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Pics of San Franciscans Rallying Behind Israel's Massacre Of Gazans
As the number of Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza passes 800 and the US and Red Cross accuse Israel of targeting aid convoys and engaging in other war crimes, some in San Francisco still choose to rally behind Israel. The following photos are a pictures of Gaza and pictures of a pro-Israel counter-protest to a rally for Gaza on Saturday January 10th 2009. You might think that this crowd doesn't represent the views of many Americans and that could be correct but both the US House and Senate voted with no opposition to a resolution backing Israel just yesterday and the bills were sponsored by several of our local representatives.
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Some one thousand Israeli activists from Peace Now and the left-wing Meretz party protested Saturday against the offensive in Gaza, opposite the Defense Ministry compound in Tel Aviv.
"We have assembled to call on Israel to think twice before expanding the [Gaza] operation, we are here because we care about the IDF soldiers," said Peace Now chief Yariv Oppenheimer.
Israel indicated Saturday that it would begin a third phase of its two-week operation aimed at halting rocket fire on its southern communities, dropping leaflets in Gaza warning civilians that it plans to step up its military campaign.
"This is a demonstration that includes many true Zionists who fear for peace in the country, but our Zionism does not make us crave blood and war," Oppenheimer said.
Meretz chairman Haim Oron also attended the demonstration, and called on the Israeli government to "Stop the war and reach an agreement as soon as possible." This is "the only way to stem the bloodshed," he said.
Oron and Meretz initially supported the Israel Defensive Forces operation when it first began. But, he explained Saturday, "We said that the action's objective was to reach a cease-fire as early and as quickly as possible in order to achieve calm." He said that the time had come for even those who back the operation to call for a truce.
The protesters were joined by activists from the Hadash movement and members of the radical left in Israel. There was a minor skirmish at the sidelines of the protest when Oppenheimer, who is also a member of the Labor Party, tried to pull down a banner reading: "Not pleasant, a murderer," a reference to the election campaign headed by Labor Party leader Ehud Barak.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1054265.html
"We have assembled to call on Israel to think twice before expanding the [Gaza] operation, we are here because we care about the IDF soldiers," said Peace Now chief Yariv Oppenheimer.
Israel indicated Saturday that it would begin a third phase of its two-week operation aimed at halting rocket fire on its southern communities, dropping leaflets in Gaza warning civilians that it plans to step up its military campaign.
"This is a demonstration that includes many true Zionists who fear for peace in the country, but our Zionism does not make us crave blood and war," Oppenheimer said.
Meretz chairman Haim Oron also attended the demonstration, and called on the Israeli government to "Stop the war and reach an agreement as soon as possible." This is "the only way to stem the bloodshed," he said.
Oron and Meretz initially supported the Israel Defensive Forces operation when it first began. But, he explained Saturday, "We said that the action's objective was to reach a cease-fire as early and as quickly as possible in order to achieve calm." He said that the time had come for even those who back the operation to call for a truce.
The protesters were joined by activists from the Hadash movement and members of the radical left in Israel. There was a minor skirmish at the sidelines of the protest when Oppenheimer, who is also a member of the Labor Party, tried to pull down a banner reading: "Not pleasant, a murderer," a reference to the election campaign headed by Labor Party leader Ehud Barak.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1054265.html
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez offered words of support for the Palestinians in a message read during an anti-war rally in northern Israel Saturday.
Thousands of Hadash party activists took part in the rally against the IDF operation in the Gaza Strip, while dozens of right-wing activists demonstrated outside the venue in Nazareth Ilit.
In his message to the protestors, which was read to the crowd during the event, Chavez said: "We are not united by one nationality; rather, what unites us is…The blood shed in Gaza is the blood of humanity. Venezuela kisses each and every one of you and stresses that it supports the Palestinian people and all those who suffer from the occupation."
Chavez has recently ordered the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to Venezuela in protest of the Gaza operation.
Arab MK slams 'massacre'
Addressing the rightist protestors outside the venue in his speech, Knesset Member Mohammad Barakeh said: "Remember who you are and on whose land you're standing. We have childhood memories here, the history of our forefathers, and a future. Those who have no memories from here have no right to talk to us. We insist on staying on this land – either on it, or buried in it."
Holding a picture of a girl killed in the fighting, Barakeh said: "We can't allow ourselves to disappoint her soul. There are tears for Gaza, but at the same time there is a clear stance against the massacre. We continue to stand up to the occupier, to racism, and to the massacre, and we say: 'Stop the slaughter, because we will not give up.'"
"There are people – Tzipi Livni, Ehud Olmert, and Ehud Barak – who are attempting to score political points through the war," Barakeh said. "They are waging this war for the sake of elections, and we are running against the war in the elections."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3653898,00.html
Thousands of Hadash party activists took part in the rally against the IDF operation in the Gaza Strip, while dozens of right-wing activists demonstrated outside the venue in Nazareth Ilit.
In his message to the protestors, which was read to the crowd during the event, Chavez said: "We are not united by one nationality; rather, what unites us is…The blood shed in Gaza is the blood of humanity. Venezuela kisses each and every one of you and stresses that it supports the Palestinian people and all those who suffer from the occupation."
Chavez has recently ordered the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to Venezuela in protest of the Gaza operation.
Arab MK slams 'massacre'
Addressing the rightist protestors outside the venue in his speech, Knesset Member Mohammad Barakeh said: "Remember who you are and on whose land you're standing. We have childhood memories here, the history of our forefathers, and a future. Those who have no memories from here have no right to talk to us. We insist on staying on this land – either on it, or buried in it."
Holding a picture of a girl killed in the fighting, Barakeh said: "We can't allow ourselves to disappoint her soul. There are tears for Gaza, but at the same time there is a clear stance against the massacre. We continue to stand up to the occupier, to racism, and to the massacre, and we say: 'Stop the slaughter, because we will not give up.'"
"There are people – Tzipi Livni, Ehud Olmert, and Ehud Barak – who are attempting to score political points through the war," Barakeh said. "They are waging this war for the sake of elections, and we are running against the war in the elections."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3653898,00.html
Please don't pay taxes to support this slaughter!
great photos and perspective of the day. Good work.
Looks like tons of Zionists came out of the wood work- anyone know who/what organized them and where they came from? Bused in from LA, maybe? Is this typical for San francisco?
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