Former US Justice Minister: We have to Resist the Occupation, We Can Overcome

Nour Rida, 16-1-2010

In continuation of the Arab-International Forum for the Support of Resistance launched on Friday 15th January 2010 in Beirut, scores of political, intellectual, and religious figures poured into the seminars and workshops on the second day.

Participants of different countries, religions, and specialties attended the forum to call for Arab and international support for the popular resistance-whether in Lebanon, Palestine, or elsewhere- against the "hegemonic policies" of the US and "Israel" in the region.

Topping the list of participants from the West were Former US Justice Minister, Ramsey Clark, British MP since 1987, who lead the latest Viva Palestine convoy that broke the siege on the Gaza Strip, George Galloway, and Stanley Cohen,

Moqawama.org's correspondent came back with a few quotes of the different participants attending different workshops and seminars.

When asked about his opinion on the forum and the right to resist, Mr. Ramsey Clark said "I am honored to be here, to attend such conference, especially in such a difficult time, to support Palestine, remember the tragedies in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan."

"We have to unite to defend our civil rights and overcome such tragedies."

"Right now injustice is overwhelming and militarism is dominant. Occupation is a tragedy. So we have to resist believing that we can prevail, we can overcome."

As for Stanley Cohen, he assured that every people has the right to resist "Resistance is the only means of fighting the occupation that has caused injustice and a lot of violence in the region." He said.

India was on the list too. Abdul Rashid Turabi, head of the Kashmir delegation, a former MP and member of the Muslim World committee says "We are here to deliver a message to our Palestinian and Lebanese brothers. We support the resistance movement here and assure that we, including other nations support them and call for the end of occupation."

As for Belgium, Ann Marie Liza, A Senator headed the delegation. When asked to comment on the forum she said "This is a very important event. We believe that resistance is vey important in this area. The resistance will defeat the US not only here, also in Afghanistan where we see a defeat of the US failing policy just like its failing policy here in the region."

The Senator addressed the US National Security Advisor James Jones, who had arrived in Beirut on Friday for talks with top Lebanese officials mainly on strategic cooperation between the two countries. She said that as Mr. Johns' visit to Lebanon coincides with the forum, he should attend this congregation and its seminars and try to better understand what the resistance is about.

On his part, Head of the Arab and International Center for Solidarity Mr. Maan Bashour also had something to say.

"We are the initiators of this forum to support the resistance. We believe there is no future for the Arabs without the Resistance. And here I mean the resistance by all means. Of course armed resistance is important to protect the land, but also the cultural, economic, social, psychological resistance. Resistance is important to liberate the will, and to liberate the land." He stated.

Members of Hamas were noticeably present in the forum. Mohammad Nazzal, a senior Hamas official when asked on the importance of this forum said "I believe that this forum emphasizes the importance of the resistance against occupation, whether in Lebanon, Palestine, Afghanistan, and Iraq. So, the importance of this forum is that all the nations are facing the same occupation and states of hegemony.

Religious scholars took part in the activities of the forum as well. Sheikh Assem Fakih, a scholar of Al Azhar and member of the Egyptian Popular Council said evaluating the experience of the resistance "this is a unique experience. For the first time in the history of the Arab world, the people in Lebanon and Palestine succeeded in defeating the "Israeli" enemy."

Journalists also attended the forum. For instance, Janaty Sergey Markus, a freelance journalist from Russia who came to the forum with a Russian delegation in order to take part in the congregation says "We are glad to participate today in this forum. This forum is an example of the different forms of support to the resistance in Palestine and Lebanon."
He continued "This is the first time to see the "Israeli" enemy and its allies forced to stop the war and fail in achieving their goals."

"For example, we are preparing for exclusive exhibits in support of the people in the Middle East region who suffer from the "Israeli" violence and aggressions."

The activities of the forum will continue for the third day, as the delegations and participants will be going on a tour in South Lebanon before issuing the resolution and closure of the forum.

All agree on one thing, as H.E. Sayyed Nasrallah said "The Resistance will foil the aggressions' objectives, defeat the enemy, and change the face of the region."