GROWN MEN CRYING…THE SIEGE IS BROKEN… ON THE DAY THE PROPHET WAS BORN

And they entered side by side like heroes, some on foot some in their vehicles, tears, smiles, hugs, flowers. It was historic, it was legendary. Gaza we are here. We have fulfilled the promise – Viva Palestina! The lifeline from the people of Britain to you, the people of Gaza, has arrived.

We have broken the barriers, we have opened closed borders, we have defied the odds,we have overcome the challenges across thousands of miles and three continents. We are here to be with you, to embrace you, to share your tragedy with you.

After another morning of intense negotiations, a deal was reached to allow all of the members of the convoy to go through. In the end, Viva Palestina had to make the sacrifice of agreeing that some vehicles will have to cross the border from the Al Ouja Israeli controlled crossing point. This includes our mascot, the fire engine and the boat. This was due to the restrictions imposed by Egyptian law governing the Rafah Crossing.

A tearful Talat Ali told me that 'Rafah is the most beautiful crossing in the world', he also said that the time , effort and sacrifices put in by all the Viva Palestina family meant that history has been made today – on the day the prophet Mohammed (PBUH) was born.

George Galloway made an emotional speech thanking the people of Gaza for the wonderful reception and assuring them that for Viva Palestina and in our millions, “WE ARE ALL PALESTINIANS!” George also reiterated that the people of Palestine have voted and that their voice should be respected.

Today the convoy will head along the Salah Eddine road towards Gaza City witnessing along the way the destruction and death caused by the Israeli war machine. Along the way they will be greeted by the people of Gaza who will know that Viva Palestina is here and that they will NEVER BE ALONE.

Farid Arada

Sign up for e-mail updates, and donate to the cause at VivaPalestina.org

On February 14th 2009, after only four, short weeks of preparation, the Viva Palestina convoy finally left for Gaza, from its starting point at London's Hyde Park. Watch interviews with the founder, George Galloway MP, the journalist, Yvonne Ridley, as well as a variety of footage from the departure event.

At the time of publishing this video, the convoy had already reached Morocco. Receive daily updates and send in your donations via VivaPalestina.org.

That was the departure point for the Viva Palestina convoy, who are now all on their way to Ramsgate, from where they will begin their long journey to Gaza.

I didn't expect it, but I was quite overcome by emotion at times: both with joy, as well as a happy kind of sadness. My heart was genuinely moved by the people around me. We should all thank Allāh for allowing us to witness such devotion and selflessness. Alhamdulillah. In fact, such were my feelings, that I was sufficiently motivated to come down to the Apple Store, just so I could blog about it!

Please make dua for the people on this convoy, as well as the people they are making all these efforts for. May Allāh grant them peace and success. Āmīn.

You can still be a part of the action: send in your donations and messages of good will via the Viva Palestina website.

—

I have captured more footage which I hope to put together this weekend, inshā’Allāh. Speaking of which, I have to mention a compliment I received from one of the Press TV crew!

I actually met him last week at the convoy meeting; the footage from which I used to produce my last video for iMuslim.tv. I was carrying my little HV20, whereas he had a much better, TV-worthy video camera. Unsurprisingly, I don't think he took me very seriously.

Somehow he watched my video online, so when I bumped into him again today, he noted how he was impressed with the quality of my shots, māshā’Allāh – in spite of the smallness of my camera! He then encouraged me to get a bigger one… but who can afford it?!

Anyway, that cheered me up. I hope to improve over time, inshā’Allāh. I especially need to work on my post-production skills, and learn how to get really good audio. That's definitely harder than getting good video. I also need to invest in more equipment. It all costs though… sigh.

I need a sponsor, fast!

Anyway… I gotsta get going. Peace y'all!

The British MP, George Galloway, has launched a bold, new initiative to help the beleaguered people of Gaza, called Viva Palestina. On February 14th 2009, he will lead a large convoy from London, all the way through Europe and North Africa by road, to personally deliver much needed aid into Gaza.

Find out how you can help at http://vivapalestina.org.

Closed Captions available

Communities and Local Government

Community Relations: Islam

Paul Goodman (Shadow Minister, Communities and Local Government; Wycombe, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what meetings Ministers in her Department have had with groups of British Muslims on the possible effects of events in Gaza since 27 December 2008 on community cohesion; and what the names were of the individuals who attended each meeting.

—

Sadiq Khan (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Community Cohension and Fire and Rescue Service), Department for Communities and Local Government; Tooting, Labour

Since 27 December the following meetings have been held:

On 6 January I and Bill Rammell, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met a range of representatives and individuals from a number of organisations including but not limited to the Quilliam Foundation, Muslim Council of Britain, British Muslim Forum, the Sufi Muslim Council, the Al Khoei Foundation, the UK Ismaili Council and the Ithna Asheri Khoja Shia World Federation.

On 8 January I and Bill Rammell, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, met members of the National Muslim Women's Advisory Group (NMWAG).

On 10 January I met the Young Muslims Advisory Group (YMAG) at their YMAG residential meeting.

On 12 January the Communities Secretary, the Foreign Secretary and I met representatives and individuals from a number of organisations including but not limited to the Quilliam Foundation, Muslim Council of Britain, British Muslim Forum, City Circle, the YMAG, British Muslims for a Secular Democracy, the Sufi Muslim Council, the Al Khoei Foundation, the UK Ismaili Council and the Ithna Asheri Khoja Shia World Federation.

On 13 January I and Bill Rammell, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, met members of the YMAG.

On 15 January the Communities Secretary and the Home Secretary met representatives and individuals from a number of organisations, including the Sufi Muslim Council, Al Khoei Foundation, the NMWAG, the Ithna Asheri Khoja Shia World Federation, Association of Muslim Social Scientists, the Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre, Active Change Foundation, and Quilliam Foundation.

On 15 January I met members of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board.

On 15 January I also met front line providers and deliverers to hear their concerns.

Not all of the above named groups are supported by the majority of people that they purportedly represent. But for whatever reason, they're the ones who the government are prepared to talk to. That means they are shaping policies – policies that affect the rest of us – whether we like it or not. In that respect, the repeated mention of the Quilliam Foundation is worrisome.

Donate to the DEC Gaza Appeal.

Hat-tip to Media Guy

Continue Reading…

What is it?
When was it written?
Where can I find a copy?
And most importantly – who is it enforced by?

Because according to several commentators, Israel has repeatedly broken “international law” and is guilty of committing war crimes – and not just with its recent acts of depravity in Gaza – but since its inception.

Humanitarian laws, U.N. resolutions, the Geneva Convention, etc, etc… blah blah blah.

So. What.

Have they ever been held accountable for it? What is the point of establishing a system of law, that is never enforced? Is it some kind of political in-joke?

“Oh, look… there goes Israel, breaking 'international law' again. The rascals!”

Let's face it. No-one can seriously expect the US or UK governments to enforce this fabled “international law”, as many of their members would be the first ones to be prosecuted. In fact, most nations with any influence and power are guilty of something.

I really hate to write blog posts that are essentially pointing out the obvious, and complaints with no merit; a modern version of armchair politics. But I find such blatant hypocrisy and idiocracy so darned frustrating, it has to be vented somewhere.

The PSC has issued a press release giving further details of Israel's recent, alledged war crimes. I don't know why I used the word “alledged”. It's not like they are going to court. Not in this life, anyway, subhanallah.

I couldn't read it all. It just became a string of meaningless words and statistics after a while.

—

I watched Disc 1 of Occupation 101 last night. What touched me most was the following scene of a little Palestinian girl complaining about the destruction of her personal possessions:

Click here to view the embedded video.

I have actually seen that clip before, online, but it touched me even more this time round.

All I could think was: “What a little madam!”

She reminds me of so many cute girls that I have known over the years. The kind you just have to engage with, because they are oh-so-clever, with their big words, and telling you what's-what! And when they fall, or break their favourite toy, and the tears inevitably begin to fall, you are compelled to hug their pain away, and say: “Shh, baby. Don't cry. I'll buy you a new dolly”. Even if you're skint broke, and have never met them before in your life: the tears must stop.

That's all I wanted to do for that little girl.

—

I'm sorry to rub it in. To repeat what has already been written. Even this same apology has been written over and over.

I'm also sorry for not giving equal attention to all the other ongoing disasters in this world. Indeed, I am most likely being played by the fickle media machine.

But, in my defence: what laments a sick person the most? The crippling, chronic arthiritis in their joints, or a freshly sliced stab wound to the guts?

January 3rd, 2009: Photos from the recent demo in Trafalgar Square, which attracted tens of thousands of protesters.

During that particular rally, the organizers announced over the loud speakers that an even bigger march was planned for the following week; this time starting in Hyde Park, and ending at the Israeli Embassy in High Street Kensington.

I'll admit: I was a little pessimistic. I suspected that many people would have been satisfied, emotionally, by the present event, and thus not be as excited about attending another large protest, so soon after the first.

However, within ten seconds of leaving the subway last Saturday afternoon, I knew that I had been wrong. Dead wrong.

For once, I arrived at the designated start time: 12.30pm, give or take a minute or two. Yet, it seemed like the park was already full with protesters. It was a little scary, actually. I don't think I've seen so many people congregate in one place, since returning from Hajj. It turns out that the number of attendees was most likely double that of the previous week.

Lesson learnt: people do care. Faith in humanity: restored.

For now, at least.

My first real foray into the world of video production is a short piece on the Gaza protests that have been taking place in London, over the past fortnight.

Closed Captions now available