Report on the regular Thursday picket of Marks and Spencer, Oxford Street, London.
January 22nd 2004

Victory to the intifada!

Our slogan is bold and declares our solidarity with the Palestinian struggle against not only the Israeli state but all Zionists, who are not all Jewish, that give their support to a nation built through terror and massacres. Israel continues the ethnic cleansing required to achieve the Zionist racist goal of an all-Jewish state. Numbers of Palestinian refugees are still increasing because of the unbearable situation that Zionists force upon them, adding to the millions that have been driven out of their native land by an occupying power that calls itself Israel.
The strength of that power is clearly demonstrated in Britain. The British government continues to arm the Israeli state. British companies fund the state by selling Israeli goods, and goods made in the ‘Occupied Territories’ – the West Bank and the Gaza Strip – labelled as ‘made in Israel’, and British shoppers support Israel directly from their own pockets. The mass media in Britain gives strength to Zionist arguments presenting Israel as a victim that must protect itself from demonised Arabs, but Israel is no victim.
Israel is a very strong military power that trains and supplies armies from other countries. Israel has a huge nuclear arsenal that Israeli leaders have explicitly expressed they are willing to use. The Holocaust memorial in Israel – Yad Vishim – tragically backs onto the site of a horrific massacre of 1949, one of the many that continued to be perpetrated by Zionists after the so-called ‘War of Independence’. It is well documented. 254 Palestinians were killed with machine guns, grenades and finished off with knives. At the time the Zionists boasted of this massacre, which murdered men, women and children - innocent civilians of Deir Yassin, well known to be a peaceful community.
This week we see once again the newspapers, radio and television have a field day over comments made in sympathy with the Palestinians’ plight. The Liberal Democrat MP is under fire for daring to put herself in the position of a Palestinian, expressing her realisation, after visiting the West Bank, that the terrible suffering that Palestinians endure at the hands of the Israeli state could cause some to want to end their life and in some way attack Israel in the process. Last year there was a similarly enormous outcry when Cherie Booth QC, the Prime Minister’s wife, verbalised that she thought Palestinian suicide bombers acted through desperation. Immediately the media accused both of supporting terrorism, choking any attempt to understand the situation. Rarely in Britain does anyone voice deep sorrow and anguish for the young men and women who choose to take their own lives in this tragedy.
The Zionist fascists in front of M&S on Oxford Street (Marble Arch end) also accuse demonstrators urging shoppers to boycott the store for the ideological and financial support it gives to Israel of supporting terrorism. They even accuse us of being terrorists. They have held a counter picket since last September in order to stop the reality of the situation from being communicated to people on the street. There may be only a handful of them, as there was this week, but their simplistic arguments are backed up by the British establishment.
This Saturday (24th) there is a comedy night being held in the Hackney Empire to raise money for medical aid for Palestinians. Zionists are threatening to hold a demonstration outside against it, accusing the recipient charity of being a terrorist organisation!
In Manchester Palestinian solidarity is being gagged by the Council, showing their Zionist allegiance by attacking the pickets against M&S in this national campaign. To further their own ends and conceal the truth Zionists threaten fundamental rights in Britain: freedom of speech and the right to protest.
It is ever more important that we build a strong, diverse and vibrant movement to spread information and take action. The picket this week was energised by those seeking justice and an end to racism, new and old faces who chanted vigorously and informed people. The megaphone was well utilized with many different voices giving factual and historical reasons to support the oppressed Palestinians and boycott the oppressor - Israel. Come along, bring your friends, lend your voice and help build this movement.
The pickets of M&S have been running for three years and must grow. The suffering of a whole population must not be obscured. Israel exists and continues to expand through ethnic cleansing because of the backing it receives. Our task is to sever British support for Israel’s crimes. Zionism is racist and it must be defeated.

Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! Get active!

Join us: Every Thurs. 6-8pm Marble Arch M&S, Oxford Street, London.
Contact:  victoryintifada@hotmail.com