 29/06/03 |
|
 Israel/Palestine:
Socialism - The Only Road to Peace |
THE
ROAD map to 'peace' in the Middle East is becoming soaked in blood.
Since the Israeli army attempted to assassinate the deputy leader
of the Islamic Palestinian organisation, Hamas, on 10 June, the number
of deaths has again escalated. The toll includes 17 Israelis killed
in a suicide bombing in Jerusalem and 18 Palestinians gunned down
by Israeli forces in Gaza on two consecutive days. |
|
Iran: Student Protests |
"THE
CLERICAL regime is nearing its end. Vigilantes commit crimes, the leader
supports them," chanted defiant student protesters at Tehran university,
Iran. Over the past week students have protested. The action
was sparked by a student gathering against privatisation of the universities.
But after clashes with religious vigilantes, backed by anti-riot cops,
the protests became increasingly anti-regime.  |
|
Europe: A Constitution of Further Cuts and Attacks |
AMID
AN increasing crisis the rulers of EU countries are attempting to agree
on a constitution. The proposal of this so called convention was presented
on Friday 14 June. Its aim is further integration of economic policy,
foreign affairs and military cooperation. |
| Thessaloniki:
100,000 Demonstrate at Greek EU Summit |
AROUND
100,000 people demonstrated in Thessaloniki, Greece, on Saturday 21
June to show their opposition to the EU summit. The march was
delayed after fierce battles broke out between several hundred anarchists
and riot police. Of course, news coverage was then able to concentrate
on pictures of wrecked shops and police making arrests instead of showing
tens of thousands of organised workers and youth on the march.
|
| Socialist
Theory: The General Strike Today |
THE
EUROPEAN capitalists’ neo-liberal offensive has provoked a determined
response from the working class, including the re-emergence of the weapon
of the general strike – with everything that means for the question,
who governs society? With the consciousness that exists at this stage,
however, that question cannot be answered in the same way as in the
past, argues Peter Taaffe. |
|
Italy: The Trials and Tribulations of 'Il Cavaliere' |
JUST
TWO weeks before Italy takes on the presidency of the European Union,
its prime minister is in court to face legal charges of bribing a judge.
According to the state attorney, Il Cavaliere, as Silvio Berlusconi
is known, bribed a judge in 1985. It is alleged that he cheated his
business rival, Carlo de Benedetti, who had already signed a contract
to buy the SME food company. Berlusconi made a higher bid and the contract
with de Benedetti was annulled by the courts.
|
|
FIFTY
YEARS ago this month one million East German workers rose up against
that country's Stalinist dictatorship. We look back on how Berlin's
working class attempted a political revolution. |
| |
|