- by Richard Titelius
- The Guardian
- Issue #2182
With the US and Israeli governments attack on Iran barely a week old, Friends of Palestine Western Australia held a rally on 6 March, also International Working Women’s Day. MC for the Rally was Janet Parker from Jews for Palestine. With women often bearing the brunt of the wars started by and for the interests of patriarchy, Parker said that on this day, “we celebrate difficult women,” recalling Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s characterisation of Australian of the Year, Grace Tame for speaking out about Palestine on Australia Day.
Hiba Farra Vice President of Friends of Palestine and Mothers for Palestine spoke of freedom and resistance being fuel to female strength. Hiba spoke of a mother carrying her child twice in her life; once when she holds her child when they are born and again when authorities bring the corpse of her child after being returned from being killed in war. The Australian government is complicit in the war against Iran and Lebanon through its eager acceptance of the US pretext for the attack.
Diana Bayan a descendent of Palestinian settlers in Jenin on the West Bank. Bayan said that neither she or her parents have the right of return. She was born in a refugee camp in Jordan before moving to the United Arab Emirates and eventually Australia. Bayan spoke up for those who are battling Israeli repression in the West Bank and also her two Palestinian sons who she hopes one day will be able to reclaim their Palestinian identity and homeland. Since 7 October 2023, over a thousand Palestinian people have been killed in the West Bank while thousands have also been arrested as part of a calculated plan to weaken the resolve of the Palestinian people.
What brings us together said Bayan is unity and sacred anger – the anger of the righteous.
Roisin from Iran spoke of the colour of the sky there being blood red. Of bombs raining down on Tehran and other cities, morning, noon and night – often on civilians and civilian infrastructure such as schools and hospitals. Roisin said these attacks on Iran, Lebanon, and Palestine exposed the bare face of Western imperialism – its quest for control and greed for resources through death and destruction.
MC Janet Parker spoke of the large rates of imprisonment of Palestinians by Israel and the 99% conviction rates of those Palestinians who are charged by Israeli authorities. Now, said Parker, the Israeli government has passed a law to provide the death penalty for Palestinians only.
One in seven women in Gaza now heads a household because the man has been killed while out looking for food, while life expectancy has also decreased by 30 years for Palestinian women.
The next speaker was Randa who spoke of the protest and petition fatigue which many in the activist movement are now facing – but many of us press on knowing that we speak for those less free to do so than ourselves and also more burdened by scarcity.
Palestinian spoken word poet Hannah said “We did not choose this fate. US and Israel chose this way. We cannot be silent until the women of Palestine, Iran, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Sudan are free.”
