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Protests Against Terrorist Israeli Usage Of Boeing’s F-15
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F-15
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by Ayub Khan
LONG BEACH, California, April 26 (IslamOnline) - Around fifty demonstrators picketed the Boeing's Apache manufacturing plant in Long Beach, California, Thursday protesting against its supporting Israeli terror.
The protest was organized by the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) and was attended by people from all walks of life, including leaders and activists like Maher Hathout and Aslam Abdullah, editor of The Minaret magazine.
Protestors said the aircraft maker supports Israel's state-sponsored terrorism by providing its government with deadly weapons. A fact sheet passed out during the protest quotes Yediot Ahronot newspaper, claiming that Boeing offered Israel a clandestine model of F-15 combat aircraft designed especially for the U.S. military and equipped with secret technologies.
Additionally, the fact sheet stated that Boeing competed against Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) for an Israeli air force contract worth $2.5 billion and an additional $2 billion over the next few years. In June 1999, Boeing delivered the first new F-15 to Israel. The $2.5 billion contract was paid for with the annual U.S. monetary aid that is sent to Israel.
Speaking to IslamOnline, Aslam Abdullah said: "Boeing has turned defense into death industry."
He said that advanced technologies including F-15s and helicopters provided by Boeing to Israel are being used against innocent and defenseless Palestinians, adding that a more appropriate name for Boeing should be "angel of death."
The protestors, which included a few non-Muslims, shouted slogans like: "Ho, Ho, Ho, Boeing Must Go," and held placards reading: "Israel used Boeing products to kill Palestinians,” “Israel used our tax dollars to kill innocent people,” and “What Boeing is doing is against the U.S. interests."
The picket was widely covered by local media. A reporter approached a Palestinian lady and asked: "If you are so much against U.S. policy, then why don't you go to Palestine." The lady responded: "Give me Palestine and I would go." A few Boeing workers also tried to argue with protestors in favor of hardliner Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
The demonstrators dispersed peacefully after picketing for nearly two hours.
MPAC plans to hold similar demonstrations in several other cities to protest against giving U.S. military aid to Israel.
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