Anyone willing to turn up at Saturday’s Stop the War Coalition “antiwar” demonstration in London with a sign pointing out that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is a Jew-hater who deserves no support? How about a sign suggesting Israel is not entirely responsible for the current war?
That’s okay. I doubt I would either– at least not alone.
I see George Galloway, following his triumphant glorification of Hezbollah and Nasrallah two weeks ago, has been invited to speak at Saturday’s rally. Any guesses what he’ll say this time?
Update: The BBC website reports:
Campaigner Bianca Jagger said she backed the march’s aims but not the anti-Israel views of some protesters.
March organisers said more than 100,000 people had attended the event, but police put the figure at about 15,000.
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said four or five people were arrested in the Whitehall area for public order offences.
Ms Jagger, who was at the head of the march as it prepared to set off from Hyde Park, said Mr Blair should call for an immediate ceasefire.
“As long as he doesn’t do it, what he’s creating is more hatred instead of bringing peace and security to the Middle East and Britain.
“What he is doing is fermenting [sic] hatred and destruction.”
She added: “I support the existence of Israel and I think we are wrong to say otherwise.
“But watching the images of innocent children dying as we have been for the last 24 days does not promote a peaceful solution in the region.”
I share her anguish, as any sentient human being would. The question, of course, is one of responsibility for those terrible scenes. (While Israeli mistakes are partly responsible, Hezbollah’s willingness to hide behind civilians is mostly to blame.) And I hope she voiced her support for the existence of Israel to the whole crowd.
Further update: Terry Glavin takes a hard look at Canada’s “antiwar Left” since the onset of the Hezbollah-Israel war. (Via normblog.)