Why a Catholic Priest would splatter paint over a Israeli memorial plaque

Porirua Catholic Priest Father Gerard Burns, in a protest this week, splattered paint mixed with his own blood over the memorial of assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzkan Rabin, when protesting against the Israel Defence Force operation in Gaza. It even made news in the Jerusalem Post.

Although Rabin did win the Nobel Peace Prize when he signed the Oslo Peace accord with Yassir Arafat, it was the Israelis who opposed this accord and so perhaps Burns saw this memorial as a symbol of the Israel state.

Burns is pro- Palestinian, and is an advocate for Palestinian Christians. He does understand international relations - he has recently completed a Masters degree in the discipline. So more than most, he would consider the Israeli attacks an injustice. But he has received a bit of stick for the protest. Meanwhile not too many are as appalled at Green MP Keith Locke for supporting Hamas. Hamas believes that Israel has no right to existand declares itself as committed to destroying Israel.

The fact is this: if Hamas stopped firing rockets, Israel will stop bombing. But if Israel stopped bombing, Hamas would still be firing rockets. You wouldn't hear Keith Locke say that but Gerard Burns would agree with that fact. Both would say that Israel, not Hamas, broke the ceasefire... because it did. Twice.

also.. latest Robert Fisk Why do they hate the West so much, we will ask.