SU Political Science Hosts Discussion of ‘Trump’s Second Administration’ – Wednesday February 26, 2025 https://www.byteseu.com/782475/ #administration #Article #college #delmarva #discussion #HigherEducation #Hosts #News #political #press #PressReleases #PublicRelations #Salisbury #Science #second #SU #SuNews #trumps #umd #UniversitiesInMaryland #university #UniversitySystem

https://www.europesays.com/1877408/ SU Political Science Hosts Discussion of ‘Trump’s Second Administration’ – Wednesday February 26, 2025 #administration #america #article #college #delmarva #discussion #HigherEducation #hosts #News #political #press #PressReleases #PublicRelations #salisbury #science #Second #SuNews #Su #technology #Trumps #umd #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #UniversitiesInMaryland #university #UniversitySystem #US #USA

Vigils continue

62nd vigil held on Saturday

February 2025

And the vigils continue with the 62nd taking place in the market place Salisbury on Saturday 8 February. As we said in a previous post, we had hoped with the ceasefire underway, however shaky, and peace talks about to resume, that we might be seeing an end to the violence. And along came President Trump with his talk of ‘clearing out’ Palestinians and rebuilding Gaza to become a new Riviera for that part of the world. ‘Clearing out’ – like so much rubbish or emptying one’s shed. This was music to the ears of the far right in Israel. The problem is that it lowers the impetus for peace and a two state solution now seems dead in the water. The proposals have dismayed America’s allies and even some Republicans were taken by surprise. Arab countries are vehemently against.

https://giphy.com/embed/WLHvw4BfgRX5j1hiwG

#Gaza #Salisbury #vigil

Angry response to vigil article

January 2025

There has been an angry series of responses to the article published in the Salisbury Journal

Our last post was to draw attention to a piece in this week’s Salisbury Journal (30 January) reporting on the vigils which have taken place in Salisbury for over a year now. They are silent, last half an hour and the main theme is peace in Gaza. It is worth noting that the death toll is around 46,000 but the Lancet suggests it is higher because many bodies lie undiscovered in the rubble.

The article has prompted a large number of almost exclusively critical ‘below the line’ comments some of which have attracted 70, 80 or more ‘likes’ [accessed 31.01.25, 21:38]. Two drew attention to the fact it was published on Holocaust Memorial Day and said that whoever on the Journal decided to publish it ‘should be fired’, that it was ‘not appropriate’ and they ‘should hang their heads in shame’. This to misunderstand the themes behind the day which the Holocaust Memorial Trust points out is about empathising with people today and helping to build a better future. Of course it is about the terrible events during the war and the millions of Jews and others murdered by the Nazis. But is also reminding us that violence on the scale we have seen in Gaza and its indiscriminate nature is also a cause of great concern.

Another called it ‘unbelievably crass’ to pass on unfiltered pro-Hamas views. It is difficult to see where a description of a peaceful vigil can be described as ‘pro-Hamas’. It was also described as ‘demonstration’. It was not. One wrote: ‘on Holocaust Memorial Day 2025, Isabella Holliday [the journalist who’s by-line was at the top of the article] has failed in her professional duty as a journalist, to write an accurate unbiased article on the Israel/Hamas conflict’. It was not such a piece.

Other wild comments include the assertion that ‘Hamas is responsible for all the civilian deaths in Gaza and that most of the casualties are Hamas terrorists’. Since around 15,000 of the deaths are children this is a bold claim and demonstrably untrue. The hostility of the comments might come as a surprise since the vigil is just that: between 30 or 40 people typically, who come together each week to express their concern for the violence that is taking place. There is no visible or overt support for Hamas. It might be worth remembering that it was Benjamin Netanyahu who did support Hamas according to the Times of Israel and others.

Last week was meant to be the last, and we welcomed the cease fire and the release of some of the hostages with more to come out. But the increase in violence on the West Bank, the ending of aid provided by Unwra, and the possible appointment of Mike Huckabee as the US ambassador, led to the decision to continue.

Hamas has not been destroyed. Gaza has been reduced to rubble. At least 46,000 Palestinians have died and many thousands injured. Channel 4 News featured some distressing images of injured children unable to get proper medical help (31 January). Almost nothing has been achieved and certainly not the long term security of Israel. It is disappointing to see so many hostile comments and the large numbers of people who appear to like them i.e. approve of them.

---

The next vigil will take place tomorrow, 1st February as usual.

Previous

#Palestine #Salisbury #SalisburyJournal #vigil

Salisbury Journal piece

Journal acknowledges Vigils held in Salisbury

January 2025

The Salisbury Journal published a short piece describing the Vigils we have been holding each week in this week’s edition (30 January 2025). It said:

“A silent vigil took place outside the library to express a hope for the of violence in the Middle East. On Saturday the 60th silent vigil took place outside Salisbury Library with around 50 people attending. The weekly vigils are an expression of hope for an end to violence and a peaceful future in the Middle East and in the most recent [event] people carried flowers and candles and displayed heartfelt messages.

The messages emphasised the message for a permanent ceasefire. A spokesperson from vigil said “we call on the UK government to take immediate action to ensure accountability and justice for Palestinians. All arms sales to Israel muse be suspended. This is a moment of truth for the UK. To continue shielding Israel from accountability is to abandon the principles of justice and human rights that the UK claims to uphold.”

These vigils are supported buy local groups of Amnesty International, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Christian Aid, Quakers, Sarum Concern for Israel Palestine and many others.”

---

The vigils will continue and the next is this Saturday 1st February at 5pm as usual for half an hour. All welcome.

Also in the Journal, the local MP Mr Glen, spoke of his presence at the Holocaust memorial which took place in the city. He has not attended any of the 60 vigils so far held.

https://friendica-leipzig.de/photo/media/525432

#Gaza #Palestinians #Salisbury #SalisburyJournal #vigil

The penultimate Vigil?

Will next weeks Vigil, the 60th, be our last?

January 2025

Around 40 attended this evenings Vigil in Salisbury (18th January) with the highest number of passers-by stopping to join us even if it was for a short while. Tomorrow, the peace process starts with another 6 weeks of negotiations to discuss a peace deal. Will it hold? Listening to Netanyahu’s address this evening, it does not look promising. As the Israeli human rights organisation Gisha says ‘we are hopeful but not optimistic’.

There are many problems for both sides to overcome. This deal has been achieved largely through American pressure. The fundamentals of the conflict remain unresolved. The factors which research shows lead to the ending of hostilities are only partially present. One factor for example, is the exhaustion of both sides with losses of soldiers and weaponry making further advances difficult. Another factor is the public getting tired of the war with restrictions and higher prices. This does not look to be true here. Israel has lost around 900 soldiers. The Israeli public is largely supportive and the Americans are committed to supplying as much weaponry as needed. Hamas is much reduced but not eliminated.

Netanyahu said the IDF will keep control of the Philadelphi corridor with more troops. Gaza will remain contained. A lot will depend on aid being allowed in.

We must hope that peace will hold and the first phase is successful with hostage and prisoner swaps successfully achieved.

We will hold our 60th Vigil next Saturday 25th January at 5pm as usual. If you are planning to come, please bring flowers.

#ceasefire #Palestine #Salisbury #vigil

Vigils: one year on

52nd Vigil held today in Salisbury

It is doubtful that anyone thought a year ago that we would still be turning up every Saturday for a Vigil. Today marks a year since the first was started and yet here we are. Despite the storm and some rain, 25 or so turned out this evening. We were pleased that two passers-by spent time with us as well.

The violence shows no sign of ending. If you read the three reports featured in our recent posts – from the UN Rapporteur, Amnesty and Dr Mordechai – you will understand that it will not end. There seems to be copious evidence that Israel wants to clear the strip of Palestinians or as they term it ‘mow the lawn’. The attitude of Israelis themselves is a key factor as Dr Mordechai discusses. Similarly some Israeli leaders have made some atrocious comments.

They are secure in their support from the West and most particularly, the US. The UK is also a keen supporter and many Labour party politicians are members of Friends of Israel.

---

We shall be there again next Saturday 16th starting at 5pm for half an hour. We may see you there.

Remember: what you are reading in the papers and watching on the news is only a fraction of the horror being perpetrated.

https://giphy.com/embed/S8vbZPLiw47vZLZxFO

#Gaza #Israel #Palestine #peace #Salisbury #vigil

And the Vigils goes on

November 2024

The 51st Vigil was held today in the Market Square in Salisbury and 30 attended. There was a kind of irony around today’s event as we looked out over the Market Square which was festooned with Christmas lights with the market in full swing. The Vigil is about peace in the area where Christianity began. With an estimated 44,000 dead in Gaza the notion of ‘peace and goodwill to all men’ seemed a long way off. Gaza and Palestine generally (however it is delineated) is precisely the area where Christianity was started yet here we are looking at a raging war and hatred seeming to be the defining spirit.

There is a temporary cessation of hostilities in Lebanon but few would confidently this to extend for any length of time.

---

Tomorrow (Sunday 1st December) we shall be in the Cathedral Cloisters from 10:00 until noon for a Write for Rights event so if you are in the area, please give us a call.

#Amnesty #Cathedral #Gaza #Salisbury #vigil #WriteForRights

The 51st Vigil

Smaller than usual numbers due to the stormy weather

November 2024

A smaller contingent this Saturday (23rd November) for the 51st Vigil in Salisbury due almost certainly to the inclement weather with storm Bert raging. The Vigil took place during the week in which the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, the former Defense minister, Yoav Gallant and the leader of Hamas, Mohammed Deif (believed to be dead).

The reaction around the world was mixed with outrage from Israel and from the US who spoke of sanctioning the ICC itself. Other nations are guardedly in support of the actions which are based on a wide range of breaches of International Humanitarian Law. This includes the use of starvation as a weapon of war.

The sympathy that Israel received following the horrific attack on October 7th last year and the seizure of 250 hostages has all but dissipated. Around 43,000 have now died in Gaza with thousands more wounded some seriously. The so called ‘General’s Plan’ to clear the northern part of the enclave – denied by Israel – seems to be in operation. Independent observers and journalists are denied access so obtaining reliable reports is impossible. Claims of individuals being used as ‘human shields’ cannot be independently verified and little evidence has been produced.

The ICC warrants post a problem for countries like the UK (but not the US which is not a signatory as is Israel) which are required to stop the supply of weapons. What will happen on this point we shall see.

Among the criticisms made is that lumping the two Israeli people in with Hamas is quite wrong. The problem for the ICC is that if they issued warrants for the Israelis alone, they would be criticised for ignoring Hamas. The same argument applies in the other direction.

There seems no end in sight. The arrival of Donald Trump as the next US President is awaited and Israeli politicians who anticipate more favourable treatment by him in comparison the President Biden.

#ICC #InternationalCriminalCourt #Israel #Palestine #Salisbury #vigil