And so, while listening during the day to the news of escalating strike and counter-strike and the mounting bloodshed, there was at least something concrete to do: prepare placards and banners, phone people, forward the messsage to more email lists, place it on relevant internet discussion forums...
And so, only a few hours after the start of the attack on Lebanon, 200 peace activists were already gathered in front of the Ministry of Defense to protest.
"One - Two - Three - Four / We do not want this f*cking war!" shouted the demonstrators, members of several organizations, youngsters side by side with veterans. Other slogans (roughly translated from Hebrew) were:
"Artillery and Qassams / The occupation is bad for everybody!"
"Peretz - you promised education and pensions / And all we got is tanks and dead bodies!"
"Peretz, Peretz, for the sake of the North / Get out of Lebanon!"
"Jews and Arabs / Refuse to be enemies!"
"Exchange prisoners-of-war / Bring the soldiers home!"
"Peretz, Peretz, Minister of Defense / You have killed seven children today!"
The chanting of "Peace - Yes! Occupation - No! Peace - Yes! Invasion -No! Peace - Yes! Bombing - No!" was accompanied by rhtimic thunmping on the sheet iron fence erected for public works on the road - which turned out to be an excellent improvised drum
Some older participants started out with singing the classic Lebanon War protest song: "Red eleinu aviron/Kach otanu leLvanon/Nilachem bishvil Sharon/Venachzor betoch aron". (Come down airplane/Take us to Lebanon/We will fight for Sharon/and come back in a coffin). The problem that neither "Olmert" nor "Peretz" could fit into the rhyme was solved easily: "Anyway, they are both just copying Sharon" commented a participant.
The reaction of passers-by was much less hostile then anticipated. Some drivers shouted curses at the activists, but quite a number honked in agreement. Most drivers seemed to be fatalistic.
The police brought a much larger force than usual, including a special unit for riot control. It seems that they feared a blocking of the traffic by the young demonstrators.
"In 1982, when we came out on the first day of the war, not far from here, the police just jumped on us as soon as we unrolled our placards. That's progress for you" said one of the old-timers. The comparison gave some cheer on this bleak day - considering that during Ariel Sharon's invasion of Lebanon, 24 years ago, protest mushroomed within a few weeks to ten thousands, and to the legendary 400,000 three months later. But that was after the Sabra and Shatila Massacre...
Meanwhile, some participants talked of personal concerns. "Missiles fell not far where my daughter lives in the north. I suggested to her to come with her children to Tel-Aviv until things calm down. She does not want it, says she lives in a small place which no one will think worth bombing. Sure, nobody will target the place, but accidents can always happen, I am very worried" said a white haired woman, holding aloft the sign: "Stop the war madness!"
And so, we go of the relative comfort of being with our fellow-activists, and in a crowded bus where in casual conversations all around you can here again and again "War", "War", "War"... And then the news of the latest escalation - a rocket shot at Haifa in retaliation for the bombing of Beirut, and Peretz vowing dire retaliation, and Israeli gunboats immediately setting Lebanese oil reserves on fire... But at least the EU seems to be stirring out of a long long slumber and say some critical words, which seems a small oasis of hope in this dark night.
And so, only a few hours after the start of the attack on Lebanon, 200 peace activists were already gathered in front of the Ministry of Defense to protest.
"One - Two - Three - Four / We do not want this f*cking war!" shouted the demonstrators, members of several organizations, youngsters side by side with veterans. Other slogans (roughly translated from Hebrew) were:
"Artillery and Qassams / The occupation is bad for everybody!"
"Peretz, Peretz, for the sake of the North / Get out of Lebanon!"
"Jews and Arabs / Refuse to be enemies!"
"Exchange prisoners-of-war / Bring the soldiers home!"
"Peretz, Peretz, Minister of Defense / You have killed seven children today!"
The chanting of "Peace - Yes! Occupation - No! Peace - Yes! Invasion -No! Peace - Yes! Bombing - No!" was accompanied by rhtimic thunmping on the sheet iron fence erected for public works on the road - which turned out to be an excellent improvised drum
Some older participants started out with singing the classic Lebanon War protest song: "Red eleinu aviron/Kach otanu leLvanon/Nilachem bishvil Sharon/Venachzor betoch aron". (Come down airplane/Take us to Lebanon/We will fight for Sharon/and come back in a coffin). The problem that neither "Olmert" nor "Peretz" could fit into the rhyme was solved easily: "Anyway, they are both just copying Sharon" commented a participant.
The reaction of passers-by was much less hostile then anticipated. Some drivers shouted curses at the activists, but quite a number honked in agreement. Most drivers seemed to be fatalistic.
The police brought a much larger force than usual, including a special unit for riot control. It seems that they feared a blocking of the traffic by the young demonstrators.
"In 1982, when we came out on the first day of the war, not far from here, the police just jumped on us as soon as we unrolled our placards. That's progress for you" said one of the old-timers. The comparison gave some cheer on this bleak day - considering that during Ariel Sharon's invasion of Lebanon, 24 years ago, protest mushroomed within a few weeks to ten thousands, and to the legendary 400,000 three months later. But that was after the Sabra and Shatila Massacre...
Meanwhile, some participants talked of personal concerns. "Missiles fell not far where my daughter lives in the north. I suggested to her to come with her children to Tel-Aviv until things calm down. She does not want it, says she lives in a small place which no one will think worth bombing. Sure, nobody will target the place, but accidents can always happen, I am very worried" said a white haired woman, holding aloft the sign: "Stop the war madness!"
And so, we go of the relative comfort of being with our fellow-activists, and in a crowded bus where in casual conversations all around you can here again and again "War", "War", "War"... And then the news of the latest escalation - a rocket shot at Haifa in retaliation for the bombing of Beirut, and Peretz vowing dire retaliation, and Israeli gunboats immediately setting Lebanese oil reserves on fire... But at least the EU seems to be stirring out of a long long slumber and say some critical words, which seems a small oasis of hope in this dark night.
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