SUBSCRIBE to resistance
It the end of April, in one 48-hour A period, 23 Palestinians were killed
by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in Gaza. This does not include those maimed and with lesser injuries. This is the reality of Israeli state terrorism.
Which papers reported this? Every paper in the world reported similar numbers killed in Saudi Arabia (and many of those were also Arabs, whose lives in that instance mattered). Nobody praised new Palestinian President Abu Mazen for still meeting Ariel Sharon in these circumstances.
Most Western reporters stay in Jerusalem, and take their cue from the Israeli army. The few such as James Milner, who see their job as reporting the truth, are seen as legitimate targets by the IDF. Film of Please make cheques payable to RESISTANCE group. Name Address
Post Code
This killing shows ft was an assassination, and a warning to all reporters. International Solidarity Movement (ISM) activists have also been a source of information. They have been trying to help Palestinians live as normal a life as possible, and to stop the worst excesses of the IDF: destruction, closures and checkpoints. By being there, they have been witnesses. After two years of doing this without serious injury, suddenly Rachel Corrie was killed, Tom Hurndall critically wounded, and Brian Avery seriously injured. But this has still not stopped the ISM. On April 16, Army Chief of Staff Lt General Moshe Yaalon said that he had given the order to "take the ISM out". Then came the most convenient event; SOCIALIST RESISTANCE is a monthly marxist paper. We are offering a special introductory subscription rate 1 year for £10 (UK), £15 (Europe) or £20 (other overseas). For more details fill in this coupon, ticking the appropriate box and send to us: PO Box 1109 London N4 200
• Please send me a year's subscription to the new paper. I enclose £10 • £15 • £20 • I enclose a donation of E....
• Please put me in touch with the nearest RESISTANCE readers'
Age email the two British 'suicide bombers'. The fact that these two people were among a group of 15 who visited an ISM house in Gaza, and went to a wreath laying for Rachel Corrie, gave the Israeli Government the excuse to implement Yaalon's plan, and much more.
They raided the ISM offices in Beit Sahour, taking computers, records, and arresting three of the occupants: and they have also deported other ISM activists.
The Israeli government have produced a document for everybody to sign before entering Gazà. This disassociates the person
• Phone from the ISM but also states that you "accept that the Government of the State of Israel, and its organs won't be held responsible for (your) death or injury."
On May 9, Amnesty International refused to sign, and so was not allowed to enter Gaza. This same requirement will apply to other organisations and to NGOs. After James Milner, what reporter would sign such a statement? In this way all outside witnesses will be removed from Gaza, where 70 per cent of the people are now reliant on the UN food programme.
Why has no newspaper questioned the strange activities of these particular 'suicide bombers? Why did they go to Gaza? No other suicide bomber has come from there. The arguments of the IDF that their massive attacks on the Gaza population were 'stopping bombers, were clearly ridiculous.
Then along come these British citizens. It was extremely convenient, at the time when Sharon was looking to find a pretext for not acting on the 'road map'
More strange was the visit to the ISM house. Suicide bombers would have nothing to do with the ISM. It is a very public fact that the ISM is a pacifist organisation. Almost all of its activities are filmed by the Israelis, and it is certain that the laying of the wreath would have been. Why would suicide bombers put themselves in a position to be caught on camera like that?
The argument that they used the ISM as a "cover' is ridiculous. Anyone saying they are with the ISM is refused entry to Gaza.
Most strange of all is how did one of them escape? The first bomber explodes, but the second bomber is tackled, and his explosives are dropped. An angry gathering crowd allow him to escape, in a city that he doesn't know, but they live in.
The whole Israeli media publish his picture, but he is not caught. He is the only person who has the answers - and then his body is found on a beach, a week later. How convenient.
The British press carried pages and pages about these people, where they came from, where they worshipped. But nobody ques tioned this most convenient of bombings
As Palestine returns to slaughter as usual and Sharon seeks to paint himself as a promoter of the 'road map', it is more important than ever for socialists to step up the campaign of solidarity with the people in the occupied territories.