REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Many people in Indonesia –probably in any other part of the world- consider the Palestine as a religious issue mainly regarded as Muslim’s issue. Yet, George Galloway challenged the stigma as he refuted the idea that religion as the only reason to defend Palestine.
“Palestine is a religious issue, and it is other issues also. It’s a religious issue for Christians. Bethlehem is surrounded by Israel settlements. Christians are suffering exactly the same occupation as the Muslim population, which is overwhelmed the majority,” he said.
Muslim issue is obvious, he says, “Al Aqsha is occupied by foreign power. If you’re under 60, you cannot pray Jummuah in the mosque. You will be beaten, and gassed, or may be killed if you try. It is a Muslim obligation to defend Al Aqsha. They may be thinking of Al Aqsha or even praying, but they are not doing. There is a judgement day, and we will be asked what we have done (to defend Al Aqsha). So it is religious issue.”
Galloway continued, “But it is also an anti-imperialism issue. So that why many people in the solidarity movement, kuffar, leftist, they hate colonialism. They are allies.”
He recalled that in Indonesia, decades ago, Soekarno (the first Indonesian president –ed) was very clear about Palestine and colonialism, that colonialism was not dead yet. “Now in 2012, it’s not dead yet. And Palestine is a colonial issue,” he added.
“It’s European settlers who occupy who presented by European empire, the Britain, with somebody else country. They told ‘you can go there (Palestine-ed), never mind that those people who have been living there,” Galloway reminded us of the Balfour Declaration in 1917 given to the Jewish people.
“And Palestine is also a human rights issue. We hear a lot about human rights especially in the West, but it seems not many to notice the human rights of the Palestinians who have been the most violated with skilled and longer than anyone else in the world,” he said.
“Thousands of political prisoners, people are killed, disappeared, separated,” he added. “House demolition, ethnic cleansing, demolition of olive trees that has been the source of income for generations. Trees are uprooted in terms of the so-called security and the protection of these illegal settlements, which built on stolen land. These are big human rights issues.”
Galloway reasoned, some people are religious, anti-imperialism, or believe in human rights. “And I‘m covered by the all three. If some only concern with only one reason, ok, come with us. Be part of these struggles,” Galloway added.
Note:
George Galloway (born 16 August 1954), a founder of the worldwide Viva Palestina movement, visits Indonesia from January 23 to February 3. This is a two week speaking tour of the Far East in support of the Right of Return of all Palestinians whose families were driven from the country by the Catastrophe of 1948 and subsequently.
During his tour, the British politician, author, journalist and broadcaster who was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1987 to 2010, makes an effort to visit Republika on January 26. He shares his ideas on Palestine during his short yet fruitful visit. And this report is a series articles based on our interview with Galloway.
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