Dinner with George Galloway: Obama and Viva Palestina

In a mansion by the sea, I was graced with the opportunity to listen to George Galloway. He shared his thoughts on President Barack Hussein Obama’s speech in Cairo, Egypt. But let me back up a little bit…

Currently, I am working for Viva Palestina USA, as their coordinator for the Southern California delegation. It’s time consuming but very rewarding work, and we had put in some effort in organizing a private fundraising dinner with George Galloway, member of the British Parliament, and co-founder of the RESPECT party. He led a humanitarian convoy to Gaza a few months back, traveling through numerous countries en route to Palestine, in a mile-long convoy of trucks, packed with aid. You can find more information here. The fundraising dinner was held in an absolutely stunning mansion, right next to the sea, in Pales Verdes Estates. The location afforded a view of the coastline, with the city of Los Angeles spread out in a panorama of lights, beneath a silvery moon. It was wonderful to pray Maghrib there, as the sun set, with a clear view of the ocean.

The problem with Pales Verdes, of course, is that to get there you have to drive for miles up steep roads with little or no street names to guide you. On the way down, its worse, because there are also no street lights. But I digress…

While at the dinner, I met up with my colleague from Viva Palestina National. Kevin is originally from Britain, where he works in Parliament, but he has absconded his position to run the US campaign until July. After he quickly identified me as Gujurati – I love how the English always know their Indians! – we discussed the UK campaign, and what were the next steps for the US. He also told me about Salma Yaqoob, who may be the first Muslim woman in British Parliament and a muhajaba at that! (Muhajaba, or hijabi, is a commonly used term to mean a woman who wears the hijab, which includes wearing the headscarf.)

After hors d’oeuvres and supper, Galloway stood up to make some remarks. I was able to sit in close proximity, which made it somewhat embarrassing when my fingers started to itch – I wanted to take notes! Giving in to my journalistic nature, I pulled out a paper and pencil to jot down some notes while he discussed President Obama’s recent historic speech in Cairo. For your benefit, a brief outline of his points (in my own words) are below.

George Galloway on President Obama’s Speech to the Muslim World:

Obama’s speech signals change for Palestine. There are a few main points that I will limit myself to:

1) He used the word occupation. No American president has ever used the word occupation for what the Palestinian people are going through. He used our terminology to define the situation.

2) He drew the analogy of South Africa to Palestine, and connected the struggle of blacks to that of the Palestinians. This is an analogy that makes Israelis furious. Indirectly, therefore, he referenced how the Israeli state is similar to the South African state in that it is apartheid and racist.

3) He referenced the Palestinian diaspora, saying that there were refugees that have been in terrible conditions for sixty years. Indirectly, this also raised the issue of the right to return.

4) He spoke about Hamas in a neutral tone, without calling them terrorists. This signalled a change in American policy, from boycotting Hamas, towards meeting with them.

Obama’s speech obviously angered AIPAC, the pro-Israeli lobby, and Zionists all over the world. Obama has taken a stance in his speech that signals change, but now there will be a battle by the Zionists to have him go back on what he has said. We need to full-heartedly enter this battle and push for the change we wish to see. We need to:

• Be optimistic.
• Understand this is a historical moment of transition, that we MUST take advantage of.
• If you decide to fight, you do not guarantee victory but if you decide not to fight, you guarantee defeat.

This is where Viva Palestina USA comes in. Imagine a convoy of hundreds of vehicles, with hundreds of Americans, delivering aid to Palestine. Imagine a diverse convoy that represents the American landscape, that stands united in providing relief to the Palestinian people. We must break the siege of Gaza, by continuously bringing these convoys of aid and exerting political pressure to be allowed in. The convoy has three objectives.

Viva Palestina USA: Objectives

1) We need to signal to the Muslim world that the American people are not their enemies. They can dislike the American government and its policies, but the American people are not to be hated. We are acting in America’s best interests through this initiative.

2) We need to give relief to Palestine. There was the UK convoy; there will be the USA convoy. There are also convoys being prepared from Venezuela, from Russia, and from China. We need to continuously go into Gaza, and erode the wall until it no longer exists. We need to break the siege.

3) We need to make a change in the United States. It is only through creating meaningful change here that we can impact the Palestinians; we need to spread the Palestinian cause, educate, and encourage a diverse group of people to attend the convoy.

WE ONLY HAVE FOUR WEEKS LEFT. NOW IS THE TIME. THIS IS THE MOVEMENT.

VIVA PALESTINA USA

• Applications to join the convoy are due June 20th – please turn them in ASAP.
• Please donate – every dollar counts! Your money is helping those who have no place to sleep, no food to eat, no way to live.