Michael Leunig on the massacre in Gaza and the Morality of the Heart

Cartoonist and Australian Living Treasure, Michael Leunig, spoke on the deplorable failure of leadership of the Rudd Government and the morality of the heart in facing Israel's brutal attack and massacre on the Palestinian people of Gaza.

The speech was made on the steps of the Victorian Parliament House at the end of the rally and march in Melbourne. Organisers estimated 12,000 people gathered at the State Library of Victoria in support of the Palestinians in Gaza and protest Israel's assault and massacre on Gaza. Latest reports, 22 days after the launch of the savage and brutal military offensive, say that more than 1200 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 400 children. At least a further 5220 people had been injured.

Other speakers included South Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, former Democrats leader Lyn Allison, Australian Council of Trade Unions international director Alison Tate, representatives from the Uniting Church and Church of England and the Islamic community, and a prominent Jewish person.

For more information on protests in Melbourne see the Justice for Palestine website:
http://justiceforpalestine.org/

See Photos at my flickr site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/takver/sets/72157611885793346/

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Melbourne
• protest
• Gaza
• Israel
• Palestine
• massacre
• Michael
• Leunig
• cartoonist
• 20090118

[richard20bris]

Michael Leunig is perhaps Australia's most loony leftie. The same man who wrote an "apology" to Osama bin Laden following September 11, and asked, in one of his cartoons, "where were you when you heard Osama had gone to Heaven" following his execution?

Michael, why don't you ask the Palestinians (or the other Arabs) where they stand (compared to Israel) on issues such as sexual and racial equality, or freedom of speech? Maybe you're afraid to...

[spock3283]

@kom58 Yeah, see you have to negotiate with them BECAUSE IT IS THEIR LAND NOT YOURS!

[kom58]

Israelis have repeatedly elected mass murderers as prime ministers - Begin,Shamir, Sharon directly involved in massacres. So what do Israelis deserve for electing such governments ? And the Palestinians are expected to negotiate peace with these same governments!

[annemaritg]

These home made boms are the onely ones they have. What else COULD they do to defend themselves from the illegal occupation?

[annemaritg]

So you think every body voting for someone you do not like, deserves to be killed? Hm ... Why dont you ask yourself WHY people of Gaza voted for Hamas instead: Israel undermined Fata by destroying the the Oslo agreement with their settlements and closed borders.

[exatreide]

Shooting unguided rockets into Israel is a violation of international law, I can not stand by people who willingly choose to kill civlians as the palestinian people do.

And yes the people, they elected Hamas to represent them, so they are to blame in this as well.