BBC and Sky’s ‘impartial’ coverage of Gaza come under raps!

By Majed Iqbal- Sky News and the BBC came under heavy criticism on their refusal to broadcast an emergency appeal for Gaza by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), an umbrella group of humanitarian charities including Oxfam, Save the Children and the Red Cross, in spite of renewed pressure from the public on the grounds that it would jeopardise their neutrality.

The decision added further to fury to many in Britain who believed that the coverage of the Gaza massacre by the BBC and Sky news amidst many other Western news Corporations leaned more favourably to viewing the whole events through Israeli lenses with considerable airtime offered to people to speak with this angle.

More than 10,000 people protested in central London against the BBC’s refusal to air the DEC aid appeal for Gaza which was followed by incidents in the week where BBC buildings in London and Manchester were occupied by protesters.

John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York said “This is not an appeal by Hamas asking for arms but by the Disasters Emergency Committee asking for relief”

North West Women’s conference addresses the future of Gaza

    By Majed Iqbal- While international pressure seems to have produced a ceasefire in Gaza, feelings of outrage have not dissipated easily left by the international silence by leading powers whilst the aggression was taking place in Gaza. Bitter taste can be felt resounding in many countries and seemed no different for the Muslim community in the UK.

Beyond the Gaza episode and the alleged ceasefire by Israeli forces, debates and discussions continue to look at a viable alternative to achieving territorial integrity and liberation for the Palestinians and mapping out the main obstacle in the way of achieving this.

To discuss these issues over a 150 women attended a one day Conference which looked beyond the ‘ceasefire’, evaluated the practical steps that could have prevented such atrocities and mapped out a future political set up to ensure stability and peace for the region

The women’s chapter of the Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir organised the conference in Longsight, Manchester opening a robust debate on the Gaza issue.

MAJEDS BLOG EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW- Rabbi speaks out: “Israel needs to be dismantled”

By Majed Iqbal and Waseem Aslam- Over 1000 men, women and children have been killed and over 5000 injured in Israel’s brutal state terrorism over the last few weeks in Gaza. Attacks on UN Buildings, Schools, cutting off humanitarian aid and medical supplies and bombing civilian houses and even graveyards have been the scenes we have seen on our television screens and internet sites.

Despite the blatant aggression, many countries, including Arab regimes, have been silent in criticizing Israel in any way. In the midst of this Majeds Blog Team caught up with an outspoken Rabbi last week for an interview, who believes that Israel does not have the right to exist and needs to be dismantled.

Rabbi Cohen is one of many Orthodox Jews who completely sympathise with the cause of the Palestinians in their struggle against the Zionist State and has a spearhead group, Neturei Karta (Guardians of the City), who are involved actively in this matter.

ASIAN LEADER ARTICLE- Zionism is an Immoral and Illegitmate idea

The following interview was published in the Asian Leader Newspaper presenting a unique perspective on the state of Israel. One which is seldom heard of and is often muted deliberately and tarnished as ‘unrepresentative’voices.

The full Interview can be read here on the blog and can also be read on the Look Asia website

Letter from a sister in Gaza

(Translated from Arabic)- Asaalam-u- Alaykum- My dear sisters and brothers I wanted to take this opportunity to send you a message from the sisters in Gaza. Please hear our situation and tell everyone that you know and dont know.

Our situation is dire but our eman is strong alhamdulillah, even though we have no water to speak of, and when we do it is polluted and we have no money to buy mineral water. When we find the money those that sell it say that it is too dangerous for them to travel out to get new supplies. We have no gas, and have not had for the last four months. We cook the little food we have on real fires that we have learned to prepare.

Our men have lost all of their jobs. They spend their days at home now. My husband can spend a day just going from place to place just for the basic need of water. He usually returns empty handed. There are no schools, no banks, hardly any hospitals open. You are constantly aware that you risk your life when you go out and when you are indoors. They give us a curfew between 1-4pm. We can go out, they say, in safety to get your supplies, but that is a lie. They have ofetn used that opportnity to add more shuhada to their list.

SLIDESHOW- Children call upon Muslim Armies in London March

After over three weeks of deafening silence from the Muslim and Arab rulers on the gaza massacres, it was now time for the muslim children in Britain to stand side by side their young brothers and sisters who have totalled over 350 in deaths in the last three weeks.

The march went to the Arab embassies challenging them and accounting them for their silence and voicing openly for their states to release their armies and help their muslim brothers and sisters and children in Gaza.

VIDEO-World wide protests highlight ‘huge gulf’ between population and Muslim Rulers

Demonstration after demonstration in the Muslim world and even outside of are clearly highlighting a huge gulf between the rulers of Arab countries and their populations.

Whilst the Arab rulers spend three days in New York arguing over the text of what the final statement of a declaration should be, Muslims worldwide are spitting on these Western backed dictators and calling for the Muslim Arab armies surrounding Israel to realise their conscience and move for the sake of protecting their brothers and sisters in Gaza.

The video highlights some of thee sentiments expressed by a 13 year Arab girl who passionately demands that the rulers get off their thrones and release their armies.

Rochdale Politicians score cheap points on Gaza Issue

By Majed Iqbal- When one Reads between the lines of the Open letter on Gaza submitted by the Rochdale MP, Paul Rowen, he has actually done no different to what the rest of the British media and Politicians have done- That is to condemn Hamas and blame them for the cause of the issues in the current crisis.

Peace in that area cannot be brokered with a war-mongering and rogue state like Israel.

Where is the United Nations that placed sanctions on Iraq for over 10 years when Iraq allegedly did not comply with UN resolutions, starving millions of vital medical supplies who suffered from depleted Uranium used by Allied forces?

Israel has NEVER abided by any of the UN resolutions passed on it- Where are the sanctions on Israel by the international community who backed the UN on Iraqi sanctions in the late 90’s???

The MP’s request for the EU, UN and US to place any pressure on Israel will fall on deaf ears as none of these blocks have any vested interests in doing so. History is witness to this each time demonstrating from their un-relenting praise and support for the Israeli State.

VIDEO- The War on Gaza in Context

The Short video below helps in summarising the history of oppression by Israel, the current war on Gaza and the betrayal of the Muslim rulers. It helps to build the correct context of this conflict which for some the timeframe lasts for the last two weeks only. In reality the same scenes as Gaza have been replayed in the last 50 years in various incidents conducted by Israel.

 

The video builds the case against the crimiality of Arab regimes and their complicity in the massacres taking place now and historically. The video helps builds the picture for the correct form of Political activism required for this conflict.

ASIAN LEADER Article- Israel’s offensive in Gaza: Blessed by Arab Rulers

The following article was published in the Asian Leader Newspaper which highlighted how Arab governments surrounding Israel are working to defend it despite its offensive in Gaza where hundreds have been killed.

the full text of the article can be read HERE. The article also can be read online on the Look Asia website. CLICK HERE to read it

ASIAN NEWS Letter- Gaza Massacre: Write to your MP? Are you serious?

  Letter submitted to the Asian News Website

By Majed Iqbal- The war crimes in Gaza committed by the Israeli state have bought about mass anger internationally. Locally in Rochdale there has been similar resentment at aggression committed against Gazans with their homes and lives destroyed and even sacred institutions like mosques which have been targeted by the Israeli War machinery.

I have been blitzed with text and Emails on a daily basis showing real concern by people on these issues and offering action points to be ‘effective’ as a voice on these issues

In looking for practical actions many of us in Rochdale have demanded that we write to our MP who in turn can air these views in parliament on behalf of residents of our town. It bemuses me as to how by doing this any change can happen to the situation in Gaza?

Britain has had an entire history of Supporting Israel and was the driving power in its creation. Til this date, Britain has played an active role in consolidating and strengthening Israels position in the Middle East lagging behind American initiatives for the region.

Majeds Blog writes to Ambassadors of Muslim Embassies in the UK

Majeds blog has been active in writing to the UK Ambassadors of Muslim Countries to highlight the frustration and disgust on their muted response to the Israeli massacres in Gaza. The following letter templates below to the Egyptian, Syrian and Iranina Embassy are available for you to use to copy and paste and send off to the UK embassies of these countries such that voices from the UK clearly highlight that such a massacre was impossible without Arab governments collusion and silence.

EGYPT- Mr. Ambassador, I am outraged by the actions of the Egyptian government in permitting and supporting the massacre conducted in Gaza by the Israeli army.

It was reported in the Haeretz newspaper(1) that prior to this massacre the Foreign Affairs Minister and the designated Acting Prime Minister of Israel Tzipi Livni came to Cairo to inform President Hosni Mubarak that it had decided to attack Gaza.

Why has the Egyptian government colluded with the Israeli government in this massacre?

It was reported in the Gulf News(2) that the Egyptian government closed the Rafah crossing into the Gaza strip as the Israel air strikes were being conducted.

Why has the Egyptian government exacerbated and prolonged the pain and suffering for the Muslims in Gaza?

Egypt alone has 450 000 regular troops to Israel’s 180000(3), and comparable levels of tanks and aircrafts.

Why has the Egyptian government done nothing to defend the people of Gaza?

Slideshow- Demonstration to Mobilise Armies to defend Gaza

Over three thousand people demonstrated onSunday 4th January 2009 calling the Arab armies to defend Gaza and the innocent people who continue to be terrorised by the occupying Israeli army. The demonstration started from Paddington Green and travelled through Edgeware Road and concluded with a number of speeches at Marble Arch.

Many speakers, including Mohamed Ali, CEO of Islam Channel, Mozzem Beg, the former detainee of Guantanamo and Dr Abdul Wahid from Hizb ut Tahrir, the Islamic political party who were the organisers of the demonstration urged the Muslim armies and governments to help the Muslims of Gaza. After months of a siege that starved hundreds of thousands, the Zionist occupiers of Palestine have killed over 300 men women and children in a wave of missile strikes on Gaza and have seriously injured thousands. Where are the Muslim rulers? Where are the Muslim armies? Where is the governement that will respond to the ongoing massacre of Muslims in Gazza and across the globe?

Israel’s offensive in Gaza- Blessed by Arab Rulers

  By Majed Iqbal- Minute to minute reporting, live coverage, updates and pictures from a territory otherwise known as the world’s largest prison, Gaza have hit our screens at the beginning of 2009 showing Israel’s offensive on the area with claims that Hamas, the people’s choice and democratically elected government of Palestine, had broken a truce for a ceasefire with Israel and ordered for a military incursion into the area.

The strip, home to 1.5 million people, has been already suffering shortages of power, food and medical supplies due to a two-year blockade imposed by Israel on the area and was now turning into a war zone with people fleeing their homes as airstrikes began to deafen the cries of the crippling Gazan Territory.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni defended the Israeli assault in Gaza, saying on America’s Sunday morning talk shows that Hamas, not Israel, “is the one who needs to be condemned by the international community.”

Livni said that until Hamas recognized Israel’s right to exist and ceased rocket attacks against Israel, they remained terrorists who needed to be acted against.

Aerial bombardment by Israel has destroyed mosques, Schools and hospitals raising the death toll to 531 people killed and over 2500 injured across 11 days and with more than 80 deaths since the ground offensive began three days ago.