The Venezuelan Embassy in London has hosted an event of pro-Palestinian activists to mark the tenth anniversary of the Second Intifada, the violent Palestinian uprising against Israel. It was entitled ‘The Outbreak of the Intifada: Turning Back the Empire’ and billed as part of “a series of events which commemorates 10 years since the eruption of the defining struggle of our generation."
“It is also a salute to that struggle…against the Zionist-apartheid state.”Samuel Moncada, Venezuela’s ambassador in Britain, denied that the event glorified terrorism. However, at the gathering, held on Saturday at the Embassy’s Bolivar Hall in central London, speakers expressed their support for Palestinian resistance against Israel.
In a statement read on his behalf, Moncada said: “On behalf of the government and people of Venezuela, I would like to express my solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for national liberation, justice and peace.” He attacked Israel for the clash on the Gaza-bound flotilla in May and accused critics of making false claims about Venezuela. The ambassador was quoted as declaring: “International solidarity is one of the cornerstones of the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela. It is my sincere hope that the oppression suffered by our brothers and sisters in Palestine will one day come to an end.”
Speakers at the event also included veteran pro-Palestinian campaigner, former British parliamentarian and Iranian ‘Press TV’ presenter George Galloway. Massoud Shedrajeh, of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, an organization sympathetic to Hezbollah, told the audience: “This type of the struggle is recognizing what is justice, studying it, finding out what is going on. He warned that people should not listen to mass media: “It is trying to brainwash the whole society, not just over the issue of Palestinian struggle…over all issues of mankind.”
Prior to the event, Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, told the 'Jewish Chronicle': “Sadly once again the Venezuelan government through its embassy in London is siding with those who promote discord and intolerance much like their president and his friendship with the president of Iran.”