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| Stars call for ceasefire in Gaza | Stars call for ceasefire in Gaza |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Singer Annie Lennox has joined high-profile campaigners to call for an end to Israel's bombing of the Gaza Strip. | Singer Annie Lennox has joined high-profile campaigners to call for an end to Israel's bombing of the Gaza Strip. |
| At a news conference in London, she said TV footage of the attacks, which have killed more than 400 people, had left her "shaken to the core". | At a news conference in London, she said TV footage of the attacks, which have killed more than 400 people, had left her "shaken to the core". |
| Comedian Alexei Sayle said he felt it was important Jewish people with a public profile pointed out this was "not being done in our name". | Comedian Alexei Sayle said he felt it was important Jewish people with a public profile pointed out this was "not being done in our name". |
| Activist Bianca Jagger and ex-London Mayor Ken Livingstone also spoke out. | Activist Bianca Jagger and ex-London Mayor Ken Livingstone also spoke out. |
| Human values | Human values |
| The conference was called ahead of Saturday's demonstration when thousands of people are expected to join a rally in central London to demand an immediate end to the Israeli attacks. | The conference was called ahead of Saturday's demonstration when thousands of people are expected to join a rally in central London to demand an immediate end to the Israeli attacks. |
| The violence in the Middle East has continued for a week, with both sides ignoring international calls for a ceasefire. | The violence in the Middle East has continued for a week, with both sides ignoring international calls for a ceasefire. |
| On Friday, Israel continued to bomb targets in Gaza, including a mosque. | On Friday, Israel continued to bomb targets in Gaza, including a mosque. |
| But, says Israel, Palestinian military group Hamas has also fired more rockets into Israel. | But, says Israel, Palestinian military group Hamas has also fired more rockets into Israel. |
| In an emotionally-charged speech, Annie Lennox said there had to be a different way forward. | In an emotionally-charged speech, Annie Lennox said there had to be a different way forward. |
| "A few days after Christmas I came downstairs, put the television on and saw smoke pyres emanating from buildings and it shook me to the core," she said. We will be very, very lucky if the explosions taking place in Gaza today don't blow up in our own face at some time in the future George Galloway, Respect MP class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7808257.stm">West Bank anger over Gaza raids | |
| "I was thinking, as a mother and as a human being, how was this going to be a solution to peace? | "I was thinking, as a mother and as a human being, how was this going to be a solution to peace? |
| "It's a question of human rights, human values that goes beyond Jewish, Muslim, nothing to do with any of that. There has to be a place ultimately where people come to the table." | "It's a question of human rights, human values that goes beyond Jewish, Muslim, nothing to do with any of that. There has to be a place ultimately where people come to the table." |
| In a strongly-worded condemnation of Israeli bombing, Jewish comedian Alexei Sayle said Israel has an idea it was being noble but was using the "psychology of the murderer" to explain the attacks. | In a strongly-worded condemnation of Israeli bombing, Jewish comedian Alexei Sayle said Israel has an idea it was being noble but was using the "psychology of the murderer" to explain the attacks. |
| Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone called for the European Union and the UK to withdraw their ambassadors from Israel to signal disapproval with the "slaughter and systematic murder of innocent Arabs". | Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone called for the European Union and the UK to withdraw their ambassadors from Israel to signal disapproval with the "slaughter and systematic murder of innocent Arabs". |
| Appeal to Obama | Appeal to Obama |
| Respect MP George Galloway suggested Israel's attacks would create a new generation of radicals around the world. | Respect MP George Galloway suggested Israel's attacks would create a new generation of radicals around the world. |
| "We will be very, very lucky if the explosions taking place in Gaza today don't blow up in our own face at some time in the future," he said. | "We will be very, very lucky if the explosions taking place in Gaza today don't blow up in our own face at some time in the future," he said. |
| Meanwhile, Bianca Jagger condemned the attack by Hamas against innocent Israeli citizens, but called for the international community to guarantee the immediate halt of the "disproportionate, unlawful use of force by Israel". | Meanwhile, Bianca Jagger condemned the attack by Hamas against innocent Israeli citizens, but called for the international community to guarantee the immediate halt of the "disproportionate, unlawful use of force by Israel". |
| She added: "I would like to make an appeal to President-elect Obama to speak up. | She added: "I would like to make an appeal to President-elect Obama to speak up. |
| "People throughout the world were hopeful when he was elected and we must appeal to him to ask for the immediate cessation of the bombardment of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip." | "People throughout the world were hopeful when he was elected and we must appeal to him to ask for the immediate cessation of the bombardment of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip." |