Palestine

In Australia activists will be organising emergency solidarity events with Gaza in coming days and weeks:

Adelaide:
Rally & March to end the War on Gaza! Friday 23rd November, 5pm, outside Myer Centre, Rundle Mall.

Brisbane:
Take Action for Gaza, Friday 23 November, 5pm King George Square

Canberra
Rally against Israel's attacks on Gaza Sat Nov 24, 12 noon, Israeli embassy, Turrana St, Yarralumla. Contact defendgaza.canberra@gmail.com.

Hobart

As in every vicious military offensive Israel carries out in Gaza, the dominant narrative is that it is a response to rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel. This is how it’s being reported in the US, and this is how virtually every American understands it. And it is a lie.

At a press conference outside Shifa Hospital on November 14, Gaza's Minister of Health, Dr Mofad Al Makhalalaty, called on the international community to immediately intervene to prevent another catastrophe such as Operation Cast Lead.

More than 150 people protested at Parramatta town hall on November 15, calling for a boycott of Max Brenner chocolate shops and an end to Israel's recent attacks on Gaza.

The rally was part of the worldwide campaign for boycott, divestments and sanctions (BDS) against Israel. Max Brenner's parent company, the Israeli Strauss Group, donates care packages of chocolates to Israeli commandos of the Golani and Givati brigades. 

“In a war between the civilised man and the savage, support the civilised man.” So declared billboards on New York’s subways paid for by the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI) early in August.

But, let’s face it, in these days of horrific mass slaughter, it can be difficult to determine who is who. So the AFDI ads spell it out: “Support Israel! Defeat Jihad!”

I am working with the International Women’s Peace Service (IWPS) based in the village of Deir Istiya in the Salfit area in central West Bank.

A lot of this area has been taken over by the Israeli settler colony of Ariel. IWPS work in solidarity with the local people and has received a number of plaques in appreciation of their work over many years.

We were privileged to be invited to the celebration party for the homecoming of 21 year-old Ahmed Shtawi after seven-and-a-half months imprisonment. He was arrested on March 16 after a vicious attack by an army dog.

While European governments continue to impose policies aimed at making working people pay for a crisis they did not cause, the Ecuadorian government of Rafael Correa has taken a different course.

“Those who are earning too much will be giving more to the poorest of this country,” a November 1 Reuters dispatch quoted Correa as saying. He was announcing a new measure to raise taxes on banks to help fund social security payments.

Ecuador’s banking sector has registered US$349 million in after-tax profits, a November 8 El Telegrafo article said.

This show has a special focus on Islamophobia, including interviews with Mohamad Tabbaa who researches anti-Muslim discrimination, and Muslim community activist Rebecca Kaye.

Also with Jess Moore from Stop CSG Illawarra, plus activist news on WikiLeaks, the Aboriginal Passport Ceremony, Ilan Pappe, and protesting Lynas.

Finally Carlo Sands discusses the civilised world and 'savages', Iran and female ninja assassins.

This episode features Terry McBride from Beyond Zero Emissions plus footage of the campaign for big solar in Port Augusta, South Australia, along with activist news including an eyewitness from Venezuela on Chavez's victory, Antony Loewenstein on After Zionism, a NSW public service strike, and WikiLeaks' Julian Assange speaking to GetUp.

Finally, Carlo Sands defends poor, downtrodden shock jock Alan Jones.