Early Thursday, January 8th Montrealers blockaded the Israeli Consulate in Montreal in protest against the on-going Israeli assault on the people of Gaza...The action in Montreal comes on the heels of countless protests worldwide against Israeli war crimes, including an occupation of the Israeli Consulate in Toronto by Jewish women yesterday.

By FRANKLIN LAMB - January 8, 2009

In the minds of some of his colleagues, and a law student reporter at the Harvard Law Record, Professor Alan Dershowitz's unique views of Israel's obligations under international law are reflected in the "private legal memoranda" that he churns out from time to time in his moonlighting job as "Counsel to the Government of Israel". In this role...Harvard's Nutty Professor advises Israel "how to appear to be acting legally to the eyes of the American public".

By CAL WINSLOW - January 7, 2009

"We will have to destroy UHW to save it” This, it seems, is the objective of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in its campaign against its California affiliate, United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW)...In the past year, SEIU national leaders have orchestrated a multi-fronted assault on the 150,000 member California health care workers union – all designed to break the union. The intention, it is clear, is to seize control of UHW, remove the elected leaders and relegate its members to other jurisdictions, or to altogether new organizations.

By WAJAHAT ALI - January 5, 2009

I tell my friends that any time I’m depressed or lonely, I decide to go to the airport where instantly I’m lavished with meticulous attention and treated like a Hollywood celebrity. Rarely, have I and other ethnic undesirables been afforded such a loving reception. What’s not to love about the multiple (TSA) agents who “randomly” select you for special inspection? Or their curious, unbridled interest in asking you which mosques you frequent? Their desire to express their hospitality and love is so uncontainable that you’re treated to several physical pat-downs covering every inch of your body.

5 January 2009

We are calling on the world to stop Israeli violence and not allow the continuation of the brutal occupation. We call on the world to Condemn and not become an accomplice in Israel`s crimes.

By Sean Maher - Oakland Tribune

A [Bay Area Rapid Transit] police officer struggling to handcuff a 22-year-old man stood up over the facedown Hayward resident and fired a single shot into his back while a handful of officers watched, a video taken by a train passenger apparently shows...The attorney for the family of Oscar Grant III, fatally shot by an unidentified BART officer early New Year's Day, said Sunday he plans to file a $25 million lawsuit against the department and asked prosecutors to consider filing murder charges against the officer.

"...[M]uch of labor officialdom in [the United States] — often without the knowledge or consent of union members — has a longstanding complicity with Israeli Apartheid that dates to before 1948...In April 2002, while Israel butchered Palestinian refugees at Jenin in the West Bank, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney was a featured speaker at a belligerent 'National Solidarity Rally for Israel.'"

By Ramzy Baroud - Znet

...[W]hy should Israel devote a moment to the question of harming civilians or violating international law or any such seemingly irrelevant notions - as far as Israel is concerned - as long as their "Palestinian partners", the Arab League, or the international community continue to teeter between silence, complacency, rhetoric and inaction?

By JENNIFER LOEWENSTEIN - January 1, 2009

The state terror unleashed from the skies and on the ground against the Gaza Strip as we speak has nothing to do with Hamas. It has nothing to do with “Terror”. It has nothing to do with the long-term “security” of the Jewish State or with Hizbullah or Syria or Iran except insofar as it is aggravating the conditions that have led up to this crisis today...Israel will accept no authority in the Palestinian territories that it does not ultimately control. Any individual, leader, faction or movement that fails to accede to Israel’s demands or that seeks genuine sovereignty and the equality of all nations in the region...will be unacceptable for the Jewish State.

There will be a Rally in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Saturday January 3rd, 2009 from 1:45-4:00 pm at Dundas square, which is at the intersection of Yonge & Dundas, in front of the Eaton's Centre.

This will be to show our support and solidarity with Gaza and its inhabitants at this time of great peril. Israel is murdering civilians, with so far 400+ dead Gazan's.

* updated with Action items, links to articles/photos, talking points, and endorsers. Please forward widely *

END THE SIEGE ON GAZA! PROTEST ISRAELI WAR CRIMES !

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Saturday Jan 3 @ 1 pm
Vancouver Art Gallery (Robson side - corner Hornby)

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Innocent Muslim victims of America's "war on terror."

The raw realities of Middle East politics spilled onto the streets in several cities across Canada on Sunday as pro-Palestinian protesters denounced the bloody Israeli attacks on Gaza...Israeli attacks on suspected Hamas strongholds in Gaza have triggered protests in more than a dozen countries.

It is telling that the violent death of Tracey, a homeless woman in Vancouver, who burned to death after attempting to keep warm after constructing a small fire in a downtown street corner, has resulted in national headlines while the freezing death of another unidentified homeless man in Montreal the very next night has resulted in only a passing mention in Montreal newspapers. It is beyond cynical to point out that when a homeless person burns to death, it is a national tragedy, whereas when a homeless person freezes to death, it is scarcely even news.