On May
20, 2008, Jews, Palestinians and other concerned
Canadians held a demonstration outside the National
Arts Centre in Ottawa, Canada to oppose the "Celebrating
Israel@60" concert held on its premises.
"We condemn Israel's actions both on a religious
basis and on the basis of human rights."
said
Rabbi Dovid Feldman, who will be flying in from
New York to join the demonstrators.
"According to Judaism, the creation of the
state of Israel is forbidden as are Israel's oppressive
policies against the Palestinians. Israel@60 is
a catastrophe."
The concert coincided with the 606h anniversary
of the Nakba ("the catastrophe"). The Nakba refers
to the destruction of Palestinian society in 1948
when more than two-thirds of the Palestinian population
was forced into exile. The presence and land ownership
as an obstacle to the creation of a Jewish state.
In contravention of international law, human rights
conventions, and basic principles of morality, Israel
continues to deny Palestinian refugees and their
descendants the right to return home.
"As we speak, Israel continues to built illegal
settlements, annex more Palestinian territory, and
collectively punish the children, women and men of
Gaza with the unconscionable siege which has brought
them to a man-made, humanitarian crisis," said Diana
Ralph, coordinator of the Allian of Concerned Jewish
Canadians. "We believe that this is nothing to celebrate."
Dressed in black, holding signs and photographs
of Palestinian refugees from 1948, Jews and Palestinians
united in front of the National Arts Centre at 6:00
PM, to protest the on-going dispossession and ethnic
cleansing of Palestinians from their homeland.
"We are here to mourn the Nakba" said Ralph, "but
we are also here to celbrate the 60th Anniversary
of the International Declaration of Human Rights.
We will celebrate it by joining with others who demand
that Israel fully comply with international law."
The past sixty years have shown us that we must
break through the walls of fear, ignorance and xenophobic
interests and -- just as in South Africa -- recognize
our joint responsibility for a future in justice
and peace." |