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Why Israeli workers were sold short in war protest
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
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Anybody who’s been in Belfast’s CastleCourt over the last few months will recognise the stall.
It’s not very far from the front door, just past the smoothie and snack stand. It sells skin cream and soaps and bath products. What the skincare trade would call pampering products. As opposed to weapons of mass destruction ?
The people who man the stall are mostly young. And there aren’t a lot of them.
So last Saturday when this bunch of unsuspecting skincare vendors were suddenly surrounded by a baying, flag waving crowd of pro-Palestinian sympathisers it must have been a truly terrifying experience for them.
The young sales people are Israeli. The products they sell are sourced in the Dead Sea. And that was enough to make the workers at the Sea Spa Skin Care stand targets of the protestors’ wrath.
They were bombarded with leaflets and photographs of the violence in the Middle East. The crowd of protesters surrounding them yelled in their faces. The sales people retreated behind their counter. A couple of them — one a young girl — burst into tears.
As migrant workers they must feel vulnerable enough in our city at times. Being surrounded like this by a swarm of roaring, scowling locals must have scared the wits out of them.
The protestors were from a republican group called éirígí who, before last Saturday’s so-called ‘peace march’ at Belfast City Hall, went to CastleCourt. A video of the CastleCourt incident, posted on YouTube, provided a sharper sense of just how frightening it must have been for the sales assistants suddenly swamped by the protestors. Watching it, the word that springs to mind is bullying. Plain and simple.
Judging by some of the comments that accompany the clip that’s not an uncommon response.
“Cowardly,” one posted comment calls it.
“Shameful behaviour,” says another.
“This is blatant racism and sectarianism disguised as a ‘protest',” argues another. Another still makes the point, “This makes me ashamed to live in Belfast. The similarities with Germany in the 1930s are chilling.”
Is this last posting overstating the situation? After all nobody was seriously injured ... But there is something sinister and low and shabby and truly scary about what happened at that stall on Saturday. It was the singling out of a group of workers simply because of their ethnic background.
Are we really prepared to turn a blind eye to this sort of blatant, racist bullying in our city? Had those workers been Chinese or African there would, quite rightly, have been a city wide outcry about them being harassed in this way.
But because they’re Israeli it seems to be shrugged off.
No big deal. We look the other way.
They did that in Germany too.
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40 Comments
Observer,
Yes, like the Gazan children blinded by IDF phosphorous.
But you don't want to hear that do you?
Posted by brian | 21.01.09, 15:17 GMT
Terry
Could not agree with your more.
None so blind as those who do not want to see
Posted by observer | 19.01.09, 22:08 GMT
Brian we could argue all day if you want to keep changing your point every time you lose a point. When you find a point that you feel you are able to stick to let us all know. You stated so called facts your got proved wrong so you change your point. Is it not better to try and change things from inside using peaceful means? Rather than War on your own people and others. Show me one government in the World which is perfect just one Brian? Just one other question Brian I didnt see any one on the Streets of Belfast condemning China on the situation in Tibet? Or against Russia for what happend in Chechnya or other confilcts round the world. As for your comment on the 30 pieces of silver how sad it is you want War mongers over the Democratic process. And before you go off one Brian again show me just one perfect Democratic country? Hamas is a Terrorist Group with a Terrorist Charter which calls for the Destruction of Israel.
Terry
Democracy over War (even if its not perfect)
Posted by Terry McCorran | 18.01.09, 18:09 GMT
Terry,
I'm really pleased for you, Terry...but how does that answer my post about Arab parties being banned from standing in the forthcoming election? Your thoughts please. Like I said, there will always be mercenaries. If your so-called friend is still working inside the Israeli system he should be ashamed of himself. Like I said, plenty of black people worked for apartheid - it doesn't make the system right. There will always be those looking for their thirty pieces of silver. Does your trade union friend feel proud of his knesset dealings now that the IDF have buthchered 400+ Palestinian kids? He sounds like a swell guy.
Posted by brian | 17.01.09, 16:20 GMT
Brian
I have personally met an Arab who was born in Israel who was a member of the Knesset for over ten years. And went on to be a leading member of the Histadrut (The Israeli Trade Union) Which I may add has just sealed the same rights for Palestinians who work in Israel but live in Palestian as Israeli workers.
Terry Dundonald
Posted by Terry McCorran | 16.01.09, 21:14 GMT
To Observer,
The South African army under apartheid was full of black soldiers- did that make apartheid any less morally repugnant?. There will always be mercenaries. Your argument about Arab soldiers in the Israeli army in no way absolves Israel of its war crimes.
As for your claim that Arabs live in Israel as freely as Jewish people - what utter nonsense. Two days ago Israel banned Arab parties from standing in the Israeli general election! Do you think an Arab person would ever be allowed any kind of position of power in Israel? There's your great Israeli 'democracy'.
Open your eyes.
Posted by brian | 16.01.09, 14:17 GMT
I have been shocked by the naive lightweight pro-Zionist twaddle cum propaganda written by Lindy McDowell concerning the recent Gaza war. If any of you are interested in this subject please go to the prominent Israeli newspaper Haaretz.com - there, you can read very well researched articles about why the Israeli government are behaving in such a destructive way as well as articles by Haaretz journalists who totally object to the invasion of Gaza. I discovered that there is far more breadth of opinion in the Israeli press than there is in the US and UK press on the subject of the Israeli/Palestine conflict. As the distinguished Jewish MP Gerald Kaufman said today in Westminster and as quoted in Haaretz in Jerusalem but not in the Belfast Telegraph "The present Israeli government ruthlessly and cynically exploit the continuing guilt from Gentiles over the slaughter of Jews in the Holocaust as justification for their murder of Palestinians".
Posted by Ron Bradley | 16.01.09, 00:12 GMT
Really sick about hearing of the injustices done to the poor palestinians.
They have been bombing Israeli children for seven years
Hamas time their rockets for the end of the school day
Where have the protestors been? SEVEN YEARS
OF SILENCE=JEWISH DEATHS ARE ACCEPTABLE.
This is what annoys people. The lack of balance in the argument.
Lindy is just trying to redress the balance.
Posted by sheikyertailfeather, Belfast | 15.01.09, 22:51 GMT
It seems S has forgotten that 1.5m arabs live in Israel as citizens and can go where they please.
Many of these voluntarily join the Israeli army and at this moment probably are in Gaza. In fact during 2008 Hamas mounted a surprise armoured attack across the border at night. They were intercepted by an arab brigade of the Israeli army and repulsed. They scurried back to Gaza leaving most of their weapons behind.
So its all more complex than anyone thinks.
What will the international community allow the Israeli government to do if after 8 years of rocket and other attacks it decides it must finally put an end to it?
Posted by observer | 15.01.09, 22:13 GMT
I fail to see how the people of Gaza are helped by "protestors" in Belfast engaging in behaviour worthy of a bunch of neo-Nazi thugs. Do they even care about Gaza, or are they just out to vent their hatred of the Jewish state? This is the tradegy for Gaza residents - one side is bombing them and the other side is just using them.
Posted by Steve | 15.01.09, 18:00 GMT
Still waiting on lindy or one of her merry band to explain how the actions in Castlecourt and M&S are racist, anti-semitic, etc.
I'll not hold my breath for any intelligible answer.
Posted by Sean | 15.01.09, 16:45 GMT
Sharon,
I was near by those chanting at the march, and I can confirm, as I'm sure others who were there can, they were in the minority. It was two men with mega phones and a group of their friends, and a few people around them joined in. I didn't, and neither did the vast mojority of other marchers. Did you not see this yourself? As for the Israeli flag being burned, this was done by someone despite stewards at the rally asking those reponsible not to do it.
The actions of the minority should not be allowed to over shadow everyone elses.
Posted by Bronagh | 15.01.09, 15:19 GMT
I see Lindy still has nothing to say about the 300+ Palestinian children massacred by Israel. Why waste time worrying about Palestinian kids getting bombed when there are nationalists to bash, eh Lindy? To try and use the war crimes in Gaza as an opportunity to attack peace campaigners here is nothing short of revolting. You have seen the death rate for Gazan children rise dramatically but you have chosen to ignore it. You would rather attack the people trying to stop the killing of Gaza's young. You should be ashamed of yourself. Your indifference to the suffering in Gaza is shocking. That the belfast Telegraph allows you to air these views in public is a disgrace.
Posted by brian | 15.01.09, 14:57 GMT
Sharon, you say those workers are not the IDF. That same logic is dismissed by Israel who say, by their actions, that all Palestinians should suffer for Hamas' actions. Both are wrong.
Of course the bullying is wrong but let's put it in the context of the brutal suppression in Gaza. And as for the comparison with Nazi Germany !!!!!! You've railed against such a comparison often enough when levelled at Unionists. Come off it. And since when have you stood up for immigrants ?
I've nothing against this commentator expressing her views but her writing is rubbish - it's simply middle-class, sectarian indignance. She should write for the Daily Mail instead.
Posted by Yip | 15.01.09, 13:39 GMT
what did it say on the leaflets ,"you have seven minutes to leave your house before a one ton bomb lands on it"Innocent Israelis "no such thing"they all do military service and cant wait to kill Palestinians to which they get satifaction no matter what the age.Also i assume they are selling products from stolen Palestinian land and making a profit to pay for for more weapons of mass destruction.Stop wasting your column and write about what is happening in Gaza.Being one year old and lying beside your dead mother and brother for four days injured and starving ,now thats a story but you wont read it in the Telegraph.
Posted by Mike Nelson | 15.01.09, 13:35 GMT
Picket lines at work places can also be intimidating but are also legal and aren't considered bullying?, why when someone protests against Israel are they called anti-semetic? Its not to do with the fact they're Jews, Lindy would you ever open your eyes? Think about the actions of Israel and the mass murder of woman and children and try and contemplate right and wrong.
However having watched the clip I cant say I agree with it, in fact I do think its wrong, it may have crossed the line, expecially with the dropping of the leaflets, but whilst saying this people are entitled to legitimate peaceful protest, but using the anti-semitic slur contiually when anyone criticises the murderous actions of Israel is getting very tiresome and clearly it has no foundation at all, I agree with the boycotting of all Israeli products but I dont think the staff of that stall should've been treated in that way either
Posted by david | 15.01.09, 12:41 GMT
Ummmmm is this article not about the bullying in Castlecourt??? or do those who see it as a way of getting their Pro Palestinain point across forget that????
We are talking here about around seven or eight isreali people who found themselves surrounded and victimised in their own city on a saturday afternoon. Their business halted, undoubtedly afraid....who would'nt be??? .No one supports the murder of innocents, and i think we are all agreed the Rockets and the bombs have to stop!!. Just where is your logic (any of you) in equating the bullying of some defenceless Jews....and their products....In Belfast???....to what is happening in Gaza???.
They are not the IDF, they are not hamas....so do us a favour and get back to the subject in Hand!!!. Is it right to Bully, embarress and shower with leaflets innocent people in Castlecourt or not????....Or is that a question your conscience knows it cannot answer in your favour?
Posted by sharon | 15.01.09, 12:12 GMT
Once again Lindy you have hit the nail directly on the head, well done. Although it is only occasionally I can visit the city of my birth, of which I am very proud, sadly I find each time, thugs, louts and bigots continue to grow and expand. Presently it's from those who loathe the majority in Israeal, but supporters of Sinn Fein, the DUP, and the BNP have also contributed in the past. Sadly those in government at Stormont turn a "Nelson Eye" to the activities of these hooligans, consequently the police appear to be powerless to stop them. It's up to people like yourself Lindy to speak out and of course the "silent majority" to heed your words.
Posted by Ulsterman | 15.01.09, 12:04 GMT
Comparing a demonstration against the evils of the Israeli nation with the evils of kristallnact and 1930's Germany in general is quite frankly ludicrous. I am waiting patiently for this particular journalist to write something of intelligence and reason. Perhaps Mark Steel can take her under his wing. If it was Isreal and it was a muslim stall everyone would be dead. They are simply arrogant bullies and murderers. I hope one day things turn around. Perhaps they could live in the Gaza strip.
Posted by soarer | 15.01.09, 11:45 GMT
Well done Lindy for speaking out. Racism and bully boy tactics have no place in our society from whichever quarter it comes. The conflict in Gaza is wrong both for terrorists to fire rockets into civilian areas in Israel and for the strong armed response from Israel. None of these groups who are protesting against Israel did so when rockets were being fired from Gaza, but then that's what we've come to expect from the people who were out on Saturday.
If they want to hold a meaningful protest, fly to Gaza and stand infront of an Israelli tank waving their flag, just as they did in China all those years ago. Then again that takes bravery, I suspect none of those protesting last Saturday woul have the courage to stand up for the injustice they are protesting about!!
Posted by Andrew | 15.01.09, 10:33 GMT
40 Comments