Palestine mural updated in Belfast

Dear Ambassador Dr. Zion Evrony,

Further to my telephone call to your office this morning I wish to reiterate some of the points which I made in the conversation with your secretary, and to elaborate on them a little further.

1.  I am sick to the teeth of the lies you are telling on RTE and in the Irish media about what is happening in Gaza. Israel has killed over 400 people there on the pretext that a cease-fire had been broken unilaterally by Hamas. You know this is not true.

2. You said that Israel is trying to avoid civilian casualties but that Hamas use their civilians as shields for Hamas soldiers. You know that this is not true. Gaza is smaller in area than our smallest County, Louth, and is over-populated with 1.4 million people, before your country reduced the population with murder from the sky.

3.  Your Army invaded Gaza prior to an election and in the interregnum between the Presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. You kill over 400, injure over 1000 and promise more killings and injuries. And you blame Hamas for all of these killings and injuries. You know that it is not true that Hamas are to blame for your murders. You, the State of Israel and the IDF, are to blame for the people you kill and injure, no one else but you.

Protests continue across Ireland:
• Gaza Solidarity March Dublin 2009 - Photo Series and more photos
• About 100 people came out in Limerick today to protest at the ongoing slaughter in Gaza. - photos and report
• Brief video of SF MEP Mary Lou McDonald's speech at the Gaza Solidarity march - news, photos and video
• Cork Protests in ‘Disgust’ at Israel War Crimes - Photos and story
• Palestine Solidarity in Omagh - Photos and details
• 3rd Jan, Derry Protests Against Israel's Attacks on Gaza - Photos and report
• 5th Jan, Lurgan Palestine Solidarity Protest - more news and photos
• 6th Jan, Anti-War protest at the Israeli embassy in Dublin - Photo series
• 7th Jan, Cork does a stall and vigil for Gaza - Photo series

Protests continue across the World:
• Photostory: World demonstrates for Gaza - ElectronicIntifada.net
• Riding on fire and a third intifada, by Ewa Jasieiwcz - read at FreeGaza.org

Government TD calls for Expulsion of Israeli Ambassador - More news & discussion

Gaza Invasion Blogging....
In the face of protests worldwide, Israel has tonight launched an incursion into the Gaza Strip. Their 'war' continued today with the bombing of a mosque in Gaza. Reports indicate that more than ten people were killed in this latest terrorist attack. Read more Gaza Blogging below....

Caoimhe Butterly on The Dignity
in International Waters off Gaza

Thousands have been protesting all over the world against the current military attacks on one of the most densely populated parts of the world - The Gaza Strip.

Hundreds marched from the Israeli Embassy to the nearby US Embassy in Ballsbridge, Dublin last night.

Palestinians both Hamas and Fatah supporters were part of these protests. Most chants were in Arabic.

The march returned to the Israeli Embassy where people surrounded it just as Gaza is surrounded.

An Israeli flag was also burned by two young women.

Images of last nights rally and march below.

Protests all over Ireland...
• Dublin, Dec 28 2008: 'Hundreds take to the streets to show solidarity and mourn for the people of Gaza' - Photo series
• IPSC at the US and Israeli Embassies: 'For the third day running Palestinian and Palestine solidarity activists demonstrated in Dublin against the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza.' - News story
• Belfast Dec 29th: 'close to 100 people assembled in front of Belfast City Hall to protest at the barbaric Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip. Those present included members of the Palestinian and Muslim communities in Belfast.' - More news
• The North West Solidarity Network, based in Donegal and Leitrim counties: 'We feel humanity does not do not have the option of standing idly by watching such horrendous events without trying to do something to stop it.' - More news
• During the protest at the US embassy some Dubliners took time to celebrate the new year by throwing shoes at George W Bush.... Photo Series
• On New Year’s Eve, Derry Stands up in Solidarity with Palestine - More info
• On New Year’s Eve, Dublin Palestine activists keep up the pressure on NYE and NYD - More info & pictures ... and even more nice photos

and, in case anyone forgot, Ireland's Shannon Airport is still Aiding and Abetting War in Iraq.

Caoimhe Butterly WatchBlog continues...CLICK HERE for latest updates
[ previous Caoimhe WatchBlogging here. ]

We haven't gone away you know!

2008 has been a year of ups and downs for the Shell to Sea campaign, however generally the last months of the year have been very positive. This is a brief review of the year and a call-out for people to get involved next year when we expect a big push from Shell and the Government to again try to force this project through. At the moment, we are planning on the assumption that a pipe-laying ship (Solitaire or otherwise) will be back anytime from spring next year, to try to finally lay the offshore pipeline.

Related Links: Shell 2 Sea S2S stories on indy.ie

Justin Morahan writes... On the Jewish Sabbath, this morning, The Israeli Defence forces launched a massive missile attack on Gaza killing at least 140 people.

The attack came as a surprise even to Israelis. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz put the number of dead at 155 or more. There was little or no warning when the "strike" began at 11.30 a.m. Israeli time.

Television footage showed dead bodies scattered on a road and wounded and dead being carried away by distraught rescuers.

The Israel Defense Forces said that the airstrikes "will continue, will be expanded, and will deepen if necessary."

Egypt has now opened its long-sealed border with Gaza to allow in the wounded for medical treatment.

According to reports, the Hamas Government buildings were targeted as were the police headquarters with heavy casualties in both locations. Police Chief Tawfiq Jabber is among the dead. A spokesman said that the police compound in Gaza City had been hosting a graduation ceremony for new personnel when it was attacked.

Related Links:
Ewa Jasiewicz (Free Gaza Movement) writes at UK Indy: 'As I write this, Israeli jets are bombing the areas of Zeitoun and Rimal in central Gaza City. The family I am staying with has moved into the internal corridor of their home to shelter from the bombing....' read more
• also see and hear an MP3 speech of Ewa's at Dublin's Speakers' Square, June 2004

Where's Caoimhe Butterly?
According to FreeGaza.org she is most likely in Gaza at the moment.
UPDATE #1:A credible report tells us that Caoimhe is safe in a third country.
UPDATE #2: Caoimhe will be on a ship with 16 others traveling from Cyprus with Humanitarian Aid to break the Israeli Blockade of Gaza - read more at FreeGaza.org
UPDATE #3: Israelis attack the ship 'The Dignity' - Caoimhe reported to be on board 'The Dignity has been surrounded by at least half-a-dozen Israeli warships. They are firing live ammunition around the Dignity, and one of the warships has rammed the civilian craft causing an unknown amount of damage.' more blogged below.
UPDATE #4: Goretti Horgan, Derry Anti War Coalition, writes us the following update...'Caoimhe contacted members of the Derry Anti War Coalition this morning as the boat limped towards Lebanese waters for repairs - it was too badly damaged by the Israelis' ramming to make it back to Cyprus .... The Lebanese government have said the boat could dock there. We had another phone call in Derry to tell us that they were now in Lebanese waters. Caoimhe says that the Free Gaza boat will set off from Lebanon again just as soon as repairs are complete – in a day, or two at the most.' - read more

Dublin Photo Series: Hundred take to the streets to show solidarity and mourn for the people of Gaza.
Read: 'I own a video camera, but today I discovered what a terrible cameraman I am. I can’t bring myself to film mangled bodies or faces drenched in tears. I just can’t. I start crying myself...' - A translated article by Vittorio Arrigoni at freegaza.org
Look: What was Guernica?

Contact Those Who Work For You

Contact.ie, a website for contacting politicians in Ireland, went live today. Indymedia.ie caught up with Mark Conroy, the site's owner, to discuss the site with him.

Related Links: Contact.ie