20,000 at Enough! Coalition Demonstration
09 June 2007
Over 20,000 people demonstrated in London to send a strong message both to the Israeli government and to No 10 Downing Street that we want an end to the Israeli occupation and justice for the Palestinians.
War on Want, as part of the Enough! Coalition, organised a major national demonstration and rally in central London.
More than 15,000 people marched from Lincoln's Inn Fields to Trafalgar Square, where 5,000 more gathered for a rally.
The 20,000 people who packed the square heard powerful and moving speeches from a number of prominent Palestinians including the Palestinian Minister of Information, Dr Mustafa Barghouti, Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem Riah Abu El Assal, Professor Manuel Hassassian the Palestinian General Delegate to the UK. They also watched a video message from Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.
Dr Mustafa Barghouti said: "There is something wrong in the world when the international community supports the occupier, Israel, not the occupied, the Palestinians.
"There is something wrong in the world when Israel can force Palestinians to live under apartheid.
"And there is something wrong in the world when people who criticise Israel are accused of antisemitism."
Former Israeli soldier Natan'l Silverman, from the Israeli-Palestinian group Combatants for Peace, said: "The Six-Day War that became a 40-year occupation casts a long shadow over my country. The occupation should have finished decades ago and must end for a just two-state solution."
They were joined by a host of politicians, trade unionists and campaigners including Richard Burden MP, Caroline Lucas MEP, Keith Sonnet (Deputy General Secretary of UNISON) Alison Shepherd (President of the Trade Union Congress) and Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire all calling for an end to the occupation.
Speakers drew attention to the worsening humanitarian situation and the increasing poverty faced by the Palestinian people after 40 years of occupation. They called for international law to be upheld and for an end to the injustice and violence faced daily by the Palestinian people.
The Enough! coalition was formed by a group of charities, trade unions, faith and other campaign groups who have come together because we want peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike. This can only be built on justice, equality and freedom. In order to achieve this goal governments like the British government must stand up for international law and human rights.
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