very hot and few people were around).

On Saturday 29 July, after deciding we'd try to collect 1000 signatures to present to our local MP at a public meeting we've jointly called with him on Friday 11 August, we collected 400 signatures in just two hours (12 noon-2pm).

Now we are trying to mobilize sympathetic people to do their own signature collections amongst their friends, families, congregations and workplaces.

There is an enormous demand in the British public for these wars - in Lebanon and Gaza - to end. 61 per cent of Britons rightly believe Israel 'has overreacted to the threats it faces'. (Guardian, 25 July <http://tinyurl.com/qroq6>) 

The major challenge for the anti-war movement, in relation both to Lebanon/Gaza and the war in Iraq, is to turn such opinions and feelings into political pressure that can affect government policy. That can only be done by grassroots organising and mobilizing for both local and national initiatives. 

This effort can be assisted by nonviolent civil disobedience that galvanises such mobilization (but it can also be damaged by actions that merely alienate and offend).


***

2) JNV Anti-War Briefing 94

Blair vs. Peace 
Appeasing/Assisting Israel's War On Lebanon And Gaza
(30 July 2006)


SUMMARY: The US and UK are aiding Israel's wars in Lebanon and Gaza diplomatically and militarily. Hezbollah is ready for a ceasefire; Israel is not.


THE BUSH/BLAIR 'PEACE PLAN' OR 'DELAY PLAN'
29 July: 'Tony Blair and George Bush last night defied the growing anger across the world by seeking a UN resolution that fell far short of a ceasefire to end the killing of Lebanese civilians.' (Independent, p. 1) 'The two leaders refused to denounce Israel's offensive.' (Times, p. 1) 


'The draft peace deal involves two phases. In the first, Israel and Lebanon would agree a ceasefire and a small multinational force would be deployed on the border, allowing Israeli troops to withdraw. Then a much larger force of between 10,000 and 20,000 troops would be assigned to implement UN security council resolution 1559... under which militias such as Hizbullah would be disarmed and the authority of the Lebanese government forces extended to the country's southern border.' (Guardian, 29 July, p. 1)


'Mr Blair's spokesman was dismissive of calls for a ceasefire without an agreement on a new force as "just so much wind"... A French suggestion that the security zone straddled the border with Israel was rejected... It was clear, however, that many questions about the composition, size, extensive mandate and timing of deployment are unresolved.' (Independent, 29 July, p. 4)


AIDING ISRAEL'S WAR MACHINE
While these 'unresolved questions' are discussed, the onslaught on Lebanon, and on Gaza, is to continue unhindered - and in fact militarily aided by the US and UK. 'The [British] Government will allow more American aircraft carrying arms to Israel to stop over in Britain... Both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Downing Street suggested that two more requests by America to send planes carrying missiles as well as components over the next fortnight will go through.' (Times, 28 July, p. 8)

 

According to the Arms Trade Resource Center in New York, 'Israel has received more than $9.4 billion worth of military aid and equipment since President George Bush was elected in 2001. But despite its huge arsenal, Israel has urgently requested fresh supplies, in particular powerful bunker-busting bombs, as it strives to kill Hizbollah leaders sheltering underground.' 'The Israeli military is also looking for resupply of Hellfire anti-tank missiles that have been used against vehicles moving in south Lebanon, arms industry sources said.' (Telegraph, 28 July, p. 17) We know about those 'vehicles'.

 

Furthermore, 'British arms companies are supplying key parts for Israel's Apache combat helicopters, F-15 and F-16 fighter jets deployed in southern Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank despite government guidelines banning the sale of weapons likely to be used "aggressively against another country" or fuel regional tensions.' (Guardian, 29 July)


WHY BRITAIN?
So Britain is a conduit for US arms, via Prestwick airport in Scotland. 'Sources at Prestwick told The Times... that the number of freighter aircraft such as 747s and civil Hercules C130s landing there had become "absolutely unreal".' One aviation official said: "We get two or three a day." ' (Times, 28 July, p. 9) 


'The US also has the option of using its leased bases in Britain at Fairford, Gloucs and Lakenheath, Suffolk, and others if the pressure on Prestwick becomes too intense.' (Telegraph, 28 July, p. 17) 


Why are arms coming through the UK? Because, 'Ireland turned down a United States request for planes carrying 600lb so-called bunker busters to refuel at Shannon airport in Co Clare.' Prestwick is now negotiating to take planes carrying hundreds of US military personnel on their way to Iraq. Shannon is currently the stopover airport, but this is being reviewed, 'following protests in Ireland which have resulted in some of the planes being vandalised.' (Scotland on Sunday, 30 July)


This refers to the 'Pitstop Ploughshares' action against US warplanes, which resulted in an acquittal on 25 July 2006, almost exactly ten years after the 'Seeds of Hope Ploughshares' action led to an acquittal on 30 July 1996, after the disarmament of a Hawk fighter jet destined for Indonesia. (See also Angie Zelter's account.)


WORSE THAN APPEASEMENT
Tony Blair says that the war should only stop after the postwar peacekeeping has been agreed. Labour MP Alan Simpson says: 'It is like a plan to offer counselling after a hanging - the corpse is not too interested in what they have to offer.' (Times, 29 July, p. 2) Robert Fisk describes this as 'allowing Israel to destroy Lebanon and call it peace'. (Independent, 29 July, p. 39)


Blair actually helps supply the weapons that Israel is using to attack Lebanon. This isn't just appeasing Israel, it is assisting Israeli terrorism.


THE GREEN LIGHT
'Mr Bush and Mr Blair have been resisting calls for an immediate ceasefire in every international forum for the past fortnight. This has been seen by their critics in Europe and the Middle East as an implicit green light to Israel to carry on its military offensive against Hizbullah.' (Guardian, 29 July, p. 4) 


Correction 1: the military offensive (and land-sea-air blockade) is against the whole of Lebanon, not just Hezbollah. Correction 2: it is not just the 'critics' who see a 'green light'. 'The Israelis interpreted that [US/UK refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire] as a green light to continue their offensive in southern Lebanon' - and in Gaza. (Telegraph, 29 July, p. 1)


After the international conference on the Lebanon/Gaza crisis held in Rome failed to call for an immediate ceasefire, 'Haim Ramon, the Israeli justice minister, said the conference gave "permission from the world... to continue the operation, this war, until Hizbollah won't be located in Lebanon and is disarmed".' (Telegraph, 28 July, p. 16) Actually, 'Delegates [at the Rome Conference] said that virtually all countries had sought a quick end to hostilities but were forced to agree to a milder statement by the US.' (FT, 28 July, p. 5)


IS HEZBOLLAH THE PROBLEM?
Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, aims 'to tempt Israel with a pledge to install the Lebanese army, backed by an international force, in southern Lebanon to stop Hizbullah rocket attacks, and to tempt Hizbullah with the return of the disputed Sheba'a Farms area [occupied by Israel]. Hizbullah will not have to disarm immediately.' (Guardian, 29 July, p. 4) 

 

But the US, Israel and the UK are all determined that Hezbollah should be disarmed and destroyed. In their view, Hezbollah is the 'root cause' of the current conflict, and should be the focus of international efforts.


The rest of the world is focused on Israeli violence against Lebanon and Gaza. True, Hezbollah initiated the northern conflict on 12 July, by firing Katyusha rockets and kidnapping two Israeli soldiers. But it was Israel that then escalated the conflict by immediately bombing not just Hezbollah rocket positions in southern Lebanon, but civilian infrastructure throughout the country. Israel also imposed a land/sea/air blockade on the whole of Lebanon that has caused a humanitarian crisis. 61 per cent of Britons rightly believe Israel 'has overreacted to the threats it faces'. (Guardian, 25 July) 


Israel is also responsible for the overwhelming bulk of the violence. 403 Lebanese civilians are confirmed dead as the result of Israeli attacks (more are still buried in collapsed buildings), while in Israel only 19 civilians have been killed by Hezbollah rockets. (AP, 29 July)


WHO IS BLOCKING THE CEASEFIRE?
Most importantly of all, however, it is Israel that is standing in the way of a ceasefire. The Israeli position (as of 29 July) is that 'All those now in south Lebanon are terrorists who are related in some way to Hizbollah' (Israeli Justice Minister, Haim Ramon). The Telegraph: 'the area would now become effectively a free-fire zone and that anyone found in it would be regarded as a target.' (28 July, p. 16) 'The mass-circulation Yedioth Aharonoth headlined a quote from an unnamed military commander: "Every village from which a Katyusha is fired must be destroyed." ' (FT, 28 July, p. 5) Israel is not stopping.


In contrast, 'The [Lebanese] cabinet, in which Hizbollah is represented, voted late on Thursday to back proposals calling for an immediate and compre-hensive ceasefire, followed by an exchange of prisoners and a withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from Lebanon. Israeli troops would then be replaced by UN forces in the Shebaa Farms region... The government plan reasserts its intention to extend its authority to the south of the country, now controlled by Hizbollah, by sending the army to the area and stipulates that no group will be allowed to bear arms.' (Financial Times, 29 July, p. 6)

 

[Addition to pdf version: This Lebanese plan fulfills the terms of UN Resolution 1559, which is the stated objective of the Bush-Blair 'peace plan', though without the introduction of international forces. It was agreed, quite clearly, in order to be placed before Bush and Blair (and the world) before their meeting on 28 July. It was totally ignored by Bush and Blair, and almost completely ignored by the British media.]


'Hizbullah wants an immediate ceasefire and is ready to swap the two abducted Israeli soldiers "in six hours" after it comes into force, according to officials from Amal, a Shia party... a ceasefire has been part of Hizbullah's position virtually from the start of Israel's air attacks and before Israeli ground troops crossed the border in strength.' (Guardian, 28 July, p. 4)


The Lebanese Government plan is being ignored. The Hezbollah offer is being ignored. Peace is being rejected by Israel, the US - and Tony Blair.


***


3) National Emergency Demonstration

On Saturday 5 August there will be a national emergency demonstration in London organised by Stop the War and others, calling for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza, the end of Israel's attacks and the end of Tony Blair's support for George Bush's wars. 

Saturday 5 August: Assemble 12 noon.
Speakers' Corner, Hyde Park, London (Nearest tube Marble Arch)
March to Parliament Square


***


4) National Emergency Assembly for Direct Action
 
[NOTE: the following text was recently posted on the Indymedia.org.uk website. It's origins are otherwise unknown. Taken from Voices in the Wilderness UK email] 
 
In response to the actions of last Tuesday and Saturday it has become clear that there is an overwhelming desire to do more than peacefully protest the massacre happening in Lebanon and Palestine. Currently over 300 Lebanese have been killed while the governments and populations of the world watch. At the same time the media is speaking about balance, to try to fool us into their 'neutral' coverage. The systems of power are attempting to silence any form of unconventional dissent. Once again, demonstrations have been called in which people march along prescribed routes and listen to planned, boring speeches. We've seen this play before with the run up to the Iraq war. We now know that peaceful demonstrations alone are not sufficient to halt the war machine.
 
To combat this, we are putting a call-out for an emergency assembly to plan direct action against the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and Palestine. The assembly will take place on Tuesday, 1st of August at 18:30.
 
Venue: room H216, on the second floor of Connaught House, London School of Economics. Connaught House is on Aldwych; for a map and directions see <www.lse.ac.uk/resources/mapsAndDirections/Default.htm>


***

5) Funding Appeal from Activist heading for Lebanon
 
[Note: the following appeal is from Caiomhe Butterly, a remarkable activist whom Voices in the Wilderness and JNV are happy to vouch for 100%]
 
Dear friends,
 
As I'm sure you all know, the situation in Lebanon is increasingly deteriorating. Next week I plan to travel to Beirut to do what I can to help. For this reason I am sending out this appeal:
 
Though this appeal is being sent out mainly through activist networks and mailing lists where I know the recipients, on the off-chance that it is forwarded furthur afield, I'll briefly introduce myself.
 
My name is Caoimhe Butterly. I'm an Irish social justice activist who has spent the last five years working in Palestine, Iraq and with Palestinian diaspora communities in South America and Asia, as well as European-based Palestine and Iraq solidarity campaigns. Though presently in London I plan to travel to Damascus and then by road to Beirut early next week.
 
I spent time in Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut and the South of Lebanon last year and have maintained contact with families and community groups that I met while there and, speaking to them over the past few days, have listened with growing frustration to their accounts of the disparity between what they are witnessing as the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon intensifies, and the mainstream media's sanitised, biased reporting of the situation. 

It is estimated that up to a half a million people from the South of Lebanon are on the move, fleeing the relentless bombing, and are presently seeking refuge in schools, open-air parks, mosques, churches etc. in Beirut. 

Most of these centres that are receiving people are staffed by volunteers and are relying on local communities for donations of food and medicines. 

As the spectre of another Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon grows more likely, Lebanese and Palestinian communities are facing the reality of having been, once again, collectively abandoned by the outside world. 

They are being abandoned both by our governments, who refuse to censure Israel's continual violation of international law; and by us, as civil society groups, in our failure to reflect the courage of people enduring siege and disposession by upping the ante of our own resistance to our governments' complicity in the situation.
 
I'm travelling to Lebanon principally to bear witness to what people are being forced to live through- to document - through articles, photos and footage, the onslaught and it's aftermath - testimonies, interviews etc. 

I plan to send this out through various mailing lists, web pages and mainstream and independant media and will ask you all to forward on. I also intend to volunteer, as an extra pair of hands, at some of the centres that have been set up to receive families.
 
As Lebanese and Palestinian communities are presently pooling together their resources, ingenuity and collective solidarity to receive displaced people fleeing the South, and as yet more families prepare to flee Beirut to the mountains and Syria, we have a responsibility to demonstrate that we are not oblivious to what they are suffering.

We must show them that we will accompany them now - through direct action, demonstrations and campaigning out here - and in their struggle to eventually rebuild their lives.
 
On that note, I'll get to the point of this appeal - which is for funds. Before leaving for Damascus onMonday I hope to raise money to bring with me to donate to both crisis community centres and to give as small solidarity crisis donations to families I meet along the way (for example at the border with Syria, and in Palestinian, already impoverished, refugee camps etc.). 

>From the accounts of friends in Beirut that are volunteering in some of the converted schools etc., the main needs are for food, basic medicines (bandages, pain-killers, sedatives, antibiotics etc.), blankets, floor mats, nappies, baby formula, diesel generators etc.
 
Although there are a number of humanitarian organisations still active in Lebanon, the massive influx of displaced people into Beirut means that many of the small community centre aid projects are still lacking in basic necessities.
 
In the present conditions whatever folks can donate will assist in a direct and immediate way in helping a few families from not having to face - on top of being homeless and under siege - the precarity of not having the money to buy food and basic necessities. 

In order to maintain a level of transparency with your donations I can send reports as to whom (centres/families) your donations are going, and for what. Obviously justice, not aid, is what is more urgently needed, but in a crisis situation, fund-raising and solidarity donations to support families are also essential.
 
If individuals or solidarity groups are interested in donating money, you can either contact me on sahara78@hotmail.co.uk or at 00447922901696? or lodge money directly into the account of a dear friend and dedicated activist Yasmin, who will withdraw it and Western Union it to me while in Syria and Lebanon.
 
Her account details are :
Miss Yasmin Ataullah
Lloyds TSB
40 Woodcote Rd. Wallington
Surrey
SM6 ONR
Account Num: 00 236 209
Sort Code: 309904
 
Or, for folks in Ireland,
Caoimhe Butterly
Bank of Ireland
32 South Mall, Cork
account num:41818255
sort code:902768
 
or via the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, ear-marked as a donation to Lebanon. Again, any donation, small or smaller will be helpful.
 
In solidarity,
Caoimhe