Mass Demonstrations at the U.S and Israeli embassies – Aleka Papariga to visit Palestine

On Monday, December 30, KKE held a demonstration in Athens at the embassies of the United States and Israel on Monday denouncing the Israeli aggression and expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people.



KKE Secretary General Aleka Papariga speaking to the press on the occasion of the demonstration said that “Europe is literally full of Pontius Pilates. Lets’ not forget that just a couple of days before the European Parliament upgraded the relations with Israel. The time has come now for us to take to the streets, just like then with the war in Yugoslavia," adding that "today, Gaza is being murdered literally and not only. They want to wipe out every hope for the creation of a Palestinian state. And, of course, in no way is Israel in danger from Palestine."



Commenting on the stance of the other political forces she said that “we disagree with the stance of the Greek government; we disagree with the position taken by Mr. Papandreou as president of the Socialist International. It is time that we extend the strongest pressure from the streets of Greece to condemn and isolate the Israeli attack, so that the way will be paved for a substantial resolution of the Palestinian issue”.

Commenting on the role of the US administration she noted that, “as it was expected, Mr. Obama refuted the expectations of the Americans that believed he would follow a different policy regarding Palestine.



Demonstrators marched to the U.S. embassy where they burnt two US flags shouting slogans "either with Obama or with Bush the Americans are slaughtering peoples", “terrorists are the US, the EU and Israel and not the peoples”. The march ended in front of the Israeli embassy with thousands of people demonstrating and condemning the massacre in Gaza. Delegations of the Palestinian community of Athens and of the General Union of Palestinan Workers also joined the protest.

Similar rallies and protests were organized by the KKE braches in Thessaloniki and other cities.

Meeting with the head of the Palestinian Representation in Athens



Earlier in Monday morning, a delegation of the CC of KKE headed by Aleka Papariga visited the embassy of Palestine where she met with the head of the diplomatic representation of Palestine mr. Abu Ghazaleh conveying the solidarity feelings of the Greek Communists.

Speaking to the journalists afterwards she underscore that the situation demands “clear and not ambiguous positions” about the cease of the Israeli attack, the lift of the blockade on Gaza and the resolution of the Palestinian issue that remains pending for 60 years, Regarding the latter she stressed that the solution must be a real sovereign and in depended Palestinian state and not a “half-state” as the US and others think, a state on the territories of 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Rejecting the allegations that Palestinians threaten Israel she noted that “Palestinians threaten no state, no people in the area. On the contrary, they are the ones that live years and years in conditions of poverty, blockade and threats because of the occupation. It is the only state under occupation that has not been recognized as such. Even Iraq is been recognized as a state entity”.

Aleka Papariga Heads Delegation to Palestine

A delegation of KKE headed by Aleka Papariga, Secretary General of the CC is set to depart for Palestine on Monday January 5. The delegation will also be composed by Dimitris Koutsoumpas, member of the PB of the CC, Ilias lengeris, member of the CC, Costas Kazakos, MP and Giorgos Toussas, MEP.

Info by the International Section