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Thousands to march through London over Middle East conflict
Rashid Razaq and Jack Lefley09.01.09
THOUSANDS of protesters will take to the streets this weekend in demonstrations over Israel's assault on Gaza.
A national demonstration against the attack will march from Speakers' Corner at Hyde Park tomorrow. It will be followed on Sunday by a pro-Israel rally in Trafalgar Square and march.
The protests follow a series of demonstrations outside the Israeli Embassy in Kensington which have led to small businesses in the area losing thousands of pounds.
The pro-Palestinian demonstration is expected to be joined by stars including singers Annie Lennox and Peter Gabriel, actors Corin and Vanessa Redgrave, and Children's Laureate Michael Rosen. Their march will end near the Israeli Embassy in Palace Green.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews has planned a rally to call for peace from 11am to 12pm on Sunday in Trafalgar Square. Half an hour later protesters will congregate at Marble Arch and walk to Belgrave Square.
Last night, hundreds gathered at the Friends Meeting House in central London. Speakers condemned the Israeli and British governments, with former Labour Cabinet minister Tony Benn calling for the Israeli ambassador to the UK to be expelled.
The protests, which have seen up to 2,000 pro-Palestinian supporters bring Kensington High Street to a standstill, have affected independent traders who have reported takings down by more than 50 per cent. Many have struggled to pay staff and cover overheads.
Residents want the protests moved to Kensington Gardens or Hyde Park. Maryam Taghavi, owner of Foubert's Café, said: "We couldn't open on Saturday or Sunday."
Craig Teasdale, manager of Brasserie Gerard, said his restaurant had had virtually no bookings since the protests began on 28 December. Police said they have had talks with organisers, but there are no plans to relocate the demonstrations.
Reader views (26)
I went to the anti-war demo on Tuesday - it was 2 hours, between barriers, peaceful and well policed. Afterwards we went for a pint nearby (thus supporting the local economy).
People protesting object to the bombing of civilians - something both sides are guilty of. However one side is stuck in a massive prison (Gaza), and are being bombed by tanks and planes, and have run out of medicines and food (having been barricaded in for 18 months before all this kicked off). The ratio of deaths on both sides so far is 100:1 (Palestinians/Israelis). Its not a just or fair 'war'. Its a slaughter. And if we can show our displeasure, in any mild way, with a mass movement, it might prompt our government to do something to help.
So it may achieve something. And I guarantee you most of us are tax payers - with a right to protest. Go on Saturday if you are in London, its going to quite a day. People being bussed in from all over the UK. 50 000 plus expected. And you can do your bit by spending money at the local businesses afterwards.
- Paul, London
To quote Voltaire "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Didn't we fight a war to defend our right to free speech in this country? It seems like some people here think that it's all too much hassle and will probably cost too much to bother protecting such a laudable principle.
- Nj, London
They should move the embassy somewhere else preferably outside London. I think these protests are going to continue as long as Israel is not disarmed. When this crisis is over Israel is going to attack country and there are infinite number of countries that could be bombed and destroyed by Israel.
- Thatcher, hertfordshire
Easy to protest in London where it is nice and safe.
- Casper Slides, France at the moment
The Police and Government of this country's first duty is to the people and business of this country. If foreign influences are restricting the rights of Brithish people to live and trade as they desire then the police must act. This has been going on for almost 2 weeks. These protesters must be moved away now. My office is just around the corner from the Israel Embassy and we cannot get any deliveries made after 3pm because the baracades are being put up for the next round of disruption.
- Jane Bewick, London
Come off it Jo !
Israel is and always has been a bully and hundreds of innocent people are being killed in Palastine. The fact that the Israeli Embassy is near you is a problem but it isn't terminal as it is for innocent women & children.
- Kathy Doyle, London
Good Luck to the Protest March hope this will result to
opening the eyes of the world of what is happenning in Palestine is appaling any decent human being should not condone the slaughtering murdering of the innocent women
children and old people of Palestine.May God Bless You.
- Elizabeth Thornton, London and france
These protesters are fools.They wont interested in protesting against Hamas when they fired rockets at civilian targets in Israel.
Where Hamas too stupid to realise that Israel would not respond to rocket attacks.
Only two weeks ago Hamas declared the ceasefire with Israel over.What did they expect to happen?
- Alex Pavlovic, Halifax
Yet another waste of time and tax payers money demo.
These people never made this much fuss when the bombers were blowing up New York and London.
- Jon,, Radlett , Herts
Just what this demonstration is going to atchieve I do not no Isreal is taking no notice of anyone Hamas continues to fire missiles.It is going to take what few police we do have away from their duties.And its going to cost firms already struggling a lot of lost trade.
- Dave Smith, Croydon
I will take these so called demonstrators more seriously when they start protesting about Hamas rockets being flown into the State of Israel, and when they condem the despicable tactics of Hamas who plant their rockets amongst the women and children. Hamas are sacrificing their women and children, for the sake of manipulating world opinion.
Where are the likes of Annie Lennox(yeserdays woman) when Jews are being physically attacked in the UK for being Jewish? The silence of these so called stars is deafening.
- Paul Lennon, Edgware, Middx England
Do Londoners, well all taxpayers across the UK, not understand how things like this affect their council tax? Policing these protests in LONDON since the action began in GAZA will have diverted many officers and other policing resources from the boroughs. There are only so many trained officers and they can't work 24/7. In addition to policing these things there are other public order and sporting events going on across the capital so while hundreds of your police officers are dealing with policing world problems the burglars, muggers and the rest of them are getting a free pass. The response times in London are dire already so they will be even worse if these requirments are maintained for the next week and beyond. The effects on local businesses must be awful too. That area of London attracts enormous numbers of tourists too. As we head towards the Olympics fiasco in 2012 the begging bowl will be out, taxation must rise and none of it for policing your neighbourhood. You can't put a price on democracy UNLESS you're a taxpayer which many of these protesters aren't. How about hopping on a plane and helping Hamas out in the Gaza strip if you feel that strongly about it? I'm sure you'll still be able to claim your benefits while you do so! Annie, George and Ken will probably sub you too.
- Ranter, Maidstone, UK.
I know that this is a most serious issue that people care passionately about (on both sides) - but it is simply not right that the protests are being held in a shopping and residential area. It causes serious disruption to residents who are unable to reach their houses by car (and sometimes even on foot) and is doing real damage to the businesses along that part of the high street. It is not as if the Israeli ambassador is listening ..... I also don't understand why the British governemnt is coming in for flak - they have expressed the strongest possible condemnation of the Israeli actions and called for an immediate ceasefire.
- Toby, London
Frankly, I'm quite fed up with hearing about this conflict. It's been going on for over 50 years now, and even skilled negotiators including Henry Kissinger and Bill Clinton haven't been able to solve it. If the Israelis and the Palestinians want to wipe each other out, let them - it's their choice. Both sides could stop the violence if they wanted, but they don't want to.
- Paulina Smid, London, UK
What's a march going to achieve,"Nothing" it won't bring piece.
Just an excuse for supporters of both sides to have agood punch up, and our poor police will be stuck in the middle.
- Malc, London,England
Why march through London?The people of Britain never sanctioned this war.Take it out on the perpetrators.
- Steve, London
Millions will not be marching.
- Roger, Surrey
Maybe it's the Israeli government that should be sued. If they weren't murdering children there wouldn't be any demos!
- Jerome, Manchester
What about those of us who deplore the violence and the tactics employed by both the IDF and Hamas?
I deplore the humanitarian situation in Gaza, but also recognise the right of Israeli people to live without fear of rocket attacks.
Both sides have done wrong, and there should be an immediate ceasefire. Why should I have to take sides with either the Israeli or Palestinian 'side' in order to campaign for peace? Should there not just be a 'peace' march, for those who don't have allegiances to a particular 'side'?
- Sp, Edgware
The point of the protest, Jo, is to focus on the Israeli embassy in Kensington. Stop the War has asked for permission to hold a rally in the park but at present the police insist it must be in the road.
- Jon, London
Have these people ever protested against terrorists constantly firing rockets into civilian populations in Israel?
I thought not.
- Richard, London
lucky you, jo, that you have a life to get on with. for the victims of this bloody conflict, there is no life - dead or alive. whilst you may not recoginse your duty as a global citizen to stand up and oppose such violence and oppression, many, many thousands of others do.
the events over there will have an impact and effect on life in the uk.
- Um Rahel, london
I represent residents of Old Court House in Kensington High Street where we are besieged nightly by an Arab mob demonstrating in front of an Israeli Embassy which has been closed for months! This is all done with police and Home Office approval. Our MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind knows of our plight but has done absolutely nothing to help. Our right to live our lives peacefully are being completely ignored in favour of a rag tag army of young thugs. This is Britain in 2009
- John Cookson, London
There is absolutley no reason why demonstrations should be allowed to to take place directly outside, or close to the the Israeli embassy. The Israeli government, it's officials and the wider public are fully aware of the criticism being orchestrated against the Gaza conflict. The only people being inconvenienced and suffering financial losses are the residents and retailers of Kensington. Yes, the demonstrators have a right to protest in a peaceful and orderly fashion, but the current demonstrations are neither peaceful nor orderly. The disruption being imposed on the general public is so disproportionate that they should be required, or forced if necessary, to hold their meetings in locations where the general public are not so inconvenienced, and where local business's are not sent into bankruptcy.
- Paul, Croydon Uk
This is getting such a joke!!!! do these people have nothing better to do with their lives. i don't really care for either side to be honest. just wish they would do their demonstarting somewhere else and stop wasting our taxpayers money................
- Jonny, London
Owners of Kensington High Street businesses should get together and do what Ryan Air is threatening to do to the organisers of the "Plane Stupid" demonstration at Stanstead - sue them! While people have a right to free speach, they've no right to endanger the livelihoods and quality of life of others - go demonstrate in Hyde Park - not Kensington High Street - and let us residents get on with our lives.
- Jo, London, UK
