Today the independent member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Gamal el Khoudary, is scheduled to address a conference in Vienna organised by the Austrian Committee "Gaza shall live". Among the panellists are Karin Resetarits, independent European MP, Fritz Edlinger, General Secretary of the Society for Austrian-Arab Relations, Peter Melvyn, European Jews for a Just Peace, Paula Abrams-Hourani, Women in Black, Anas Schakfeh, President of the Islamic Community (which in Austria is a governmental charge), Franz Sieder, Catholic priest, Zuheir Elwazer, Palestinian ambassador.The campaign "Gaza shall live" collected up to now about 750 signatures for a petition to the Austrian government to desist from further supporting the Israeli, American and European stranglehold against the … [read more]

May 17th, 2008, 19.00Schwarzspanierstr.15, 1090 Vienna60 years after the massive expulsion of the Palestinians from their home country a murderous embargo makes 1.5 million people in Gaza struggle for survival.The campaign "Gaza shall live" calls on the Austrian government and the European Union to lift the embargo on the Gaza Strip in order to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. Panellists:Gamal ElkoudaryIndependent Representative of the Palestinian Legislative Council, GazaKarin ResetaritsMember of the European ParliamentFritz EdlingerGeneral Secretary of the Society for Austrian-Arab RelationsFranz Sieder Catholic priest / AmstettenViola RahebConsultant, Vienna - PalestinePeter MelvynEuropean Jews for a Just Peace - AustriaPaula Abrams-HouraniWomen in Black - ViennaAnas … [read more]

Turin, Saturday May 10th, 10am to 2pm Dar al-Hikma Italian-Arab Center Via Fiocchetto 15 (Porta Palazzo zone)With the intervention of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, in live broadcast from Gaza- To listen to the voices of those who suffer everyday under the oppression- To learn about the situation in Gaza, a true lager of the 21th century- To understand the reasons of the Palestinian resistance- To denounce the takeover against the legitimate winners of the January 2006 elections- To carry on the struggle against the genocidal embargoFor all of these reasons, to remember the 60th anniversary of the Nakba, to protest against the International Book Fair dedicated to Israel we will meet in Turin on Saturday May 10th.We adhere to every initiative of protest against the Book … [read more]

Press Release , 15 April 2008May 14th marks the 60th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, during which over 530 Palestinian towns and villages were depopulated and destroyed and 750,000 men, women, and children driven from their land. This programme of ethnic cleansing will also be marked as the anniversary of the formation of the apartheid state of Israel.We, members of The European Campaign To End The Siege Of Gaza, on the anniversary of the Nakba, pledge our commitment to the Palestinian struggle for self determination, human rights, and restitution for the 60 years of apartheid, ethnic cleansing, murder, and theft of land and resources which they have suffered unabated at the hands of this Zionist state. This unremitting cruelty has reached a new stage with the ongoing siege of … [read more]

Since the imposition of the embargo on Gaza and its radicalisation in January of this year already several international solidarity delegations tried to enter besieged Gaza. The latest attempt took place on March 31 starting from Cairo and trying to reach Gaza with relief materials.It was initiated by the "European Campaign to Lift the Siege on Gaza" and seized by several other groups like us from the Anti-imperialist Camp or the "Gaza must live" committees. As most of the interested forces did not know each other the preparations were scarce and had to take place upon arrival in Egypt.We took advantage of the international Cairo conference against Zionism and imperialism which took place ahead of the delegation. It was astonishing how the idea was taken up spontaneously by the … [read more]

see related article: Egyptian govt blocks solidarity delegation to GazaProtest rally at a military checkpoint on the Sinai after having been blocked by the security forces.Leaving the bus behind at the checkpoint the symbolic march through the desert to the Rafah crossing some 150 km away begins.As the march was initiated spontaniously water got scarce and dawn was approaching. Nine delegates were nevertheless decided to continue. They got stopped by the police, withdrawn their passports and threatened with arrest.Protest rally in front of the EU's premises in Cairo.Addressing the crowd and the media.More pictures from the march on the SinaiMore pictures from the demo in front of the EU premises in … [read more]

But the Egyptian security forces halted the delegation at Baladua, 190 km from the border. After staging a protest at the check point we began to walk towards Rafah, since our bus was blocked from moving ahead. Finally, after the police was blocking the road, taking away our passports and threatening us with arrest, we decided to take our protest back into Cairo itself. A rally was staged outside of the delegation of the European Union.We received encouraging support from the Egyptian people and from the media. It is our fervent appeal to the governments and the peoples of the world to pressurize the Israeli Apartheid State, the US, the EU as well as the Egyptian government to end the genocidal siege of Gaza. This year we commemorate that 60 years have passed since the Nakba, the … [read more]

31 March - 1 AprilEnd the siege of Gaza!End the world complicity to the Israeli occupation and crimes against the Palestinian people!A group of international participants decided to act against our countries' complicity to the inhumane and devastating siege of the Gaza Strip. A delegation including participants from the Basque country, Austria, Scotland, Norway, Italy, Netherlands, France, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Palestine, Jordan and India intend to reach the Egyptian side of the border with Gaza in order to deliver a truckload of food and medicine and in protest against the inhuman siege imposed on the people of Gaza, with the complicity of our own governments. We protest against the genocide of the Palestinian people and condemn the hypocrisy of European and other governments who … [read more]

Place: the Rafah Border Crossing Time: Last week of March 2008 People wishing to participate must e-mail the Campaign for further information by 14/03/2008 The European Campaign to end the Siege on GazaTel: 0031 6136 444 44info@freedomforpalestine.orgGaza: Break the isolation - stop the massacresCall for a solidarity delegation to enter via RafahEvery week dozens if not hundreds are being killed by the Israeli attacks and incursions to Gaza. The starvation embargo does the rest. In a clear and obvious breach of all international law and all human and moral standards, the occupation forces continue the slaughtering of civilians with the silent approval of the West and Arab leaders.Since the overwhelming electoral victory of Hamas, the US and Israel have attempted to oust the … [read more]

This is not the first time the colonial powers have been attempting to keep the oil-rich Iran poor and dependent. In the early part of the 19th century, when the Iranian people attempted to bring the railroad to the country, they were denied that by the colonial powers. Despite their opposition, when World War II broke out and the Allied forces invaded Iran, they found the railroad quite useful, but when the people communicated their desire to bring the steel industry to Iran, time and again they were told Iran did not need the steel industry. Iran's steel industry project was time and again turned down by the World Bank and other Western institutions and governments. It was only decades later, in 1965 when the Iranians were able to establish the steel plant in Esfahan with the … [read more]

Having taken office after his provocative stride across the Aqsa esplanade, Sharon stopped the withdrawal of the army and further increased the pace of settlement construction - or, to be more precise, racially segregated cities which inhabitants are armed to the teeth and operate as auxiliary militias of the Tsahal. As if this would not suffice, Sharon started the construction of the "security wall" resulting in the military annexation of a further 7% of the Palestinian land thus violating again the US resolutions. Trying to crush the second Intifada, Israel pushed aside the Palestinian Authority (PA) and attacked the Occupied Territories by fire and sword. Thousands of Palestinians were killed or wounded, tens of thousands arrested and kept in prison without trial. Thousands of … [read more]

Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan…Support the Resistance!Defeat the US empire, its European allies and its puppets in the Middle East!An historic battle is raging in the Middle East. Its outcome will determine the future of the region and eventually also that of the entire humanity.The imperialist offensive - led by the US and supported by the other imperialist bandits and helped by their local satraps - began against Afghanistan and culminated in the invasion of Iraq. Its task reaches far beyond the consolidation of the traditional Western supremacy.Rediscovering its congenital colonialist appetites imperialism is striving to exercise direct and uncontested rule. In this frame there is no space left neither for governments nor for nations which refuse to subordinate to American … [read more]

Chianciano Terme, Province of Siena, ItalySaturday 24 / Sunday 25 March, 2007Saturday morning (10,00 - 13,00)Introduction Leonardo MazzeiThe American offensive, the European subordination and the prospect of an international Anti-imperialist FrontFirst SessionTHE RESISTANCE OF THE PALESTINIAN AND LEBANESE PEOPLE AGAINST ZIONISM Presiding: Aldo Bernardini, professor for international law, university of Terramo- The Western sanctions are illegitimate: respect the democratic will of the Palestinian people- WALEED AL MODALLAL, professor for political science at the Islamic university of Gaza- The democratic solution of the Palestinian question- MOHAMMED HA ALISSA, journalist, exponent of the Palestinian left- Why Palestinians should never be asked to recognize Israel - AZZAM TAMIMI, writer … [read more]

The Iraqi Resistance is fighting not only to liberate Iraq but also to defend all nations from the evil of U.S. imperialism which is trying to seize all the world. We are looking forward with deep hope that all progressive groups and friends of the Iraqi people will support this conference by participating in its activities or through sending letters to the conference. We assure all those who struggle for peace, freedom and equality, that we will continue our resistance against occupation and there is no doubt that we will defeat all occupation forces. Together with all progressive powers, hand in hand, we continue our brave struggle for the best of the humanity. Best greetings and regards, Abdul-Jabar Al-Kubaisy President of the Iraqi Patriotic Alliance - … [read more]

With the Resistance, for Just Peace in the Middle EastInternational ConferenceMarch 24/25, Chianciano Terme, ItalyArab speakers' listIraqAyatollah al Sayyed Ahmed al Baghdadi, religious patriotic leader against occupation and imperialismAbdul Jabbar al Kubaysi, secretary general of the Iraq Patriotic Alliance, member of the Patriotic National Islamic FrontYoussif Hamdan, university professor, leader Communist Party (Ittihad Alshaab), member of the Patriotic and National and Islamic FrontDr. Fadhil M Hussain, university professor, journalist Dr. Ibrahim Sulman Rizk, medical doctorNouri N. Abd, leader of student and youth organisationsAsrar-A-Abdullatif, leader of the Iraqi Communist party (Central Command)Mohamed al Khuzai, spokesman of Ayatollah al Hassani, Shiite religious movement … [read more]

Italy, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 March, 2007 International ConferenceChianciano Terme, Province of Siena, Tuscany, ItalySaturday 24 and Sunday 25 March, 2007The national assembly of the promoting forces, which met last Sunday in Florence, decided to finally convene the international conference: "Against the Occupation, with the Resistance - with a Just Peace in Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine".After the struggle of 2005, when the Italian government impeded the conference on order of the US, after the success of the campaign for the visas which seem to be granted this time, and with the renewed interest of different sectors of the Arab Resistance movement time has come to hold this important international convention. On March 24/25 a wide range of Iraqi, Palestinian and Lebanese … [read more]

It seems to be a step back into the colonial past. The map of the Middle East is increasingly marked in the colours of occupation troops. Troops of different countries, with or without a mandate of the United Nations, but always corresponding to one single design—the design of the so-called New Middle East envisaged by Washington in close alliance with Israel.Different pretexts have been put forward in order to justify the invasion of Iraq, to continue the massacre against the Palestinian people, to attack Lebanon. But behind all this is the will to control the entire region, to loot its resources, to impede any autonomous development, to subjugate the people denying them their rights, to impose Western civilisation as the only one worth to exist which one has to accept willingly … [read more]

We call upon all forces in support of a just peace to add their names and organisations to following call. Send your endorsement to: conference@iraqiresistance.infoIt is the second attempt to hold an international conference on Iraq (and now also on Palestine) in Europe with important representatives of the popular opposition to the occupation as last year it was impeded by the Berlusconi government in Italy following the interference by the U.S. The new Italian government led by Prodi tries to appear as advocating peace. Despite the fact that they did not fully withdraw the Italian occupation troops many people still believe their claim. If their stick to their words the government must allow such a peace conference. See the open letter to the the Foreign Minister D'Alema. Against the … [read more]

The media campaign against Iran is based on similar pretexts like the one against Iraq some years back. Like Iraq now Iran is being displayed as a danger to world peace and security. But for the biggest part of the world there is already now neither peace nor security. Capitalist globalisation and concomitant imperial war and occupation render life to hell for the majority of the world's population. They know well that the head and source of their misery are the US and their allies. It is them who are the main danger. But it is true that Iran like all other forces not willing to completely subordinate to Washington are indeed a danger, but not for the peoples but for the very empire. Any movement, people or national state able to defend its sovereignty would stir others to do the same … [read more]

The article by a frequent contributor to the Wall Street Journal, Iranian-American Amir Taheri, was initially published in Friday's edition of Canada's National Post, which ran alongside the story a 1935 photograph of a Jewish businessman in Berlin with a yellow, six-pointed star sewn on his overcoat, as required by Nazi legislation at the time. The Post subsequently issued a retraction. Taheri's story, however, was reprinted by the New York Post, which is owned by media baron Rupert Murdoch, and picked up by the Jerusalem Post, which also featured a photo of a yellow star from the Nazi era over a photo of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Another neo-conservative publication, the New York Sun, also noted the story Monday, claiming that the specific report that … [read more]