Start Building… Now!
by Adriano Contreras | Sunday, December 13th, 2009

We need to start building now, because the Egyptians and the US have not wasted anytime in responding to the increasing efforts of solidarity work being done worldwide. You see… before the massacre last winter, the plight of the Palestinians was perhaps a confusing issue that mainstream America couldn’t really wrap their heads around. Not to fault their intellectual capacity, but our media has been irresponsible more so on this issue than any other. However the exposure of such barbarism and its dreadful results (which the media could not avoid this time), has woken up more people to what is going on. WIth 44% of registered Democrats polled siding with the Palestinians after Israel’s assault, consciousness has at least shifted to questioning the actions of the Israeli state. People’s consciousness can change and reports on TV are a part of that shift. But still, the participation of people around the world and especially the US (which gives Israel its largest sum of annual aid, over $1 billion) is necessary in shifting consciousness of the people around them to the political situation at hand.

Start building now, because the Egyptian government with the help of American engineers have started building a steel wall to seal off the Gaza Strip from the Egyptian border. It should be completed in 18 months. If Gaza is described as the world’s largest open air prison, then after the completion of such a wall, it will be hell on earth. At least in prison you can visit the prisoner. Also, lets not forget the numerous tunnels that will be blocked that supply Gaza with the needs Israel denies them. When that wall goes up the challenge of a convoy like this one will be way greater.

We need pressure from around the world. George Galloway from Britain will do his part. Last night we met the mayor of Thessaloniki, Greece who greeted us and pledged his support. Members of the Greek parliament will be pressuring Egypt as well. We entered the center district of Thessaloniki today and the reception was refreshing. Most of the ride through Europe has been tame. Largely we’ve driven on the highway and not through cities and neighborhoods, so there hasn’t been much of a greeting there. But today, the entire convoy so far made its way through the streets with sirens blaring and flags waving. People honked, cheered, and gave us peace signs as we drove through the streets. It was quite emotional though, when numerous people came to our windows or walked up to us and stared at us straight in the eye and simply said “thank you for everything.” Apparently the receptions will intensify when we reach Turkey and enter the Middle East.

WHAT TO DO?

I will have video later this week that you can link people to. Right now it isn’t possible to get them up.

I’m aware of actions being planned on December 27 for the anniversary of the massacre. An excellent idea to draw people out in solidarity and to reignite the people who came out last year who have perhaps drifted away. What I ask of you and the people you know who are organizing is to mention this convoy in your organizing. Apply the pressure! They will make it very difficult for us to get in to Gaza. The Egyptian police are not keen on having us come in and even if you can shame some police officers by exposing their treatment towards their Arab and Muslim brothers and sisters in Gaza, it isn’t enough. This is a police-state we’re entering.

We will be there on December 27 at the gates of the Egyptian-Gaza border and we’ll need you to start building now so that come the day we can say we had people from around the world on our side.

Tags: egypt, Gaza, Greece, Israel, massacre, Palestine, Thessaloniki

9:11 am. Viva Palestina.