Lebanese community leader and anti-war activist Saeb Ali (pictured) has come out in support of Jess Moore.'I support Jess because I believe she and other members of the Socialist Alliance stand for justice and equality', Ali said. 'This is something we in the Lebanese community have had direct experience with, especially during the invasion of our country (in 2006)', he said.
Ali was referring to the close collaboration between the Socialist Alliance and the Lebanese and Arabic-speaking community in organising a 600-strong Wollongong demonstration against Israel's brutal invasion of Lebanon in mid-2006.
When asked why he wasn't supporting the campaign of either Labor or Liberal, Ali responded: 'Neither of the major parties understand the issues facing our community; I don't see the opposition as a better alternative regarding the issue of equality and justice. This is important because we are being targeted; we're on the back foot.'
Despite the small size of Socialist Alliance, Ali considers support for their campaign as more important than whether or not they will be elected.
'A vote for Jess Moore and the Socialist Alliance is an important protest vote, a vote of appreciation for the work they've done. I tell my friends, 'Why should these people sacrifice their Sundays for us? Why should they suffer harassment? They are not Muslim or Lebanese, it's a very noble thing to do.''
