Nakba Day, a day for Palestine, Bristol, 15th May 2008.

Nakba (catastrophe) Day, a day of shame for Israel.

Yesterday, the 15th May 2008, a group of people from Bristol observed 60 years of suffering in Palestine by planting a holly tree in the Narroways Nature Reserve above St. Werburghs, Bristol.

We planted the holly tree in St Werburghs as a symbol of friendship, to show the world that the people of Bristol empathise with the people of Palestine as they struggle for co-existence in an increasingly alien environment. And to show that we acknowledge and condemn the failings of our politicians.

Politicians who fail to condemn Israel in her sixty years regime of occupation, of racism, and of apartheid. Politicians who claim to be, “Friends of Israel.”

Palestine supporters planting the holly tree to observe Nakba (catastrophe) Day, 15th May 2008.

Sixty years in which Israel has rapidly, brutally and systematically commandeered Palestine. Nobody willingly abandons their home to an aggressive stranger at the door, the facts speak for themselves. Whereas ninety-four percent of the population of Palestine was Palestinian before 1948, now Palestine is all but wiped off the map. And at least four million Palestinian refugees have been scattered to the four winds.

Sixty years during which time Israel has terrorised, and even now continues to terrorise Palestinians into fleeing their homes, so terrified that they have simply locked their front doors and fled for their lives. Many Palestinians have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, their lives in tatters, their families destroyed. All that they possess to remind them of a previous peaceful existence in happier times? – a front door key used for the last time when they fled from their homes, never to be used again.

How angry would you be if you were driven from your home – how angry does that make you knowing that our government is turning a blind eye to such criminal activities committed by Israel, even though these atrocities are condemned by the UN and the majority of the planet?

What sort of mentality allows anyone to commandeer someone else’s home and carry on living as if nothing has happened?
Is it really possible to build a meaningful life living in stolen home, realising the suffering, or murder, of the rightful owners?
What sort of mentality is it that can tolerate such gross injustice?
In a word, zionism, the zionist mentality.

There is no anti-semitism here, the Jewish people condemn zionism more than anyone and for a good reason. The Jewish people have no wish to be associated with such exploitation of our fellow human beings. The Jewish people are as angry as the rest of the world.

Yes, we are angry – but we are not powerless. We possess a most powerful weapon. The weapon that the neocons and the capitalists fear more even than the fabled weapons of mass destruction.

This powerful weapon in our possession is – our buying power, and our free will to use it, or not.

So after planting the Nakba holly tree in St Werburgh’s, we headed towards Fishponds and set up a stall outside the Morrison’s supermarket there.
And for the first and the last time, we bought some “Produce of Israel” vegetables in Morrison’s which we displayed to interested passers-by on our stall outside on the pavement.

We received a great response from the locals many of whom already disapproved of Israel, (despite the best efforts of the BBC). But they were nevertheless shocked to learn that Morrison’s Supermarket patronised Israel, an apartheid and racist regime. The locals thanked us for making them aware of how they could play their part in helping an oppressed people.
In future they will pay much more attention to the country of origin and they will use their powerful weapon, their buying power, against oppressors and warmongers. Following the success at Fishponds we visited the Co-op in Baldwin Street.

The Co-op was much less of a transgressor, even though they were selling loose red peppers, product of Israel.

It must be said that neither the Co-op nor Morrison’s made objections to our presence outside their premises. But then, how do you argue against the obvious facts, even if politicians try to tell us that black’s white, the sad truth of disappearing Palestine is there for all to see. And we will never allow them to rewrite history to suit their agenda. Zionist’s hateful regime will never expunge this shameful stain from its history.

Every time we, the public, refuse to buy products from Israel we are sending a powerful message that we object most strongly to their conduct. Wherever their products remain mouldering on the shelves of Morrisons, the Co-op, and any other shop that sells products from Israel, we will be doing what we can to put a stop to this inhumanity by a nasty regime.

Our day finished on the centre opposite the Hippodrome at 5.30pm when we joined the daily Peace Vigil. Many thanks to the passing motorists for their massive response in “hooting for peace”.

It’s so good to realise that there is such a ground swell of support from decent people who know the score despite the best efforts of the BBC, the Murdoch Press et al, to keep us in the dark.

Palestine supporters planting the holly tree to observe Nakba (catastrophe) Day, 15th May 2008.

The holly tree observing 60 years of the Palestinians Nakba or catastrophe.

Palestinian supporters stall outside Morrison’s supermarket on the Fishponds Road, Bristol.

Products of Israel, a regime of occupation, racism and apartheid, please don’t buy.

Palestinian supporters stall outside the Co-op in Baldwin Street, Bristol.

The start of the vigil in the centre of Bristol, many more people joined later, additional photos welcome.