Guest Post: Hugh O'Donnell MSP's final report from the Middle East

This is my last from the Middle East, Amman Airport to be exact. 

Jericho where the Israelis will rebuild the wall

If I have learned anything from this trip it is that the Israeli Government and the Quartet have no real interest in the 'Two State' solution. In East Jerusalem and the West Bank/Palestine they are guilty of what I can only describe as ethnic cleansing (think native Americans or even the Clearances). I've seen people's land, homes, religious centres, economy and culture slowly destroyed by a regime that seems determined to drive them out of their own land. I know that sounds hard but sadly it seems to be true. 

The wall. For Israeli students the walk to university is a mere 500m, for Palestinians, it's 4 km and 6 checkpoints

They are implementing an apartheid system where the Palestinians are third-class citizens and cannot even use the best roads. The Israelis have even built tunnels for them to use to reach their towns, villages and farms. To top it all they have constructed a monstrous apartheid wall to divide and isolate Palestinians from almost every means of economic prosperity and even education. This wall often means that a journey of 40 minutes can now take 2 hours if you are not Israeli or a tourist. 


The wall goes right round Bethlehem where we visited last night. The Palestinian watchman opened the courtyard of the Nativity Church for us to view. Now there are few tourists staying un the town,  as 80% of tourists are bussed to the Israeli colonies for overnight stays.  Mary and Joseph would have no problem getting a room in Bethlehem these days!! 

The Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

I'm sad and depressed at what I've seen here and what is being done to this warm and friendly people who deserve better after over sixty years of oppression at the hands of Israel with the tacit approval of most of the Western world-it's just wrong and almost certainly is criminal.

Clegg calls for EU action against Israel over Gaza

Glad to see that our leader, Nick Clegg, is urging the EU to suspend a proposed co-operation deal with Israel.

It would be a start and a major signal that a significant body of international opinion opposes Israel's continued and disproportionate action in Gaza.

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Middle East Peace Protests in Scotland this weekend

For all who are interested in the cause of Middle East peace, there are demonstrations in Edinburgh and Glasgow this weekend.

We hope to be going to the Edinburgh one, depending on how Bob is, to show our opposition to the thoroughly disproportionate and indiscriminate Israeli action.

Sending the bombers in is not going to bring about any sort of lasting peace and will only breed greater resentment and carry on this hatred for anothe generation. It has to stop somewhere, and the international community has a responsibility to take action.

Saturday 3 Jan, Gaza Protest, (Glasgow)

12noon outside Lloyds TSB, St Vincent Street Glasgow and then assemble for demo at Blythswood Square, 2pm Supported by Scottish PSC and Stop the War Scotland

Saturday 3 Jan, Gaza Protest, (Edinburgh)

12 noon, Foot of the Mound, Princes Street, Edinburgh Supported by Scottish PSC and Stop the War Scotland

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If it were anyone else but Israel...............

....carryng out airstrikes, killing innocent civilians, there would be talk of military intervention, UN resolutions, sanctions, possible invasion and war, lines in the sand and "this will not stand."

Why do they always get away with it?

I'm not sticking up for Hamas, by the way - their record at pursuing peace isn't great. Chosen by the Palestinian people out of frustration after decades of oppression and being ignored by the international community, they are not a bunch of cuddly teddy bears by any stretch of the imagination.

Someone, somewhere, has to make this stop. President-Elect Obama, Secretary of State Designate Clinton, I think this means you.

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