the line now offers an 'option 1' to register your complaint over gaza decision "and allow operators to continue their normal duties"

i chose to speak to an operator anyway

keep phoning - maybe the appeal will have to be broadcast and the money raised will directly help those in dire need right now

Anyone else finding the number is engaged? Is the line open 24/7? I'm wondering if its that the switchboard is jammed with so many complaints, or if its just closed at 6.30pm on a Saturday evening?

Viva Palestina!

Lifeline for Gaza aid convoy leaving on Saturday 14 February 2009

Send a Valentine to Palestine


contact:  http://www.vivapalestina.org, email  ghada@vivapalestina.org or call 07958 450 867


A message from George Galloway


More than 1,300 dead - more than 400 of them children - and still they are dragging bodies from the ruins.


The death toll in Gaza is rising, while the world's leaders and media look away in search of a new story.


We will not look away. The Palestinians in Gaza need our help now, just as they did when Israel's bombs and illegal weapons were dropping.


Thousands of people have contacted me to say that they have marched, cried at the television pictures and feel helpless in the face of the suffering.


That's why I have launched a major initiative in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. I will be leading an aid convoy from London to Gaza leaving on 14 February and travelling through France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and through Rafah and into Gaza. It will bring material aid and raise the banner of Palestine in all the countries that we visit.


The convoy will be led by a British fire engine, ambulances, and many trucks full of practical aid given by the various communities in Britain.


It is quite an undertaking, which I anticipate will have a high public profile throughout its journey and on its arrival in Gaza, god willing, some 30 days later.


The convoy is already supported by the Stop the War Coalition - which organised the largest demonstrations in British history - as well as the Anglo-Arab Organisation, several British trade unions and a large number of Muslim organisations. Fundraising for the convoy is taking place all over Britain.


We urgently need your help


1) Secure a vehicle, fill it with aid and get sponsorship to cover its costs to Gaza (approximately £3,000 for fuel and expenses). Many people are donating vehicles to leave there.


2) Money: please organise fundraisers, collections, donations which the convoy will get directly to the people of Gaza.


Cheques should be made payable to "Lifeline for Gaza" and sent to


Lifeline for Gaza c/o Flat 6, 1-2 Bowling Green Place, London SE1 1YL.


(Account numbers and bank details to follow.)


3) Collect: medicines within six months of their use by date as of 14 February, and clothes for children and adults.


4) We urgently need drivers with HGV licences and mechanics.


5) Due to visa arrangements all those coming on the convoy must have a British passport.


Please give whatever help you can - let's send a lifeline from Britain to Gaza.


email  ghada@vivapalestina.org or call 07958 450 867




George Galloway MP



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comments you don't approve of?

How typical of the mindset of the modern 'liberal'.

I'm very pleased about the BBC's decision. The BBC has a very poor record on impartiality on middle east affairs and I'm not surprised it now wants to steer clear of any possible controversy.

Plett told us she cried when Mr Arafat made his undignified exit courtesy of the IDF to die peacefully in Paris, and the Balen report remains secret.

The BBC is to be congratulated on its attempt to remain impartial and objective. It still has a long way to go, but it's nice to see it has made a start.

Yep, I'm pretty fed up with the partiality of the BBC on the Palestinian issue – only I see it differently from Pete. Like the way they only started saying they weren't allowed to go into Gaza so were forced to report from behind the Israeli lines AFTER public comments on it. Compare with their stance on not being allowed to report from inside Zim. Quite different. But that's their editorial content, which isn't the issue here – although the appeal has now become editorial content with the potential to damage the BBC far more.
OK, this conflict is always going to be one that arouses strong (and often quite irrational) responses on both sides. But a humanitarian appeal is about a person who has lost their home, or family, or legs, no matter who did that to them or for what political reason. If the BBC is too stupid or chicken to make that distinction, and voice it, it is a poor excuse for a broadcaster. I don't want the nation's flagship public service to be that pathetic.

The guff from Pete on "typical liberals" illustrates that he takes a right-ring and pro-Israeli perspective, and from that he has reversed-engineered the assertion that the BBC are anti-Israeli. However this does not stand up to scientific scrutiny.

Craig Murray's blog illustrates a simple test that anyone can do - and in his randomly selected hour the bias towards establishment goals (support for Israel) is overwhelming. However this could just be a coincidence, I suppose - which is where more academic analysis becomes handy:

 http://www.glasgowmediagroup.org/content/view/4/2/

Pete - to address you directly, though I regret your evident support for Israel, it is up to you which position you take. However it is intellectually dishonest to assert that the media is biased against your position if you have no evidence to support that (though I accept it is a human tendency to react more strongly to statements that one strongly disagrees with). Whilst your position may be too settled for me to persuade you away from it, an analysis of the UK govt's position I think would at least be interesting for you. Check particularly the Spinwatch feature on the number of MPs who are in "Friends of Israel" groups to illustrate the power the Israeli lobby wields in Westminster (or, read a different way, the number of MPs who have chosen to prefer the Israeli side in the conflict).

Furthermore an honest analysis of the US foreign policy in the region is also instructive. The idea that they are defeating terrorism and encouraging democracy is shown to be false when one considers that Hamas was democratically elected (whatever your views on why they are firing rockets into Israel). The public position of the EU and reactionary Arab states is that Hamas is a terrorist entity and so therefore will not be recognised as the representatives of the Palestinian people. However, looking below the surface it is clear that this position has been enforced by the US and that these regions don't get a choice about taking a different position! Some client states such as Egypt have substantial amounts of USD aid dependent on their taking the "correct" policy line.

As for the reasons for why the US has the policy it does, consider what would happen if peace was obtained in the Middle East. If a two-state solution was obtained that respected the pre-1967 borders, which has consistently been acceptable to the Palestinians, then whilst this is a best-case scenario for the security of Israel, it would substantially depress the Israeli and US economies (of which arms manufacturing and military technology is now a large part). It is therefore reasonable to suspect that the US (and by connection Israel) is deliberately destroying the peace process, and this view is supported by excellent commentary from Noam Chomsky, who has commented extensively on the situation.

However emerging strands of leftist thought suggest that the longer peace takes to come, the more attractive a one-state solution appears to all moderate parties (i.e. not mainstream Israeli or US thought). This would of course resolve the issue of Jerusalem that remains a difficulty in the two-state solution, but on the other hand leads to the dissolution of the state of Israel. This of course is a problem for Zionists and End Timers but nevertheless provides the democratic basis of "one person one vote" that was the inevitable solution to Apartheid in South Africa.

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On the topic at hand - I also heard the BBC telephone recorded message (on the DEC issue) and it hangs up after you have listened to it. Palestine supporters should listen to it as they are counting the number of people who do - but you should also ring in and speak to an agent as well. It may help to write some points down first but above all remain calm, as the agents are likely to be fairly apolitical and it does the cause no good for them to be bashed over the head for the failures of their bosses. You can elect to have a telephone, email or postal response if you are willing to give your details. I suggest people should do - be proud of your support for Palestine!