[Onthebarricades] GAZA PROTESTS - America

[global resistance roundup]

* Wave of protests across America
* Obama faces protests in Hawaii, Washington
* Protesters target Lockheed Martin
* SF Israeli consulate blockaded
* Protest at CNN HQ
* Local protests across America








http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?209545

Widespread protests in US against Gaza attack
Israel still at it in Gaza
Thursday January 01, 2009 (1208 PST)

WASHINGTON: Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in scores of 
US cities on Tuesday evening to protest against the Israeli military 
offensive in Gaza.
Earlier, a coalition of civil rights and Muslim and Arab activists had 
urged their supporters to observe Dec 30 as a national day of action to 
support the people of Palestine.
In Washington, about 5,000 people gathered at the State Department and 
marched to the White House. Those taking to the streets included many 
children and teenagers demanding an immediate end to the bombing of 
Gaza. As the night-time march entered the White House grounds, it filled 
all of Pennsylvania Avenue with young people raising Palestinian flags 
at the White House fence.
Over 10,000 protesters filled the sidewalks in front of and across the 
street from the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco.
In New York City, thousands demonstrated at the Israeli Consulate 
located on 2nd Avenue and 43rd Street.
In Dearborn, Michigan, thousands braved below-freezing weather to 
demonstrate. In San Diego, 500 people protested.
Demonstrations were also held in Anchorage, Alaska; Phoenix, Arizona; 
Modesto, Sacramento, San Jose, and Santa Rosa, California; Colorado 
Springs and Denver, Colorado; Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Ocala, Florida; 
Atlanta, Georgia; Honolulu, Hawaii; Chicago, Illinois; Louisville, 
Kentucky; Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Ann Arbour, Flint 
and Kalamazoo, Michigan; Concord and Portsmouth, New Hampshire; New 
Brunswick, New Jersey; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Buffalo, Rochester and 
Syracuse, New York state; Cincinnati, Cleveland and Youngstown, Ohio; 
Portland, Oregon; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; 
Knoxville, Tennessee; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Norfolk, Virginia; 
Bellingham, Seattle and Tacoma, Washington state; and scores of other 
cities and towns in US.
Protesters even lined the street in front of US President-elect Barack 
Obama’s vacation compound in Kailua, Hawaii.






http://www.workers.org/2009/us/solidarity_0115/

Solidarity protests sweep U.S.
By Cheryl LaBash
Published Jan 7, 2009 5:22 PM
Jan. 5—Attention customarily turns away from news of the world during a 
holiday week when U.S. schools, organizations and workplaces close. But 
even so, outraged demonstrations to stop the U.S./Israeli bombing of 
Gaza flared in every major U.S. metropolitan area more than once and in 
some cases, daily.
Contributing to this article were Abayomi Azikiwe, Betsey Piette, Bob 
McCubbin, Brenda Ryan, Bryan Pfeiffer, Dante Strobino, David Dixon, 
Dianne Mathiowetz, Eric Struch, Frank Neisser, Gloria Rubac, G. Dunkel, 
Joan Marquardt, John Parker, Kris Hamel, Lou Paulsen, Martha Grevatt, 
Minnie Bruce Pratt, Phil Wilayto, Scott Williams, Steven Ceci, and Paul 
Teitelbaum. Other sources include Al-Awda, Arab American News, the Salt 
Lake Tribune, IMEMC News, and Indymedia.

WW photo: G. Dunkel

When U.S.-made Israeli tanks rolled into Gaza, the escalation into a 
full military ground invasion served to swell the Jan. 3 mass march that 
snarled traffic in New York City and moved demonstrators to hit the 
streets again on Jan. 4 in Houston; San Francisco; Anaheim, Calif.; San 
Diego; Tucson, Ariz.; and Portland, Ore.
At Israeli embassies, offices of U.S. senators and representatives and 
busy street corners, with either just a handful or with tens of 
thousands, Palestinian and Arab organizations are being joined and 
supported by anti-Zionist Jewish, anti-war, African-American, Latina/o, 
Asian and labor organizations.
Filled with anguish and anger, 25,000 to 30,000 people rallied in Times 
Square in New York City on Jan. 3 to protest Israel’s massacre of 
Palestinians in Gaza. It was one of the largest protests held around the 
country against Israel. The crowd stretched down Seventh Avenue from 
42nd to 36th Street. It swelled in size as people arrived from 
throughout the region, including busloads from Brooklyn and elsewhere.
People marched through midtown Manhattan to the Israeli Mission to the 
United Nations, where the five-hour demonstration ended with another 
rally. There were a huge number of children in the protest. One boy 
about 4 years old sat on his father’s shoulders rousing the crowd as he 
shouted over and over “Free, free Palestine!” and “End the Occupation!”
The rally at Times Square was chaired by Raja Abdulhaq of the General 
Union of Palestine Students; Lamis Deek of Al-Awda; Wael Mousfar, 
president of the Arab Muslim American Federation; and Sara Flounders of 
the International Action Center. Speakers denounced the U.S. for its 
role in the massacre and the billions of dollars in aid it sends to the 
terrorist state of Israel every year. And they criticized 
President-elect Barak Obama for failing to speak out against Israel. 
Samia Halaby, a long-time Palestinian activist and artist, told the 
crowd that it is time to up the ante and ask the international community 
to disarm Israel or “the whole world will go into Intifada and disarm 
Israel.” Larry Holmes from the Troops Out Now Coalition declared, “The 
whole world is with Gaza.”
In Houston, over 1,000 came out to the Israeli Consulate on Jan. 2, 
mostly from the Palestinian and Arab community, but also others from the 
progressive community, including African Americans, Latina/os and 
whites. Palestinian youth led the chants and large extended families 
participated. Each of the daily demonstrations has seen carloads of 
Palestinian youth, in pickup trucks as well as hanging out of car 
windows and standing in moon roofs, flying large Palestinian flags and 
cheering the crowds as they drive up and down the streets.
Ester King, a representative of the Black Heritage Society, which is 
organizing its 31st annual Martin Luther King Jr. parade this month, 
participated in the Jan. 4 demonstration. He told the leaders of the 
Palestinian community that not only could they be in the parade for Dr. 
King, but they should lead the parade. “If Dr. King were alive today, he 
would be standing out here on the street with us supporting the people 
in Gaza. We welcome you to our parade and the Black Heritage Society 
will be a member of the Houston Coalition for Justice and Peace in 
Palestine and be at the next meeting,” he said.
Hundreds of people have protested at the Texas Capitol in Austin almost 
every day for a week demanding an end to the Israeli attacks.
In San Antonio there have been two demonstrations, one at the federal 
building and another in front of the Alamo on Jan. 3, when ground troops 
entered Gaza. According to longtime activist Johnny Martinez, over a 
hundred people gathered. Speakers included Tom Keene with the Texas 
Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and John Stanford, a Communist 
Party organizer for over 40 years.
Over a thousand gathered at the federal building in Dallas on Jan. 2 
where they expressed their outrage at the attacks on Gaza and marched to 
Ferris Plaza. The Council on American-Islamic Relations and several 
mosques organized this rally. On Dec. 30 in Dallas hundreds gathered at 
Dealey Plaza.
Immediate responses came from Arizona on Dec. 30 when 100 gathered in 
Tucson and 80 in Phoenix demanding a ceasefire. On a rainy Jan. 4 night, 
185 people countered a pro-Zionist “Stand with Israel” event in Tucson 
chanting, “End the Occupation Now!” and “Free Gaza!”
An emergency action hit the streets of Anaheim, Calif., just south of 
Los Angeles, on Jan. 4. It followed large demonstrations at the Los 
Angeles Israeli Consulate on Jan. 2 and Dec. 30 that forced police to 
close busy Wilshire Boulevard. More than 1,500 people participated on 
Dec. 29 in Anaheim. A coalition made up of Al-Awda, Muslim student 
organizations and many others, including the International Action Center 
and ANSWER, are mobilizing. The next demonstrations are scheduled for 
Jan. 6 at the Israeli Consulate and Jan. 10 at the Westwood Federal 
Building, both in Los Angeles.
On Dec. 30 several thousand Palestinians and supporters held a loud and 
militant march through downtown San Francisco. According to ABC news, 
the chants could be heard in the Israeli Consulate several floors above 
the street. On Jan. 4 an impromptu street meeting and literature 
distribution answered the Israel’s land invasion.
In San Diego on Jan. 4, 500 demonstrators responded to the Israeli land 
invasion of Gaza. The strong and angry demonstration marched through 
Balboa Park and out-chanted 50 Zionist provocateurs, who were forced to 
retreat. On Jan. 2 and Dec. 30 large demonstrations targeted the 
downtown Federal Building.
The Palestinian community came out in large numbers for a statewide 
rally and march held in Columbus, Ohio, on Jan. 5. The demonstration was 
called by Justice for Palestine, based on the campus of Ohio State 
University. Around 700 participated, chanting “Yes, we can free Palestine!”
In Cleveland on Dec. 29, with less than 48 hours notice, 250 people came 
out to a demonstration in the downtown area called by the Middle East 
Peace Forum. Arab and Muslim representatives asked the crowd if, after 
Friday prayers in the mosques, they would come to another demonstration. 
Everyone raised their hand. That protest on Jan. 2 drew, according to 
organizers, over 1,000 people. A march followed with “We give our blood 
and our soul for Palestine!” among the slogans chanted in Arabic.
In Dayton, Ohio, on Jan. 2 about 120 people organized by Al-Awda found 
the most positive responses from passersby came from African Americans.
In Chicago, about 5,000 Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims of all ages, 
joined by supporters from other progressive communities and movements, 
packed into Pioneer Plaza in front of the Chicago Tribune building on 
Jan. 2 in solidarity with the struggling people of Gaza. A contingent of 
70 traveled from the Milwaukee, Wis., Islamic Center to join this 
massive gathering.
Hit hard since 2001 by U.S. state terror, deportations and frame-up 
trials, the Arab and Muslim participants were in an enthusiastic mood 
despite the bitter cold. Activists called it the largest outpouring from 
Chicago’s Palestinian community in 20 years.
Hemmed in by police lines, the tightly packed crowd heard from community 
speakers and supporters, and then poured across the Michigan Avenue 
Bridge to continue their protest in front of the Israeli Consulate.
This was the fifth Chicago action in support of Gaza in a week.
More than 500 people attended the Dec. 28 Chicago rally at the Water 
Tower Park in the posh North Michigan Avenue shopping area. Palestinian 
and Arab-American youth proudly displayed Palestinian flags as they 
denounced U.S.-backed Zionist aggression. The flag of the Lebanese 
resistance movement Hezbollah was well received by the crowd.
One protester brought an Israeli flag attached to a broom with a pair of 
shoes tied to it, a reference to Muntader Al-Zaidi’s heroic act of 
resistance to the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Many Palestinian, 
Arab-American and Muslim grassroots and community organizations 
participated, including Al-Awda.
In Minneapolis 40 protesters occupied Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s office on 
Dec. 30 for two hours until she met with them.
On Jan. 3 in Buffalo, N.Y., over 150 demonstrators faced down 
single-digit cold weather and equally icy police to protest the most 
recent Israeli bombing of Gaza and assault on Palestinian 
self-determination. The University of Buffalo Organization of Arab 
Students, the Lackawanna Discussion Group Commission on Rights, the 
Buffalo/Western New York International Action Center, the Western New 
York Peace Center and the University of Buffalo Progressive Alliance 
called the rally to “oppose U.S.-Israeli crimes in Gaza” and “resolutely 
defend Palestinian rights.” Pushing out into the street from both sides 
of a busy intersection at Elmwood Avenue and Bidwell Parkway, people 
shouted in English, “Stop U.S. aid to Israel!” and in Arabic, “With our 
determination and our blood, Gaza, we defend you!”
Throughout the two-and-a-half-hour demonstration, car horns blared 
almost constantly, as passing drivers made known their support for 
Palestine and many stopped to take leaflets. Toward the end of the 
rally, as night was falling, police lined the street with their cars and 
attempted but failed to intimidate the crowd. On Dec. 30 some 200 mostly 
Palestinian, Yemeni and other Arab youth demonstrated.
More than 100 people protested in front of the Federal Building on State 
Street in Rochester, N.Y., on Jan. 2. At the rally, shouts of “Long Live 
Palestine!” overrode the sounds of rush-hour traffic. It was the second 
rally in front of that Federal Building this week.
On Jan. 3 in Boston, about 1,500 people took to the streets to protest 
the U.S./Israeli genocide in Gaza. Chanting “Free, Free Palestine!” 
“From the River to the Sea, Palestine will Free!” and “We Support the 
Resistance!” the demonstrators marched through the main shopping area of 
downtown Boston, stopping at the U.S. military recruiters office and the 
Israeli Consulate for minirallies. The demonstration, called by an 
ad-hoc coalition, was led by a militant contingent of Palestinian youth.
The demonstration was co-chaired by longtime Palestinian activists Ahmad 
Kawash from the International Action Center and Kathy Hanna from Gaza on 
Our Minds. Kawash called for solidarity and support of the resistance in 
Palestine. Representatives of local mosques spoke.
Stevan Kirschbaum, a Jewish trade unionist from USW 8751 and the IAC, 
said support for the people of Gaza and their struggle means supporting 
their organizations and leaders who are conducting that struggle—the 
Hamas-led resistance.
Miya Campbell of FIST saluted Hamas and the resistance in front of the 
military recruiters and raised Cynthia McKinney’s struggle to bring 
material support to Gaza on the ship Dignity, which was attacked by an 
Israeli patrol boat.
Earlier in Boston, there was a march of 120 people on Dec. 28 from Park 
Street to Copley Square with strong Palestinian participation, a 
rush-hour distribution on Dec. 29 and a demonstration Dec. 30 at the 
Israeli Consulate.
On Jan. 3 around 1,000 people stretched across the steps in front of 
Philadelphia’s City Hall with a banner “War is Terrorism with a Bigger 
Budget—Stop U.S.-Israeli War on Palestinians.” The rally and march 
targeted U.S. funding for the Israeli war against the Palestinian people 
in Gaza. Speakers linked budget cuts in Philadelphia that will close 11 
libraries to U.S. funding of Israeli bombs being dropped on elementary 
schools in Gaza. Passing motorists honked in support.
A 10-foot banner with enlarged photos graphically illustrating the 
carnage from Israel’s bombs was presented to FOX camera crews filming 
the rally since these images are rarely shown by U.S. media outlets.
The demonstration was initiated by the Philadelphia International Action 
Center, with strong support from local Arab, Muslim and Palestinian 
groups and peace and justice organizations. More than 100 people 
protested outside the Israeli Consulate in Philadelphia on Dec. 28 and 
again on Dec. 30.
In Baltimore on Dec. 30 some 80 mostly young people attended an 
emergency demonstration in support of Gaza at the War Memorial Plaza.
In Washington, D.C., on Jan. 2 several thousand people rallied at the 
Israeli Consulate and marched to the Egyptian Consulate, where 
protesters began beating on the plastic road barriers set up in front. A 
long standoff between the protesters and the police followed. Chants 
called Egyptian President Mubarak a Zionist, denouncing his refusal to 
let in medical supplies and demanding the tearing down of the wall that 
prevents movement between Gaza and Egypt.
Three mothers from the Atlantic Life Community, Heidi Schloegel, Ellen 
Grady and Clare Grady, were arrested outside the Israeli Embassy. Their 
organization has been petitioning embassy officials for an end to 
Israeli air strikes on Gaza. The three approached the embassy gate 
singing “Peace, Salaam, Shalom” and holding signs which read “Peace” 
“Stop the killing” and “Stop the war on the children.” They were held in 
D.C. jails overnight and finally released the following day. 
Irish-Americans carried Irish flags comparing the struggles against 
British colonialism in Ireland to the ongoing occupation of Palestine.
Organizers included the Muslim America Society Freedom Foundation, 
ANSWER, the Arab American Free Palestine Alliance, the National Council 
of Arab Americans, and Al-Awda—the International Palestine Right to 
Return Coalition. Over 50 people, mostly Arab youth, caravanned up from 
Raleigh, N.C. The caravan was organized by Khalilah Sabra of the Muslim 
American Society Freedom Foundation. Earlier, on Dec. 30, ANSWER held a 
demonstration at the State Department.
On Jan. 5 more than 400 mostly Palestinian youth and community members, 
as well as various social justice activists, converged at the steps of 
North Carolina State University’s Bell Tower on Hillsborough Street in 
Raleigh, N.C., to protest the continuing massacre of Palestinians in 
Gaza. Chanting “Resistance is justified when freedom is denied!” and 
“Free, Free Palestine!” the swelling crowd demanded an end to the 
US-supported attacks by Israel and called for an end to the criminal 
occupation of Palestine. A newly formed student group at N.C. State 
University called Palestine United organized the demonstration and 
effectively mobilized the mostly youthful crowd, while also bringing 
many people from area mosques and Muslim organizations.
On Sat., Jan. 3 over 200 people gathered in downtown Durham, N.C., for 
an event organized by sisters in UBUNTU, a women-of-color, survivor-led 
organization based in Durham that was formed in response to the Duke 
Lacrosse rape case. Many organizations and people throughout the 
Durham/Raleigh/Chapel Hill area helped to build for the rally, including 
Raleigh Fight Imperialism, Stand Together (FIST), Black Workers for 
Justice, Al-Awda N.C. and others.
Speakers included Manju Rajendran, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Dannette 
Sharpley and Beth Brunch from UBUNTU; the Rev. Carl Kenney, founder of 
Compassion Ministries in Durham; Ajamu Dillahunt from Black Workers for 
Justice; and Feras Abdelquader, a Palestinian student.
On Jan. 3 in Charlotte, N.C., more than 500 people gathered in Marshall 
Park for a rally and march where protesters, with Palestinian and Muslim 
youth at the forefront, took over downtown Charlotte with a sea of 
Palestinian flags and energetic chants. When the march crossed the 
street and made a U-turn, heading for a street rally at “The Square,” 
more than three blocks were filled to both sides of the street with 
demonstrators.
Echoing throughout the downtown area were chants of “Free, Free Gaza!” 
“Free, Free Palestine!” “Occupation Is a Crime!” “Shame, Shame Israel!” 
“Stop Killing Children!” “Stop The Killing! Stop The War!” “Stop 
Supporting Israel!” and “Money for Jobs and Education! Not Israeli 
Occupation!” Public support for the demonstration was overwhelmingly 
positive with car horns blaring and cheers and waves of support.
A small vigil held New Year’s Day at Seventh Street and Pecan Avenue in 
Charlotte, N.C., got the same kind of public support. Almost every 
passing vehicle honked or waved in response to a “Honk for Peace in 
Gaza” sign. Even some young people going by on bikes repeatedly said, 
“Honk, honk, honk.”
On Jan. 3 in Atlanta more than 500 people massed in front of CNN, took 
to the streets in a spirited march and rallied at Woodruff Park with two 
black caskets draped with Palestinian flags and more than 100 signs with 
the names of people who have died in the assault.
Then the protesters, determined to have their message heard, again 
filled Marietta Street and returned to the CNN building to continue the 
demonstration for another half hour.
This action was preceded by protests at the Israeli Consulate on Sunday, 
Dec. 28 and Tuesday, Dec. 30.
On Jan. 2 more than 60 people turned out in Richmond, Va., to protest 
the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Palestinian people of Gaza. The City 
Hall protest was initiated by longtime Richmond African-American 
activist Umar Kenyatta and sponsored by the newly formed Coalition of 
Conscientious Organizations. Activists in Norfolk and Blacksburg, Va., 
also organized demonstrations.
On Jan. 3 nearly a thousand chanting pro-Palestinian demonstrators lined 
a busy intersection at Orchard Lake and Maple Roads in Bloomfield Hills, 
in suburban Detroit. The day before, nearly a thousand who represented 
varying ethnic and religious backgrounds gathered at the Dearborn, 
Mich., City Hall braving frigid temperatures and high winds to show 
solidarity with the Palestinians at a candlelight vigil. At this rally, 
Michigan Emergency Coalition Against War and Injustice (MECAWI) activist 
Jerry Goldberg told the crowd, “As a Jew, I stand here today in 
solidarity with Palestine.”
At the earlier demonstration on Dec. 30, 5,000 people lined an Arab 
community shopping district along Warren Avenue.
A small group of placard-waving pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered 
near U.S. President-elect Barack Obama’s vacation retreat in Hawaii on 
Dec. 30 to protest the Israeli air strikes in Gaza. Also on Dec. 30 
Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Seattle, Bellingham and Tacoma, 
Wash., protested.
In St. Louis, protests began with a vigil on Dec. 28 and continued daily 
including the Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 holidays with bannering at busy 
shopping areas and the offices of Sen. Kit Bond and Rep. Russ Carnahan.
In Portland, Ore., on Jan. 2, 200 people braved the cold and sleet to 
voice their opposition to the Israeli attacks in Gaza, and called on 
Sen. Ron Wyden to support equal rights for the Palestinian people. Wyden 
reportedly cancelled a town hall meeting after protesters announced they 
would attend. Other Portland protests were held on Dec. 28 and Dec. 29.
Demonstrations were hold in Denver at the state Capitol building on Dec. 
30 and Jan. 3, and on Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve, in Salt Lake City.
________________________________________
Articles copyright 1995-2009 Workers World. Verbatim copying and 
distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without 
royalty provided this notice is preserved.





http://jta.org/news/article/2008/12/31/1001912/pro-palestinian-demonstration-at-obama-hawaii-house

Pro-Palestinian demonstration greets Obama in Hawaii
December 31, 2008
WASHINGTON (JTA) -- A small group of Pro-Palestinian demonstrators 
protested at Barack Obama's vacation home in Hawaii.

Carrying signs reading "No U.S. support for Israel" and "Gazans need 
food and medicine, not war," a dozen or so demonstrators, representing 
groups including Veterans for Peace, urged Obama to place resolution of 
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the top of his priority list and to 
speak out about Israel's strikes in Gaza, according to news reports.

Obama has not made any public statement about Israel's operation against 
Hamas since it began Saturday. He did not acknowledge the protestors 
when his motorcade drove by them Tuesday.

"The president-elect values citizen participation in our nation's 
foreign policy, but there is one president at a time, and we intend to 
respect that," Obama spokeswoman Brooke Anderson said.







http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/world/mhsncweyojkf/

Israel protest outside Obama holiday home
30/12/2008 - 19:44:43

A handful of pro-Palestinian activists protested outside President-elect 
Barack Obama’s holiday home in Hawaii today and urged a new approach to 
the Middle East.

Eight activists marched with signs to the edge of the property’s 
security perimeter, telling reporters that they want the incoming 
administration to take a fresh look at the conflict between Israel and 
the Palestinian territories.

They also called for Mr Obama to take a more active role in the 
conflict, even though he does not take office until January 20.

“We feel there’s a great need for change. We need to stop giving Israel 
a blank cheque to do what it’s doing,” said Margaret Brown, a 
66-year-old Honolulu resident who held a handmade sign that read: “Yes 
we can change US policy toward Israel and Palestine.”
Israel continued its air attacks on Gaza today and warned that a ground 
invasion could follow if rocket launches did not stop. The United States 
has called for the militant group Hamas to stop launching rockets into 
Israel.

Mr Obama and his family are near the end of a 12-day holiday in his 
native Hawaii. He has maintained no public schedule and has had his 
aides guard his privacy.

Since arriving on the island of Oahu on December 20, Mr Obama has 
limited his travel mostly to trips to the gym, golf course and dinner 
with friends.

Mr Obama, wife Michelle and their two young daughters are scheduled to 
return to Chicago on Thursday.





http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/38580

Protesters assemble near Obama compound
Submitted by davidswanson on Wed, 2008-12-31 03:34.
By Star-Bulletin
Demonstrators protesting Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip tried to 
get President-elect Barack Obama’s attention this morning in Kailua.
About six demonstrators assembled near the security checkpoint fronting 
the entrance to the $9 million rental home where Obama and his family 
are staying. Some carried signs urging Obama to address U.S. foreign 
policy when he takes office.
Ann Wright, a retired Army colonel, wore a T-shirt that read: “We will 
not be silent” and carried a sign that read: “Change U.S. foreign 
policy. Yes we can.”
Wright, 62, of Honolulu, said the demonstrators represented various 
groups, including her organization Veterans for Peace.
Other signs read “War is Terror” and “Free Palestine.”
The groups issued a press release that stated in part: “We call on 
President-elect Obama to place the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian 
conflict at the top of his list of priorities of his new administration.”
Obama, however, had not left the Kailua compound as of about 8:30 this 
morning, after a long day of golf and a night out dining in Honolulu 
yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon’s tee time at the Mid-Pacific Country Club marked 
the second time Obama has golfed at the Lanikai golf course and the 
third time he has hit the links during his vacation, which began Dec. 20.
Obama drew applause and hollers when he walked up to the 18th green. 
Obama motioned for them to be quiet while others in his party finished 
their round, touching a finger to his lips.
“That was pretty good, right?” Obama said to more cheers as he walked 
onto the green. “It went further than my 20-yard drive.”
A woman sitting on a nearby wall shouted, “Better than your bowling.”
The joke referred to Obama’s disastrous bowling outing in Pennsylvania 
during the presidential campaign when he racked up a terrible score of 
37 — with the assist during two frames from an 8-year-old.
Obama wore a red City and County of Honolulu baseball cap, white shirt, 
khaki shorts and white-and-brown golf shoes.
Accompanying him were Bobby Titcomb, a friend from high school in 
Hawaii; friends Martin Nesbitt and Greg Orme; and aide Eugene Kang.
Later in the evening, Obama went out to dinner at a restaurant for the 
first time this visit.
Shortly after 7 p.m., the president-elect, dressed in a buttoned up 
short-sleeve shirt and slacks, entered Alan Wong’s restaurant on King 
Street. He also ate at Alan Wong’s during his August visit.
At Alan Wong’s, Obama had dinner with his wife, Michelle, his sister 
Maya Soetoro Ng and her husband, Konrad Ng, Chicago friends Eric 
Whitaker, Valerie Jarrett and Nesbitt and Punahou classmate Titcomb. 
Obama’s daughters, Sasha and Malia, did not attend.
At 10:11 p.m. the motorcade left Alan Wong’s and passed the apartment 
where Obama’s grandmother, Madelyn Dunham lived before she died Nov. 2.
The motorcade returned to the Kailuana Place rental home at 10:43 p.m.
———
The Associated Press, Star-Bulletin reporter B.J. Reyes and media pool 
reports contributed to this article.
Demonstrators protesting Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip tried to 
get President-elect Barack Obama’s attention this morning in Kailua.
About six demonstrators assembled near the security checkpoint fronting 
the entrance to the $9 million rental home where Obama and his family 
are staying. Some carried signs urging Obama to address U.S. foreign 
policy when he takes office.
Ann Wright, a retired Army colonel, wore a T-shirt that read: “We will 
not be silent” and carried a sign that read: “Change U.S. foreign 
policy. Yes we can.”
Wright, 62, of Honolulu, said the demonstrators represented various 
groups, including her organization Veterans for Peace.
Other signs read “War is Terror” and “Free Palestine.”
The groups issued a press release that stated in part: “We call on 
President-elect Obama to place the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian 
conflict at the top of his list of priorities of his new administration.”
Obama, however, had not left the Kailua compound as of about 8:30 this 
morning, after a long day of golf and a night out dining in Honolulu 
yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon’s tee time at the Mid-Pacific Country Club marked 
the second time Obama has golfed at the Lanikai golf course and the 
third time he has hit the links during his vacation, which began Dec. 20.
Obama drew applause and hollers when he walked up to the 18th green. 
Obama motioned for them to be quiet while others in his party finished 
their round, touching a finger to his lips.
“That was pretty good, right?” Obama said to more cheers as he walked 
onto the green. “It went further than my 20-yard drive.”
A woman sitting on a nearby wall shouted, “Better than your bowling.”
The joke referred to Obama’s disastrous bowling outing in Pennsylvania 
during the presidential campaign when he racked up a terrible score of 
37 — with the assist during two frames from an 8-year-old.
Obama wore a red City and County of Honolulu baseball cap, white shirt, 
khaki shorts and white-and-brown golf shoes.
Accompanying him were Bobby Titcomb, a friend from high school in 
Hawaii; friends Martin Nesbitt and Greg Orme; and aide Eugene Kang.
Later in the evening, Obama went out to dinner at a restaurant for the 
first time this visit.
Shortly after 7 p.m., the president-elect, dressed in a buttoned up 
short-sleeve shirt and slacks, entered Alan Wong’s restaurant on King 
Street. He also ate at Alan Wong’s during his August visit.
At Alan Wong’s, Obama had dinner with his wife, Michelle, his sister 
Maya Soetoro Ng and her husband, Konrad Ng, Chicago friends Eric 
Whitaker, Valerie Jarrett and Nesbitt and Punahou classmate Titcomb. 
Obama’s daughters, Sasha and Malia, did not attend.
At 10:11 p.m. the motorcade left Alan Wong’s and passed the apartment 
where Obama’s grandmother, Madelyn Dunham lived before she died Nov. 2.
The motorcade returned to the Kailuana Place rental home at 10:43 p.m.
———
The Associated Press, Star-Bulletin reporter B.J. Reyes and media pool 
reports contributed to this article.
*****
Here's Washington Post's version:
By Philip Rucker
HONOLULU -- It's a far cry from Cindy Sheehan's tent city near President 
Bush's ranch in Crawford, Tex., but a half-dozen pro-Palestinian 
activists demonstrated Tuesday morning outside the Kailua compound where 
President-elect Barack Obama is vacationing with family and friends.
Holding signs urging Obama to take a new approach to Middle East policy, 
the protesters gathered early in the morning just beyond the security 
perimeter of Obama's estate, hoping the president-elect would see them 
when he left for his traditional morning workout. But as of 9:20 a.m. 
Hawaii time, Obama had not left his residence.
It was the first time protesters had gathered outside Obama's vacation 
home during this trip. The activists represented several groups, 
including Veterans for Peace. They told a pool of reporters traveling 
with Obama that they want the incoming administration to make a peaceful 
resolution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian 
territories a top priority, especially given the current strife in the 
Gaza Strip.
Ann Wright, 62, a retired Army colonel from Honolulu, wore a T-shirt 
that read, "We will not be silent." She carried a sign that said: 
"Change U.S. foreign policy. Yes we can."
"We feel there's a great need for change," another activist, Margaret 
Brown, 66, of Honolulu, told the Associated Press. "We need to stop 
giving Israel a blank check to do what it's doing. ... We just gave them 
a blank check to oppress the Palestinians, and this is the result."
The protesters said they planned to demonstrate later Tuesday at a 
federal building in downtown Honolulu, about 15 miles from the remote 
Kailua enclave where Obama is staying.
When asked about the demonstrations, Obama's chief national security 
spokesperson, Brooke Anderson, said, "The president-elect values citizen 
participation in our nation's foreign policy, but there is one president 
at a time, and we intend to respect that."





http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N30356444.htm

Pro-Palestinian protesters at Obama's Hawaii house
30 Dec 2008 22:48:16 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Adds quote from aide, Washington protest, details)
By Ross Colvin
KAILUA, Hawaii, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A small group of placard-waving 
pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered near U.S. President-elect Barack 
Obama's vacation retreat in Hawaii on Tuesday to protest against the 
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.
Obama has made no public comment on the strikes, which Israel launched 
on Saturday. Aides have repeatedly said he is monitoring the situation 
and continues to receive intelligence briefings but that there is only 
one U.S. president at a time.
But with outgoing Republican President George W. Bush already viewed as 
a lame-duck, many people, particularly in the Middle East, are looking 
past him to Obama, who is due to be sworn in on Jan. 20, for leadership.
Obama did speak out after the attacks on the Indian city of Mumbai in 
November in which gunmen killed nearly 180 people, condemning them as 
acts of terrorism.
He has also spoken on the economic problems facing the United States.
"He is talking about how many jobs he is going to create but he is 
refusing to speak about this," said one of the protesters, Carolyn 
Hadfield, 66.
She was one of eight protesters standing with placards reading "No U.S. 
support for Israel" and "Gazans need food and medicine, not war" near 
Obama's rented vacation home in Kailua, an upmarket suburb on the 
Hawaiian island of Oahu, where he is in the second week of a vacation 
with his family.
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
Obama did not acknowledge the protesters when his motorcade drove past 
to take him to play basketball at his old school. He stared straight 
ahead sipping from a bottle of water.
"The president-elect values citizen participation in our nation's 
foreign policy, but there is one president at a time, and we intend to 
respect that," said Brooke Anderson, his chief national security 
spokesperson.
Obama has in the past called Israel one of the United States' greatest 
allies and has vowed to ensure the security of the Jewish state.
He has also said he would make a sustained push to achieve the goal of 
two states -- a Jewish state in Israel and a Palestinian state.
Israel on Tuesday pressed on with air strikes in Gaza that it says are 
in response to rocket fire by Hamas militants deep inside the Jewish 
state. Medical officials put Palestinian casualties at 383 dead and more 
than 800 wounded.
"We are very upset with what is going in Palestine. There is a very 
great need for change in U.S foreign policy toward Israel and Palestine. 
We need to stop giving Israel a blank check," said another protester, 
Margaret Brown, 66.
The protesters were rebuffed when they tried to hand a letter signed by 
dozens of U.S. activist groups to a Secret Service agent guarding the 
access road to Obama's beachfront compound.
The Bush administration has backed Israel's actions in Gaza and demanded 
the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas stop firing rockets into Israel and 
agree to a lasting ceasefire.
In Washington, several hundred pro-Palestinian protesters gathered 
outside the State Department, waving Palestinian flags and chanting 
slogans such as "free Palestine" while police looked on but took no 
action. (Reporting by Ross Colvin; Editing by Chris Wilson)






http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20090105-181469/Protesters-fans-greet-Obama-in-Wash

Protesters, fans greet Obama in Wash.
By Alex Ogle
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 10:29:00 01/05/2009

Filed Under: People
WASHINGTON -- About 100 well-wishers and two dozen protesters braved the 
winter chill to greet President-elect Barack Obama as he arrived in 
Washington Sunday to prepare his transition.
A heavy security presence encircled the historic Hays-Adam hotel near 
the White House, where the Obamas will stay until January 15, as police 
set up cement barriers and kept onlookers at a city block's distance.
"He waved! That's cool! Awesome!" said Keith Slade, 43, who was having a 
drink at a nearby bar when he caught a glimpse of Obama passing by in 
the motorcade.
Before Obama departed Chicago, he told reporters: "Well guys, I'm 
looking forward to seeing you guys in Washington... I gotta say I choked 
up a little bit leaving my house today."
He said a friend of his eldest daughter, Malia, had brought by "an album 
of the two of them together. They had been friends since pre-school and 
I just looked through the pages and the house was empty and it was a 
little tough, it got me," he admitted.
Obama left Chicago aboard a Boeing 757 plane piloted by Colonel Scott 
Turner, who will be his Air Force One pilot, and arrived at Andrews Air 
Force base at 7:00 pm (0000 GMT) before being driven to downtown Washington.
His wife, Michelle, and daughters arrived on Saturday. The girls, Malia, 
10, and Sasha, 7, are to start school at Sidwell Friends on Monday.
Louisa Dietsch, 53, came out with her husband and their two daughters to 
watch the arrival of the man who on January 20 will be inaugurated the 
44th US president and the first African-American to ever hold the post.
"We are so excited about the change in this country," she said. "It's 
'Obama world' at our house. Hard to believe. We cry so much."
Her daughter Nora, 22, a student at Montana State University, said she 
had a chance to meet Obama at a rally when he was running for president.
"I was lucky to shake his hand," she said, adding that he will face 
tough challenges with the struggling US economy and the Middle East 
conflict.
"He must have enormous pressure and it must be the hardest time to come 
in as president."
Her sister, Cheska, 20, agreed.
"It must be weird looking at the protesters," she said, noting the 
presence of around two dozen people gathered on the steps of a church 
near the hotel where the Obamas are staying to protest Israel's military 
incursion in Gaza.
Some held candles, while others waved Palestinian flags and raised signs 
that read: "Obama Call for Ceasefire, Please," and "Not in Our Name."
"Where is Barack Obama's voice? Has he been muzzled already?" asked 
protester Medea Benjamin, speaking over a microphone.
"We didn't expect Bush to speak out but Barack knows better," said 
Benjamin, of the women-founded anti-war group Code Pink.
"Michelle, if you're in there, there is something called pillow talk. 
Talk to your husband, tell him to call for a ceasefire," she called out.
Matt Varnham, 23, a tourist from Britain, said he was excited to come 
out and see Obama arrive, despite the 40 degree Fahrenheit (five 
Celsius) temperature.
"It's fantastic, it is a momentous occasion," he said, adding that he 
was eager to see what Obama will do as president.
"His hands are tied because of the system but he'll bring hope, which I 
think is the most powerful weapon."





http://www.ocala.com/article/20081230/ARTICLES/812300297/-1/news?Title=Anti_war_protesters_gather_at_Lockheed_Martin_plant

Anti-war protesters gather at Lockheed Martin plant

ALAN YOUNGBLOOD/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
People, including Marions for Peace members, protest Lockheed Martin's 
part in the production of Hellfire missles at the Silver Springs Shores 
plant on Tuesday.

By Naseem Sowti Miller
Staff Reporter
Published: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 2:22 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 8:25 p.m.
OCALA - Close to two dozen protesters, young and old, stood in front of 
the Lockheed Martin plant, which was closed for the holidays, early 
Tuesday afternoon to make a statement about the recent unrest in the 
Gaza Strip.

They waved at the cars that honked and shrugged off the few motorists 
who yelled out obscenities. They chanted "Free Palestine" and "Hey Hey 
Ho Ho The Occupation's Got to Go." And they held hand-written signs 
reading "Hellfire = Holocaust" and "Feed the Hungry, Don't Feed the War."
"We're here because the war has started in the Middle East again," said 
Homer Detwiler, a member of Marions for Peace. "We're told that the 
rockets may have been made here, and we want to bring attention to people."
Among the protesters were Muslim women and girls who held banners 
reading Free Palestine.
"I'm ashamed that U.S. backs Israel in all this," said Palestinian-born 
U.S. citizen Suraida Kamal. "The aid goes to killing women and children, 
just because people in Israel don't want them there."
Across the street, a Lockheed Martin employee who identified herself 
only as Kathy and her two daughters stood in opposition and shouted: 
"Support Our Troops" and "God Bless America."
"If you're so proud of it, go back to Gaza," she screamed.
"I have a father and four brothers who went to war," the woman said in a 
interview.
"Her fiance is in Iraq," she said, pointing toward one of her daughters. 
"I don't think it's right that our men are dying over there and these 
people are knocking it," Kathy said, her voice shaking with anger."
The protest was one of many around the nation on Tuesday, the fourth day 
of Israel's airstrikes against Hamas targets in Gaza in response to 
rocket attacks from Hamas. More than 350 Palestinians — about 60 of them 
civilians — have been killed, and four Israelis — three civilians and a 
soldier — have died, according to The New York Times.
Lockheed Martin's Ocala site provides electronic systems assembly for a 
variety of space and military programs, according to a company spokeswoman.
Lockheed Martin, according to county documents, is proposing an $11 
million expansion of its Ocala plant, which primarily produces the 
Hellfire precision-guided missile system.
The project includes $6 million in capital improvements, another $4.8 
million in construction or renovation costs and $300,000 in new 
workstations and furniture.
The county approved a $100,000 tax break for Lockheed Martin's Ocala 
plant as part of total $500,000 economic incentive package that will 
encourage the company to hire 125 new employees with an annual average 
salary of $49,327, with full benefits totaling another $23,456.






http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/15/MNFJ15B2SN.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

9 arrested at Israeli Consulate protest in S.F.
Jill Tucker, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, January 16, 2009
(01-15) 10:56 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco police arrested nine 
protesters Thursday who had chained themselves together to block the 
main entrance to the Israeli Consulate on Montgomery Street.
Several dozen demonstrators protesting Israel's military actions in Gaza 
arrived at the consulate about 8:30 a.m. in an action that had been 
organized on activist Web sites.
One group of six protesters went inside the building housing the 
consulate and blocked the doorway, while several other people chained 
themselves together outside the doorway.
When police arrived they ordered those inside the building to disperse 
and arrested four who refused, police Lt. Lynette Hogue said.
At about 10 a.m., police ordered the protesters blocking the outside of 
the entrance to leave, and brought in equipment to cut through the ties 
binding the protesters together. The remaining chained protesters were 
arrested at about 10:30 a.m., and police used saws to cut locks off the 
building's doors.
Police guarded the cleared doorway as the arrested demonstrators were 
taken away, amid fellow protesters chanting, "We'll be back."





http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/418674.html

Israel's San Francisco Consulate Closed for War Crimes by Protestors
indybay | 15.01.2009 23:04 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | Social 
Struggles | World
A group of nine anti-Zionist activists – Palestinian, Jewish, immigrant 
rights and prison abolitionists chained themselves to the Israeli 
Consulate today to protest Israeli apartheid and its current attacks on 
Gaza.
A group of nine anti-Zionist activists – Palestinian, Jewish, immigrant 
rights and prison abolitionists chained themselves to the Israeli 
Consulate today to protest Israeli apartheid and its current attacks on 
Gaza. Protestors support: an immediate ceasefire; the opening of land, 
sea, and air borders to allow in emergency supplies; and an end to US 
financial and political support for Israel.

“For the past sixty years, Israel has tried to eliminate the Palestinian 
people by forcing them out of their homes and off their lands, starving 
them, and killing them,” said Maria Poblet, an immigrants’ rights 
organizer. “The recent blockades and attacks in Gaza are not an 
exception, but a brutal reminder that killing civilians is a regular 
part of Israeli strategy.”

Linked arm in arm, Bay Area Jews, Palestinians and social-justice 
activists aim to increase pressure on Israel and its supporters in the 
face of the 21-day siege on Gaza and the growing humanitarian crisis. 
This action is one in a series that has moved from Toronto, to New York, 
to Los Angeles.

Organizers assert that the current situation in Gaza is not a conflict 
between two peoples of equivalent capacities, nor is Israel’s motive 
self-defense. “For the past year and a half, Israel has enacted 
strangling sanctions under the guise of targeting Hamas, collectively 
starving the entire population of food, water, medicine, and other vital 
resources,” stated Monadel Herzallah of the United States Palestinian 
Community Network. “The recent air and ground strikes are another brutal 
blow to Gazans who are already trapped in a concentration camp of 
despair and growing poverty.”

Activists also spoke out against the US pledge of more than $3 billion 
each year in unrestricted aid to Israel. “Israel’s use of US aid and 
military equipment violates our own laws. We can choose to uphold US and 
international laws, or ignore them as we are now doing at the peril of 
our conscience and our place among all of humanity,” said Nadeen 
Elshorafa of the General Union of Palestinian Students.

Organizer Sara Kershnar of the International Jewish anti-Zionist Network 
summed up the sentiment: “Today, as Palestinians, Jews, and our united 
allies, we make our position clear: we are on one side, the side of 
justice; Israel, an apartheid state, is on the other.”
indybay
Homepage: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/01/15/18563491.php





http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2009/01/03/protest_palestine_israel_atlanta.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=13

January 03, 2009
Pro-Palestinian protesters march on CNN headquarters
By KRISTI E. SWARTZ
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Protesters calling for Israel to stop its assault on Gaza lined the 
sidewalk in front of CNN’s headquarters Saturday.
“Gaza, Gaza, don’t you cry, in our hearts, you’ll never die,” chanted 
the crowd, which numbered about 50 when the protest began at 2 p.m., but 
more than doubled in size within 30 minutes.
Enlarge this image

Kristi E. Swartz / kswartz at ajc.com
Protestors on Saturday said they considered Israel’s assault on Gaza a 
‘war crime.’
Enlarge this image

MIKKI K. HARRIS / mkharris at ajc.com
Ghadeer Ramahi (center) marches in the rally along Marietta Street.
Enlarge this image

Kristi E. Swartz / kswartz at ajc.com
The protest, held in front of CNN’s headquarters in downtown Atlanta, 
was the third since the attacks started.
Some held signs calling for Israel to end its attacks on Hamas-occupied 
Gaza. Others compared the massacre to the Holocaust or to South Africa’s 
apartheid.
“The perpetual violence has to stop,” said Tim Franzen , who works for 
the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization. Franzen 
said the group has staff in Gaza.
Reda Mansour, consul general of Israel to the Southeastern United 
States, said people are being misled by the protestors’ message. “They 
think it’s a war between Israel and Palentine, and it’s a war between 
Palestine and Hamas,” he said. “We also want to free Palestine. The 
occupier is not Israel, it’s Hamas.”
Saturday’s protest is the third in Atlanta this week. The other two were 
held last Saturday and Tuesday in front of the Consulate General of 
Israel . The protestors decided to gather in front of CNN to call 
attention to media coverage of the attacks, which are in their eighth day.
“The media in the U.S. has a tradition of not providing an unbiased 
message,” said Ziyaad Lunat , one of the protest organizers. “They 
dehumanize the Palestinians.”
The Emory Advocates for Justice in Palestine; Athens Justice for 
Palestine; and the International Action Center organized the protest. 
Similar ones are being held in other cities across the nation and in 
other countries.
“Every person here is outraged by the military assault in Gaza,” said 
Dianne Mathiowetz , one of the organizers. “This, under all 
international law, is a war crime.”






http://www.nypost.com/seven/12292008/news/worldnews/protests_in_gotham__europe_146317.htm

PROTESTS IN GOTHAM, EUROPE

By TED PHILLIPS and ANDY GELLER, POST WIRE SERVICES

RALLY: A boy is hoisted above a crowd at 50th Street and Fifth Avenue 
yesterday during a protest of the airstrikes.

Protesters took to the streets of the Big Apple and major European 
capitals yesterday to demonstrate against Israel's air attacks on Gaza.
In New York, some 300 people held a rally at 50th Street and Fifth 
Avenue to denounce the strikes.
"We're here because we have the freedom to voice our opinion against 
ethnic cleansing," said Amal Amar, 26, a Staten Island nurse who has 
relatives in Gaza.
"This is terrorism," she said. "What the Palestinians are witnessing is 
true terrorism."
In London, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said this was a 
"dangerous moment" and called for an immediate cease-fire.
Half a dozen people were arrested when 700 protesters descended on the 
Israeli Embassy in London.
A scuffle between police and the protesters broke out when cops tried to 
remove people so they could reopen a street.
Protests in Paris were peaceful. About 1,000 demonstrators turned out in 
the neighborhood of Barbes, which has a large Arab population.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy condemned "the provocations that led to 
this situation, as well as the disproportionate use of force."
He held telephone talks with moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud 
Abbas, who urged Hamas to renew a cease-fire with Israel that ended last 
week.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said, "The unjustified 
rocket fire by Hamas must stop immediately. For its part, Israel must do 
everything possible to avoid civilian victims."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement saying he "strongly 
urges once again an immediate stop to all acts of violence."
Pope Benedict XVI called on the international community "not to leave 
anything untried to help the Israelis and Palestinians exit from this 
dead end" of violence.







http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2009/01/01/2003432555

US, UK protests erupt over Gaza strikes
GET YOUR SHOES: As the home of 300,000 people with Arab roots, 
southeastern Michigan saw a high turnout of pro-Palestinian 
demonstrators protesting the attacks

AP, DEARBORN, MICHIGAN
Thursday, Jan 01, 2009, Page 7
Close to 1,000 Arab-Americans and others marched through the Detroit 
suburb of Dearborn, waving Palestinian flags and shouting slogans to 
protest Israeli military strikes against the Gaza Strip.
Protesters braving minus 1°C weather on Tuesday evening filled eight 
blocks of a major thoroughfare in Dearborn, widely seen as the heart of 
Arab America. Hundreds more gathered in New York City and Los Angeles 
outside the Israeli consulate, with rallies also reported in two cities 
in Florida.

Since Saturday, at least 374 Palestinians have died in the Israeli air 
onslaught against Gaza’s Islamic Hamas rulers. Most of the dead were 
members of Hamas security forces but the UN says at least 64 civilians 
have been killed.

The offensive came shortly after a rocky six-month truce expired.

Hamas has fired hundreds of rockets and mortars at Israel before and 
during the Israeli offensive.

Marchers in Dearborn waved flags and carried signs condemning Israel and 
showing pictures of casualties of the fighting. One group of protesters 
carried a mock coffin decorated with pictures of dead and injured 
children and labeled “US Tax Dollars at Work” and “Victims of Zionism.”

Some marchers chanted in English, “Gaza, Gaza do not cry, Palestine will 
never die” and “Israel is a terrorist state.” Others chanted in Arabic, 
“God is Great” and “a martyr is beloved of God.”

One protester carried a sign saying “Dearborn, take your shoes off!” a 
reference to the action of an Iraqi protester who threw shoes at US 
President George W. Bush during his recent visit to Iraq.

Southeastern Michigan is home to around 300,000 people with roots in the 
Arab world, the result of more than a century of immigration.

The Tampa Tribune reported that University of South Florida sophomore 
Jehad Saleh, 19, started a group on social networking site Facebook on 
Sunday, encouraging Palestinian supporters to gather for a protest.

Demonstrators lined a Tampa highway on Tuesday, waving Palestinian and 
American flags and yelling through megaphones.

“I’ve had cousins in the Gaza Strip who died,” Saleh told the newspaper. 
“If their voice can’t be heard, mine will.”

Further south in Fort Lauderdale, at least 200 pro-Palestinian 
demonstrators and a smaller group of pro-Israel protesters lobbed 
charges at each other on Tuesday evening at an intersection, the Miami 
Herald reported.

Palestinian supporters yelled: “You kill our children!”

“No! You kill your own children!” Israel supporters responded.

Outside the Israeli consulates in Manhattan and Los Angeles, protesters 
on Tuesday waved Palestinian flags and chanted “Free Palestine.”

In New York, demonstrator Dalia Mahmoud said she was “shocked” at 
Israel’s actions and that it was “punishing an entire population for the 
actions of a few.”

A few miles south at City Hall, Israeli Consul General Asaf Shariv met 
with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, displaying for reporters an exploded 
rocket that killed an Israeli woman out for a walk.

“We are obligated to defend our people, and that is what we are doing,” 
Shariv said.

Bloomberg voiced his support.

“I can only think what would happen in this country if somebody was 
lobbing missiles onto our shores or across the border,” he said.

Meanwhile, the organizers of demonstrations in Britain against Israel’s 
air strikes on the Gaza Strip urged British Prime Minister Gordon Brown 
yesterday to end his “deafening silence” on the bloodshed.

In an open letter published on the back page of the Guardian newspaper, 
the 21 groups told Brown: “this is your hour with history and we urge 
you to take the first step.”

Protests have been held outside the Israeli embassy in London since 
Sunday and a national demonstration is planned for Saturday in the city 
center.

The groups said Brown had “rightly” rushed to New Delhi and Islamabad in 
the wake of the Mumbai attacks “in order to calm all parties, avert 
escalation and further bloodshed.”

They asked if he intended to visit Tel Aviv to spell out opposition to 
Israel “causing maximum casualties,” and then Gaza to “console the 
orphans and widows.”

“We expect nothing less of our government than an unequivocal 
condemnation of Israel’s actions, as it has condemned similar 
brutalities committed by various states around the world. We urge you to 
ensure: an immediate end to Israel’s military assault on Gaza; an 
immediate end to the blockade and siege on Gaza; an end to Israel’s 
violation of international law; an end to Israeli occupation.”

Those behind the letter included the Stop the War Coalition, the Muslim 
Council of Britain, the Islamic Human Rights Commission, the Palestinian 
Solidarity Campaign and the left-wing political party Respect.

The British government has said it is “appalled” by the violence in Gaza 
and has called for an immediate ceasefire from both Israel and the 
Islamist movement Hamas that it is targeting.






http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20081231/news/812310368

Protesters raise voices against Gaza attack
Several dozen at vigil in Santa Rosa say assault against source of 
rocket fire is excessive
Santa Rosa resident Layla Jabbari, 12, and her family took part in a 
candlelight vigil Tuesday at Old Courthouse Square.

By MARTIN ESPINOZA
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at 4:23 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at 5:17 a.m.
Dozens of people gathered Tuesday evening at Old Courthouse Square in 
Santa Rosa as part of a nationwide protest against Israeli military 
strikes that have killed hundreds in the Gaza Strip.
Related Links:
• Israel ponders Gaza truce
Amir Salamt, a manufacturing engineer who lives in Santa Rosa, joined 
the local protest with his wife and daughter, standing near the curb on 
Mendocino Avenue, between Fourth and Third streets, holding candles.
Salamt, a U.S. citizen of Iranian descent, called the current conflict a 
"one-sided war" that's taking innocent lives.
"Israel says they are killing Hamas, but they are not," he said. "They 
are killing civilians."
On Monday, U.N. officials said at least 62 of the 370 Palestinians 
killed up to that point in the Israeli airstrikes were women and 
children, though they did not yet know how many were civilian men.
In a suburb of Detroit widely considered the heart of Arab America, 
almost 1,000 people filled eight blocks of a major thoroughfare in 
Dearborn, Mich., to protest the violence.
Vigils and rallies in front of Israeli consulates in New York, Los 
Angeles and San Francisco drew hundreds more Tuesday.
The Santa Rosa vigil was organized by the Peace and Justice Center of 
Sonoma County.
Debra Birkinshaw, a board member of the center who carried a sign that 
read, "War is not the answer," said she hoped for a peaceful resolution 
to the conflict.
"Everyone deserves a safe and healthy place to live," Birkinshaw said.
The Israeli offensive came shortly after a rocky six-month truce 
expired. Hamas fired hundreds of rockets and mortar shells at Israel 
before and during the Israeli offensive.
Therese Mughannam-Walrath, a Palestinian-American who lives in Santa 
Rosa and whose brother lives in Ramallah in the West Bank, said that at 
the heart of the problem between the Israeli government and Palestinians 
are the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who were displaced as a 
result of the U.N. Partition Plan for Palestine of 1947.
Although she condemned violence from extremists on both sides of the 
Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Mughannam-Walrath said ordinary 
Palestinians have endured decades of discrimination, economic hardship 
and war.
"It's like living in a huge jail," Mughannam-Walrath said. "No one 
should live like the people in Gaza are forced to live."
Laure Reichek, a 78-year-old Petaluma activist who has a long history of 
fighting for liberal causes, said there are "many Jews like me who feel 
that it's obscene to treat other human beings the way that the Israeli 
defense forces are treating Palestinians."
Reichek, who described herself as a "French Jew," was disappointed that 
more people like her didn't turn out for the event.






http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6565527.html

Protestors, supporters of Israel's Gaza strikes face off in LA

16:08, December 31, 2008

About 500 protestors and supporters of Israel's ongoing strikes in Gaza 
faced off on Tuesday near the Israeli Consulate in Beverly Hills, 
staking out their respective positions.

Palestine and Israel supporters began to converge late in the afternoon 
on both sides of Wilshire Boulevard in the front of the consulate 
office, chanting slogans and waving signs opposing and supporting 
Israel's air strikes on the Hamas-controlled area.

No arrests were reported in the largely peaceful demonstration, police said.

Meanwhile, about 100 demonstrators gathered outside the Federal Building 
in west Los Angeles to protest against the U.S. government's positions 
on the Middle East crisis.

Earlier in the day, Islamic community leaders in Los Angeles launched a 
3-million-dollar fundraising drive to provide humanitarian aid to 
Palestinian victims, and lashed out at Israel for its military 
operations in Gaza.

There are an estimated 650,000 Muslims living in Los Angeles and 
neighboring areas.

Source: Xinhua





http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/123008dnmetgazaprotest.210d1c9d.html

Protesters at Dealey Plaza call for end to Gaza violence
07:38 AM CST on Wednesday, December 31, 2008
By JOANNA CATTANACH / The Dallas Morning News
jcattanach at dallasnews.com
Hundreds of protesters chanting "Free Palestine" gathered in downtown 
Dallas Tuesday to demand an end to what they called terrorism against Gaza

Protesters at Dealey Plaza call for end to Gaza violence
12/30/2008

A spokesman for a local Jewish organization denounced the protesters' 
claims of terrorism and defended Israel's recent strikes as a defensive 
measure against Hamas, which the U.S. has designated a terrorist 
organization.
In a peaceful demonstration at Dealey Plaza, men, women and young 
children held signs with a variety of slogans including "Stop the 
Holocaust in Gaza" and "Israel is the Real Terrorist."
In response to rocket attacks on southern Israel, the government began 
air assaults Saturday on Hamas-ruled Gaza. Four Israelis have died, and 
more than 370 Palestinians have been killed.
In a speech to the crowd, Mustafaa Carroll, executive director of the 
Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, 
called for an end to the "bombardment" of Gaza. He said residents have 
been denied food, water and other necessities.
"Palestine must be given some hope of freedom from Israeli occupation," 
he said.
The Rev. Charles Stovall, senior pastor of Munger Place United Methodist 
Church, also appealed for Israel to stop the strikes.
"This is not a Muslim issue. This is not a Jewish issue," he said. "This 
is an issue of humanitarian rights."
The crowd cheered at his words and chanted: "Occupation is a crime."
Later in the day, in a phone interview, Gil Elan, executive director of 
the southwest region of the American Jewish Congress, disputed claims 
that Israel occupies Gaza or that it has caused blockades. He said 
Israel has allowed trucks of supplies into Gaza.
"I absolutely reject any reference to what Israel's doing as any kind of 
terrorism," Mr. Elan said.
The Dallas protest, organized by the Muslim Legal Fund of America and 
the local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, follows 
similar rallies around the world.
"What's going on in the Gaza Strip is an atrocity and it needs to stop," 
said Noor Elashi, the daughter of Ghassan Elashi, one of five Holy Land 
Foundation defendants recently convicted of conspiring to send money to 
Hamas.
Amir Memon said he attended the event with his family to do something 
for victims who are helpless.
"It's not enough to feel sorry for all the people who are suffering 
right now," he said. "I just can't put it into words. I'm sure no one can."
At the rally, representatives of Islamic Relief USA, a nonprofit 
organization, appealed for donations to help victims.
They also announced a fundraiser for 8 p.m. Thursday at the Dallas 
Central Mosque.
Staff writer Joanna Cattanach and The Associated Press contributed to 
this report.





http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20081231_Phila__marchers_protest_Israeli_attacks.html

Posted on Wed, Dec. 31, 2008

Phila. marchers protest Israeli attacks
By Art Carey
Inquirer Staff Writer
Chanting "Long Live Palestine" and bearing signs calling for an end to 
the bombing, hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched on City 
Hall yesterday to protest recent Israeli attacks on Gaza.
The predominantly Arab-American crowd carried Palestinian and American 
flags, and many wore traditional kaffiyehs around their necks or on 
their heads.
After gathering at the Israeli consulate at 19th Street and John F. 
Kennedy Boulevard at 4 p.m, they marched down the boulevard, snarling 
rush-hour traffic as they circled City Hall and echoed the chants of a 
man with a bullhorn.
On the plaza on the north side of City Hall, several speakers denounced 
the Israeli air strikes, which have killed more than 370 Palestinians 
since they began Saturday.
"We're trying to call attention to the brutal bombing going on in Gaza 
and the killing of innocent children," said Sam Kuttab, 49, owner of a 
security firm in North Philadelphia who described himself as chairman of 
the Asian Federation of the United States.
"We also want to remind Barack Obama that we voted for him because he 
talked about hope and change, and we want to make sure that he honors 
our hope for a change in U.S. policy in the Middle East."
Israel began its air strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza on Saturday 
in retaliation for rocket attacks on southern Israel, and the Bush 
administration has said the Israeli actions were justified.
Hamas yesterday kept up its rocket barrages, which have killed four 
Israelis since the weekend.
Hamas seized control of Gaza in a June 2006 military showdown with 
fighters loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas 
and his Fatah faction still control the West Bank.
The internal Palestinian rift has deepened in the last 18 months, and 
Abbas blamed Hamas over the weekend for provoking the Israeli attacks by 
not agreeing to renew a six-month cease-fire that brought temporary and 
relative calm to the area until it expired this month.
"I'm here to give moral support and to promote awareness in the city of 
this humanitarian crisis," said Marwa El-Turky, 25, of Queen Village, 
who works for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Yesterday's demonstration followed a smaller demonstration Monday. The 
call went out largely through e-mail and text messages, organizers said, 
and many of the demonstrators appeared to be in their 20s and 30s.
Among the groups represented, besides the Asian Federation, were the 
Palestinian American National Conference, the American-Arab 
Anti-Discrimination Committee, and the Muslim American Society, 
organizers said.
Many demonstrators were of Palestinian, Jordanian, Egyptian, Libyan and 
Syrian descent. But the crowd also included Christians and sympathetic 
Jews, including Matt Ginsberg, 26, a Spanish medical interpreter from 
Chicago who was visiting friends in Germantown. He was carrying a sign 
that said "Zionism = Imperialism = Endless War = Genocide."
"The bombing needs to stop now," Ginsberg said. "It's not doing anybody 
any good. To claim that it's about the defense of the Jews is offensive 
and shameful when innocent people are dying. Until there's justice for 
the Palestinians, there will never be peace for Israel."
Rabbi Linda Holtzman, 56, of Mishkan Shalom, a Reconstructionist 
synagogue serving Roxborough and Manayunk, addressed the crowd briefly 
and expressed her support.
"I'm here because I love Israel and have high expectations for Israel," 
Holtzman said later during a brief interview. "And right now I'm seeing 
Israel behaving in a way that feels immoral, unjust and deplorable by 
reacting with an enormous amount of violence that is destroying 
countless lives and whole communities.
"I'm also here because Muslims and Jews are children of Abraham. We are 
all brothers and sisters and we must live together in peace and justice."





http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/12/31/20081231gazarally31.html

Activists gather in Phoenix to protest Israeli bombings
by Betty Reid - Dec. 31, 2008 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
About 80 Arizona and national activists took to Phoenix's streets 
Tuesday to urge a cease-fire in Gaza.
"We completely denounce violence of any form," said Liz Hourican, a 
spokeswoman for CODEPINK: Women for Peace. "We need a surge of diplomacy."
Her group teamed up with Women in Black and Progressive Democrats of 
America to share their message of peace to light-rail commuters at 
Central Avenue and Thomas Road.
She urged people to call the State Department and their Congressional 
representatives to ask them to support an immediate cease-fire in the 
Gaza Strip.
Israel's deadliest-ever air offensive against Gaza's Hamas rulers began 
Saturday as warplanes targeted government strongholds in an effort to 
end Gaza rocket fire on Israel. More than 300 Palestinians have been 
killed in the air attacks.
Majd Al-Sayyed, 21, said she was at the rally Tuesday because a number 
of relatives live in Gaza. Her father, who moved to the United States in 
1988, is unable to contact his siblings because of an Israeli blockade, 
she said. Her father watches national news hoping to catch a glimpse of 
his brother, she said.
"It's the worst feeling in the world not knowing if your relatives are 
safe," Al-Sayyed said.
Bill Straus, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League's Arizona 
office, blames the Palestinian and Hamas leadership for sabotaging the 
peace.
"Israel has been asking the rocket launches from Gaza to stop for 
months," Straus said in a telephone interview. "If those attacks don't 
cease, Israel will respond."





http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/dec2008/dear-d31.shtml

Protest in Dearborn, Michigan denounces Israeli attack on Gaza
By Tom Eley
31 December 2008
On Tuesday, a protest against the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip 
attracted approximately 5,000 people to Dearborn, Michigan, near 
Detroit. Another protest in New York City attracted several hundred.
The demonstration on Tuesday in Dearborn, Michigan
The size of the Dearborn demonstration far exceeded organizers' 
expectations. Even before its scheduled start time, the protest 
stretched eight city blocks, completely filling the sidewalk.
The demonstration expressed a spontaneous outpouring of anger against 
the Israeli onslaught. Organizers faced difficulties in containing the 
crowd, which despite cold temperatures did not disperse after the 
event's scheduled end. Protesters carried signs opposing the military 
incursion and waved Palestinian flags, while passing motorists 
maintained a chorus of honking during the hour-long event.
The crowd included many young workers, as well as college and high 
school students. In addition there were workers of all ages and families 
with small children.
Demonstrators in Dearborn
Many of those in attendance were US citizens of Middle Eastern 
background. The Detroit area has the largest and most concentrated Arab 
American population in the country, with as many as 350,000 residents in 
Southeast Michigan of Arab ancestry.
The protest was called by the Congress of Arab American Organizations, a 
coalition of secular and religious Arab American organizations in 
Southeast Michigan.
A team of World Socialist Web Site reporters covered the demonstration, 
speaking to workers and youth in attendance, and distributing statements 
from the WSWS (See "The Gaza crisis and the perspective of permanent 
revolution," and "Washington bears guilt for Gaza war crimes").
Protesters expressed outrage toward Israel's criminal attack on the 
residents of Gaza. They argued that Israel had provoked the war of 
aggression through its blockade of the impoverished area.
Massemoude
Massemoude, a college student, expressed disgust with the Egyptian 
regime. "They are puppets of Israel and the US. Israel told Mubarak to 
shut the gates to Gaza, and he did as he was told. This invasion has all 
been planned for months."
MK, a young worker of Palestinian ancestry who has relatives in the West 
Bank, told the WSWS that people are dying every day. "It is a 
holocaust," he said.
"Big A," a Hip-Hop artist who was born in South Lebanon, said that he 
was not protesting just because the attack was against Arabs. "My main 
point is that the invasion is wrong, it's inhumane. Everyone should 
fight against it whether it happened to Arabs or anywhere else in the 
world."
Hadil Katato
Hadil is a member of the group Students for Justice in Palestine at 
Wayne State University, in Detroit. "Even before the invasion, Gaza was 
an open-air prison," she said, referring to the Israeli blockade on 
goods and medicine.
She said responsibility for the Israeli attack lies with the US 
government, which "gives billions of dollars in military aide to Israel."
Abe, a student at the University of Michigan, Dearborn, said he did not 
agree with the Islamist perspective of Hamas. "Israel only wants to 
destroy Hamas, along with the Palestinians, because they stand in their 
way," he said. Abe called the Arab states "puppet regimes." He expressed 
interest in Trotsky's theory of permanent revolution, which explains 
that even the most basic democratic demands of the masses cannot be 
carried forward by bourgeois or nationalist movements.
When asked if he thought that President-elect Barack Obama would come to 
the aid of the Palestinians once in office, Abe was emphatic in his 
response. "No, absolutely not," he said. "Obama is controlled by the 
same factions that controlled Bush." A group of high school students 
echoed these sentiments. "American foreign policy never changes," one said.
However, many of those the WSWS spoke with expressed hope that Obama 
would address the plight of the Palestinians. These hopes will be 
shattered. In fact, Obama has been indefatigable in his advocacy of 
Israel's predatory aims in the Middle East. His silence in the face of 
the current bombardment implies more than assent. Indeed, there is every 
reason to believe that Obama was informed well in advance that the 
current invasion would take place, and that his top military and 
diplomatic advisers likely participated in planning it.






http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10550158&ref=rss

Protests erupt in US over Gaza attacks
Page 1 of 2 View as a single page 7:10PM Wednesday Dec 31, 2008

Arab-Americans protest in Dearborn, Michigan. Photo / AP
• Aerial attack on Gaza (Warning: some graphic images)
Middle East conflict
• Palestinian boat explodes near Gaza Strip
• Netanyahu makes Mideast peace promises
Close to 1,000 Arab-Americans and others marched through the Detroit 
suburb of Dearborn, waving Palestinian flags and shouting slogans to 
protest Israeli military strikes against the Gaza Strip.
Protesters braving freezing temperatures filled eight blocks of a major 
thoroughfare in Dearborn, widely seen as the heart of Arab America. 
Hundreds more gathered in New York City and Los Angeles outside the 
Israeli consulate, with rallies also reported in two cities in Florida.
Since Saturday, at least 374 Palestinians have died in the Israeli air 
onslaught against Gaza's Islamic Hamas rulers. Most of the dead were 
members of Hamas security forces but the United Nations says at least 64 
civilians have been killed.
The offensive came shortly after a rocky six-month truce expired. Hamas 
has fired hundreds of rockets and mortars at Israel before and during 
the Israeli offensive.
Marchers in Dearborn waved flags and carried signs condemning Israel and 
showing pictures of casualties of the fighting. One group of protesters 
carried a mock coffin decorated with pictures of dead and injured 
children and labeled "US Tax Dollars at Work" and "Victims of Zionism."
Advertisement Advertisement
Some marchers chanted in English, "Gaza, Gaza don't cry, Palestine will 
never die" and "Israel is a terrorist state."
Others chanted, in Arabic, "God is Great" and "a martyr is beloved of God."
One protester carried a sign saying "Dearborn, take your shoes off!" a 
reference to the action of an Iraqi protester who threw shoes at 
President George W. Bush during his recent visit to Iraq.
Southeastern Michigan is home to around 300,000 people with roots in the 
Arab world, the result of more than a century of immigration.
About 50 people gathered Tuesday on the University of Michigan-Flint 
campus to protest the Israeli attacks, The Flint Journal reported.
The Tampa Tribune reported that University of South Florida sophomore 
Jehad Saleh, 19, started a group on social networking site Facebook on 
Sunday, encouraging Palestinian supporters to gather for a protest.
Demonstrators lined a Tampa highway Tuesday, waving Palestinian and 
American flags and yelling through megaphones.
"I've had cousins in the Gaza Strip who died," Saleh told the newspaper. 
"If their voice can't be heard, mine will."
Further south in Fort Lauderdale, at least 200 pro-Palestinian 
demonstrators and a smaller group of pro-Israel protesters lobbed 
charges at each other Tuesday evening at an intersection, according to 
the Miami Herald.
Palestinian supporters yelled: "You kill our children!"
"No! You kill your own children!" Israel supporters responded.
Outside the Israeli consulates in Manhattan and Los Angeles, protesters 
Tuesday waved Palestinian flags and chanted "Free Palestine."





http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2008/dec/30/n59864182610-bn30protest/?metro

Hundreds in downtown San Diego protest Israeli assault
By Dana Littlefield (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer
6:26 p.m. December 30, 2008
SAN DIEGO – Hundreds of people gathered in downtown San Diego today to 
call for an end to Israel's repeated airstrikes on Gaza and mounting 
casualties in the region.
By 5 p.m., more than 300 people had assembled at Broadway and Front 
Street, shouting chants, waving Palestinian flags and holding 
handwritten signs. One banner read: “Stop the Massacre in Gaza.”
The rally, one of many around the country yesterday, was arranged by 
several local religious, human-rights and other activist groups, 
organizers said. The purpose of the event, they said, was to “protest 
Israel's aggression against the people of Gaza” and to educate the 
public about the conflict.
The Israeli military began bombing Hamas-ruled Gaza on Saturday. The 
government has said the goal is to stop rocket attacks on southern Israel.
Edgar Hopida, a spokesman for the San Diego Chapter of the Council on 
American-Islamic Relations, said the attacks are “a human problem, not a 
Palestinian problem.”
Doris Bittar, a local representative of the American-Arab 
Anti-discrimination Committee, noted many at the rally were of various 
religious and ethnic backgrounds. “San Diego's support for a peaceful 
solution is very broad,” Bittar said.





http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/31/capitol-protest-decries-israeli-attacks/?partner=RSS

Capitol protest decries Israeli attacks
By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published December 31, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Photo by Linda McConnell / Special To The Rocky
Demonstrators hold up a Palestinian flag during a protest rally at the 
state Capitol on Tuesday. Some 200 people participated.
Wabl Dokhan worries about relatives who live in a refugee camp in Gaza.
He was among nearly 200 people who gathered in front of the state 
Capitol Tuesday evening to protest recent Israeli attacks on Hamas 
militants in Gaza. More than 360 Palestinians have been killed, 
including at least 62 civilians, according to news reports.
"We have eight neighbors who have been killed," said Dokhan, 40, who is 
working on his doctorate in international studies at the University of 
Denver.
"We have a neighbor who is active with Hamas. The entire neighborhood 
has evacuated. They are afraid of being attacked."
On Tuesday, many of the demonstrators carried red and white signs that 
read "Justice for Palestinians," while a large banner reading "Stop Gaza 
Massacre" was staked out on the grass.
Shemsadeen Ben-Masaud, a youth director with the Muslim American 
Society, led the crowd in chants: "Hey, hey, ho, ho - the occupation has 
got to go" as well as "Long live Palestine."
"It's important to support our brothers and sisters who are being 
massacred," said Ben-Masaud, 26, of Denver.
"It's important for the American public to see there is support for the 
Palestinian cause, and there are Americans who are against what Israel 
is doing."
Arnie Voigt, a retired Lutheran pastor, has traveled to Gaza a few times 
and said he was appalled at the living conditions there, describing it 
as imprisonment.
A few in the crowd disagreed with the protest. Joshua Sharf, a 
steering-committee member with Americans Against Terrorism, was passing 
out a two-page statement, defending the actions of the Israeli government.
"I think it's morally confusing to equate the victimizer with the 
victim," he said of the demonstration. "Israel asserted its right of 
self-defense. It's Hamas' fault if they put civilians in harm's way - 
it's a violation of the Geneva Convention."
Richard Miller, 57, of Federal Heights, didn't want to get into 
arguments with the protesters, but he identified himself as a Jew who 
was pro-Israel.
"I support Israel defending itself against Hamas and anyone who supports 
Hamas," he said. "Thousands of Israelis have been threatened by their 
rockets and missiles."
The Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado also issued a statement Tuesday 
in support of Israel's actions:
"While we sincerely regret the loss of innocent lives on both sides of 
this conflict, we emphatically support Israel's right to defend her 
citizens - and her sovereign borders - through military force, as has 
become necessary again."





http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/updates/story/581201.html

Tacoma protesters condemn Israeli attacks
Enlarge image

Sally McClintock, Mark Jensen, Linda Frank and Colleen Waterhouse, from 
left, stand along Pacific Avenue in front of the U.S. Federal Court 
House in Tacoma Tuesday during a candle light protest against Israel's 
attacks in Gaza. (Janet Jensen/The News Tribune)
Steve Maynard; steve.maynard at thenewstribune.com
Published: 12/30/08 8:08 pm
Comments (0)
Recommend (0)
About two dozen people held signs and candles Tuesday night in downtown 
Tacoma, protesting Israel’s air strikes in Gaza.
Sally McClintock joined the vigil in front of the U.S. District 
Courthouse on Pacific Avenue because she believes Israel is punishing 
the Palestinians.
“I need to do something for all the anger and sadness I have for the 
bombing of the people in Gaza,” said McClintock as two Buddhists drummed 
nearby.
Retired school teacher Nancy Farrell, a member of People for Peace, 
Justice and Healing in Tacoma, organized the candlelight vigil so Israel 
will “stop the violence and resume negotiations.”
She said Israel is entitled to defend itself against Hamas rocket fire, 
“but not in this exaggerated way.”
Farrell criticized Israel for its blockade of Gaza and called the 
Israeli bombings “a massacre.”
Matthew Weinstein had his hands full clutching a candle, flashlight and 
a sign protesting U.S. military aid to Israel.
“I’m frightened by Israel’s overreaction, not that Hamas is innocent,” 
said Weinstein, a Jew who works in Tacoma and attends a congregation in 
the Seattle area. “One rocket does not equal carpet-bombing.”
Several other local Jews interviewed earlier Tuesday supported Israel’s 
right to defend itself from the rocket fire of Hamas militants.
Tuesday night, down the row of signs that included “Violence Begets 
Violence” and “Israel Stop Violence Now,” Janey Barnhart held a lone 
Israeli flag and cast a dissenting voice.
“I’m here standing for the Israeli people’s right to defend themselves,” 
said Barnhart, a Christian who has visited Israel.
Nancy Taylor turned out to support Gaza and the Palestinians, but also 
added her discouragement.
“I’m really, really tired of this conflict,” said Taylor, of Tacoma. “It 
just never seems to get any better.”
Earlier Tuesday, Temple Beth El member Jack Warnick said Israel’s air 
attacks are necessary “to secure the well-being of Israel’s citizens.
Hamas must accept Israel’s right to exist or “suffer the consequences,” 
said Warnick, a former Tacoma City Council member.
“Destruction of Israel is part of their charter,” Warnick said. To those 
who criticize Israel for countering with a stronger, disproportionate 
attack, Warnick asked, “What is proportional in war?”
“The Jews just want to be left alone and have their own country,” 
Warnick said. “They won’t let them.”
Rabbi Bruce Kadden said members of Temple Beth El, a Reform congregation 
in Tacoma of 310 families, support Israel’s right to defend itself. He 
welcomed a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas if they can reach such an 
agreement.
“For most Jews, the ideal hope is there will be a peaceful settlement 
with the Palestinians,” Kadden said. “But this conflict makes it more 
difficult to see a path to peace.”
Rabbi Zalman Heber, director of the Chabad Jewish Center of Pierce 
County, said Israel is doing what any other sovereign state under attack 
from a neighboring state would do: defending itself with any means possible.
After the Gaza Strip “was handed over to them on a silver platter,” 
Hamas later fired upon Israel, said Heber, who leads an Orthodox group 
part of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.
“There’s no other response but to shock them until they stop,” Heber 
said. “This whole thing could stop in one minute if they stopped sending 
in rockets.”





http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=9597150

Vermonters Protest Attack on Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip
Burlington, Vermont - December 30, 2008
Local activists spoke out today against Israel's attack on the Gaza Strip.
About fifty people marched through downtown Burlington, from Congressman 
Peter Welch's office to the offices of Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie 
Sanders.
They wanted to show their opposition to the attacks that killed nearly 
300 people and restricted food, fuel and other humanitarian needs from 
reaching Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The rally was part of a national day of action -- asking Congress to 
reduce funding of the Israeli government and military.
"There's really a groundswell of support," said Hilary Martin, a member 
of the activist group Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine and an 
organizer of the march. "And increasingly people are concerned about the 
United States' role in two occupations now, the occupation of Iraq and 
the occupation of Palestine. So the representatives need to hear from 
the people, and ultimately, as U.S. citizens, we're just as complicit in 
the bombings of Gaza."
At a press conference earlier in the day, Senator Sanders expressed his 
concerns about the attack.
"What you've got there is such a terrible tragedy, it's really 
unspeakable," he said. "Clearly what's happened in the last four days is 
only going to make a bad situation even worse. It just increases the 
hatred both sides feel for each other."
Kate Duffy - WCAX News






http://www.justnews.com/news/18384762/detail.html?rss=mia&psp=news

Mideast Violence Prompts Protests In S. Fla.
Pro-Israelis, Pro-Palestinians Gather In Ft. Lauderdale
POSTED: Tuesday, December 30, 2008
UPDATED: 8:20 am EST December 31, 2008
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Protests spilled into the streets of South 
Florida and tensions ran high Tuesday as the fighting in the Middle East 
prompted a pair of rallies in Fort Lauderdale.
The protesters gathered outside the federal building on East Broward 
Boulevard, staging passionate demonstrations and guarded by police 
during the evening rush hour.
Rallying cries could be heard from both sides of the issue: pro-Israeli 
supporters and a larger group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
Some members of the pro-Palestinian group cried, "Israel is terrorist. 
Israel is terrorist."
The protests were a reaction to four days of violence in the Middle 
East. Despite international pressure, Israel rejected on Wednesday a 
call for it to cease the punishing air strikes against Hamas targets in 
Gaza. Some Hamas government buildings were systematically destroyed, and 
Israeli leaders discussed the use of ground troops.
But there was no indication of Hamas backing down, either. Rocket 
barrages have killed four people in Israel. Women on Hamas television 
Tuesday said they would welcome Israeli soldiers as suicide bombers.
Palestinians in South Florida reacted to the situation.
"We are asking for our government to enforce immediate cease-fire," 
Sofian Abdelaziz Zakkout, a member of the American Muslim Association, 
told Local 10's Janine Stanwood.
"Why should 400 kids, wives mothers, children be killed? For what 
reason?" another protester asked.
Israel supporters answered.
"Israel has the right to defend itself," said one pro-Israeli woman.
"There have been 10,000 rockets coming from Gaza into Israel over the 
last couple of years. Israel should have done this years ago," said Bob 
Kunzt, an organizer with Shalom International.







http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/dec/30/302112/hundreds-gather-protest-israeli-airstrikes-gaza/news-breaking/

Hundreds Gather In Tampa To Protest Gaza Airstrikes

By RAY REYES | The Tampa Tribune
Published: December 30, 2008
Updated: 12/30/2008 09:12 pm
TAMPA - The thought of his six young nieces keeps Yusuf Dabus awake.
The girls, ages 3-7, lived in the Gaza strip and were seeking shelter 
near a mosque over the weekend as Israeli planes dropped bombs on Hamas 
targets. But his nieces died in the bombing run, Dabus said, casualties 
in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, elected government of the 
Palestinian people.
"Basically that whole street was taken out," Dabus of Tampa said. "My 
aunt's house and all. How can I sleep knowing my family will not be 
alright tomorrow?"
Dabus' story and news reports inspired University of South Florida 
sophomore Jehad Saleh, 19, to speak out. So he started a group on social 
networking site Facebook two days ago.
He encouraged local Palestinians and Palestinian-Americans to gather at 
West Spruce Street and North Dale Mabry Highway on Tuesday to protest 
the violence in the Gaza Strip. Saleh's call was then relayed through 
text messages and word-of-mouth.
By 4 p.m., at least 400 demonstrators had lined up along the busy 
thoroughfare, waving Palestinian and American flags, holding homemade 
signs and chanting through megaphones.
"More people responded than I invited," Saleh said. "I've had cousins in 
the Gaza Strip who died. If their voice can't be heard, mine will."
Demonstrators chanted "Free, free Palestine" and "Stop the killing." 
Signs encouraged passing motorists to "Honk 4 Peace."
Mike Prysner of civil rights group the ANSWER Coalition, said Tuesday's 
demonstration was part of a "national day of protest" about the 
situation in Gaza.
Although generally a peaceful, if intense, protest, tensions flared when 
Benyamin Berke walked through the crowd draped in an Israeli flag.
"I wouldn't call it provoking unless being Jewish in this area is a 
provocation," Berke said. "I wanted to let the people of Tampa know that 
there's people who support Israel."
Jack Ross, speaking in coordination with the Israel consulate general to 
Miami and Puerto Rico, said Tuesday that the Israel government is 
protecting its people from Hamas rocket strikes.
"This is not an action against the Palestinian people," Ross said. 
"Israel is doing everything it can to limit civilian casualties. Hamas 
is doing everything they can to raise civilian casualties. If Hamas is 
quiet, Israel is quiet."
Tuesday marked the fourth day of Israeli airstrikes against the Hamas 
leadership. More than 370 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed over the 
weekend. On Tuesday, Hamas rockets killed four Israelis.
"I'm angry about this war," said protester Marwan Asadi, 39, a 
Palestinian who is also an Israeli citizen. "I want us to be able to sit 
down and solve our problems."






http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa081230_mo_protest.21ce5f81.html

Hundreds protest Mideast violence at Dealey Plaza
11:15 PM CST on Tuesday, December 30, 2008
By JEFF BRADY / WFAA-TV
MIDEAST VIOLENCE PROTEST

December 30th, 2008
Jeff Brady reports

DALLAS - After four days of air strikes against the Hamas militants in 
the Gaza Strip, Israel is considering a 48-hour truce.
With the violence a half a world away, President George Bush consulted 
with Palestinian leaders by phone Tuesday; and hundreds of Palestinian 
supporters took their pleas to the streets of Dallas.
Several hundred North Texans gathered at Dealey Plaza to protest what 
they call Israel's immoral and illegal bombings in the Gaza Strip.
"This is an issue of humanitarian rights," said Rev. Charles Stovall, 
Munger Place United Methodist Church.
The protestors also criticized Israel's blockade on supplies.
"To put it plainly, an empty stomach knows no peace," said Mustapha 
Carroll, Council for American-Islamic Relations.
A handful of speakers called on both the outgoing administration and the 
Obama team to take a stand.
"Failure to take strong steps to end the Israeli attacks will only 
damage efforts to bring peace with justice to the Middle East, harm our 
nation's interests worldwide and strengthen the voices of extremism in 
the region," Carroll said.
Dallas police kept watch as Palestinian flags flew alongside the 
American flags.
"We're calling for peace in God's land," Stovall said.
A spokeswoman for the American Jewish Committee said that Israel simply 
cannot tolerate Hamas, a known terrorist organization on its border, and 
that Palestinian militias have launched 200 separate rocket attacks on 
Israel over the last two weeks.







http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2008/12/29/birmingham-protestors-tell-of-fears-for-relatives-in-gaza-97319-22571472/

Birmingham protestors tell of fears for relatives in Gaza
Dec 29 2008
A relative of five young girls killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza 
joined one of the demonstrations held across Britain today in protest 
against the bombings.
Mohammed Balousha, 30, said his cousins, aged from just two weeks old to 
14, lost their lives when Israel’s forces targeted a mosque near their 
home in Jabalya, one of the territory’s largest refugee camps.
He was relayed the news last night in a phone call with his brother, who 
is in Gaza.
Speaking at the demonstration in Birmingham city centre, Mr Balousha 
said: “The Israelis were bombing a mosque near the house and the house 
was destroyed.
“We saw pictures on Palestine television of them lifting one of the 
surviving girls off the rubble and beneath her were some of her younger 
sisters, who had died.
“I think they were asleep at the time. It’s awful.”
He said the girls, who were second cousins, were members of the Balousha 
family. They included Sama, four, and 14-year-old Samar.
The Birmingham protest lasted for around 90 minutes and attracted up to 
700 people, said organisers. West Midlands Police estimated the figure 
was closer to 200.
Protesters chanted “Free, Free Palestine” and “Down, Down Israel” as 
sales shoppers watched. Banners carried the messages “Stop Israeli 
Terrorism” and “Stop Israeli Crimes”.
Ali Jafai, 26, who held aloft an effigy of a blood-soaked victim of the 
strikes, said: “It really is bad what’s happening in Gaza and the world 
is just watching. We are looking for peace.”
Birmingham University engineering student Ali Afana, 25, has lived most 
of his life in Gaza. He said: “It’s a disaster for the whole world. I 
don’t think Israel will stop now. They will continue attacking Gaza.
“I am very worried for my family in Gaza. I do not know if they are 
alive or not.”
Manzoor Sadaq, from Aston, Birmingham, said he spent seven years in the 
Gaza Strip, carrying out humanitarian work.
“Innocent Palestinians are being killed by an occupying force and the 
whole world is doing nothing about it,” he said.
The “vigil” in Birmingham was organised by the Midlands Palestinian 
Community Association (MPCA) and the West Midlands Palestine Solidarity 
Campaign.
MPCA chairman Kamel Hawwash said: “We condemn Israel’s actions and call 
on the British Government to do the same and to call for an immediate 
end to the military operation in Gaza and for the unconditional lifting 
of the siege.”
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/38560

Norfolk VA Vigil to Protest the Israeli Siege Tomorrow Downtown, 4:30 - 
6:30 PM
Submitted by Chip on Tue, 2008-12-30 04:55.
• Iraq
• Palestine
There will be a vigil Tues. Dec. 30 from 4:30-6:30 pm to protest the 
Israeli Siege of Palestinians (over 350 Palestinians have been killed, 
over 1,000 wounded in 3 days) in Gaza. The local vigil will be at the 
corner of City Hall Ave and St. Paul's Blvd (where the usual peace vigil 
is organized by Catholic Workers) in downtown Norfolk.
PLEASE COME. During this season of the Moslem New Year, also Kwanzaa, 
Hannukah, Christmas, and the New Year Holiday, join us in solidarity for 
those who struggle this week. Please spread the word and COME!
If you have questions about directions or anything email me at 
choppe4 at gmail.com .
http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou081229_mp_prostestors-local.1d3c2c4c.html

Protesters take a stand against Israel
10:53 PM CST on Monday, December 29, 2008
Courtney Zubowski / 11 News
HOUSTON – Protesters turned out on Monday to take a stand against the 
air strikes in Israel. They met outside the Israeli consulate in 
southwest Houston.
Video


Protesters take a stand against Israel
December 29, 2008
View larger
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They believe people in Gaza are dying for no reason.
“There was no motivation behind it. They are just bombing innocent 
citizens, women and children. We are here to protest, and to let our 
voices be heard that they need to stop the occupation in Palestine," 
said Fadi Hamadeh, protestor.
Over 200 people gathered in front of the Israeli consulate during rush 
hour, but not everyone is against Israel.
"Israel has to stop the rocket attacks from Gaza against the community 
and towns nearby. Israel is also reasserting itself in the Middle East 
that it is a force, and if you are going to attack, there will be 
consequences," said Randy Czarlinsky from the American Jewish Committee.
There are obviously many different viewpoints on the attacks. But while 
the two sides don't agree on much, they do share a passion for what they 
believe in.
http://www.keyetv.com/news/local/story/Local-peace-group-protests-for-Gaza-at-Texas/vZGPP4ozsk6Q8fpn6ltJOA.cspx?rss=909

Local peace group protests for Gaza at Texas Capitol

CBS 42 Reporter: Ryan Loyd
Email: rloyd at keyetv.com
Last Update: 12/29/2008 11:01 pm
Print Story | Email Story






Local protest against attacks in Gaza


Aftermath of the Israel airstrike attacks on Gaza.
Mohammad Al-Bedaiwi looked out across a crowd of people who had gathered 
for a peaceful protest at the state capitol Monday.

He is the chairman of the Austin Network for Islamic Studies. "We 
celebrate the joy of Christmas here, but thousands of people are being 
massacred in Gaza," he said.

That’s why hundreds of people with a group called Jewish Voice for 
Peace, along with many others, stood at the steps of the capitol: to 
voice their outrage caused by a third day of Israeli attacks against Gaza.

Similar protests took place across the United States and the world Monday.

Israel maintains that the Palestinian terrorist group, Hamas, is its 
intended target, but many civilians are among the casualties. The death 
toll has grown to more than 300, with thousands injured.

"Once the occupation ends, there's no reason for violence,” Al-Bedaiwi said.

Another protester, Amani Khamis, joined with her friends and family to 
stand up to the violence. “We can't be peaceful anymore. It's time for 
us to speak up to stop the hate,” she said.

Many people at the Austin rally said that each person can make a 
difference, and that each time groups come together, it’s a step in the 
right direction.

“Our prayers go to the people who have been murdered in Gaza,” Khamis said.

http://www.breitbart.com/image.php?id=iafp081230025203.inrnezcbp1&show_article=1

Protesters demonstrate in New Yorks against Israeli raids in the Gaza Strip


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Protesters demonstrate in New Yorks against Israeli raids in the Gaza 
Strip. European Union foreign ministers were set to hold an urgent 
meeting on Tuesday in Paris on the escalating violence in the Gaza 
Strip, the French foreign ministry announced.


http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/38559

Albuerquerque NM Protests Gaza Strikes Tomorrow at 2 Protests
Submitted by Chip on Tue, 2008-12-30 03:21.
• Israel
• Palestine
1. Tu, 12/30, 12-2pm, Lockheed Martin's Dyna Theatre (1801 Mountain Road 
in Old Town) (Lockheed "benevolently" shows movies to our kids and 
simultaneously profits from the bombing of kids in Gaza, Iraq, 
Afghanistan, and on and on and on), Albuq
2. Tu, 12/30, 5pm, candlelight vigil and press conf at Federal Court 
Bldg. on Lomas between 3rd and 4th Streets, Albuq
3. Sat, 1/3, 12-1:30pm, vigil at Central and Tulane in Nob Hill, Albuq





http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090109/METRO/901090374/1409/METRO

January 9, 2009
Metro protesters rally over Gaza invasion
Demonstrators trade chants but not blows in Detroit
Gregg Krupa / The Detroit News
SOUTHFIELD -- Thursday was a day of demonstrations in Metro Detroit as 
residents reflected the opinions and strong emotions on both sides of 
the war in the Gaza Strip and Israel, and gathered to act publicly on 
their consciences.
Some 1,700 people rallied in support of Israel at Congregation Shaarey 
Zedek, where they heard Kenneth Gold, a participant in the Jewish 
Federation Family Mission to Israel, talk about his concern for the 
Jewish state, which he visited recently.
"Israel would be the last country that would want to go to war," Gold 
said. "We take no joy in the suffering of our enemies. Every Israeli I 
know cannot wait for this to be over. Everyone knows what it means to 
triumph in battle: There is a lot of suffering that comes from this."
Advertisement


But in downtown Detroit, earlier in the day, a far different view of 
Israel's intentions was expressed by more than 400 Arab residents and 
peace activists who gathered first outside of McNamara Federal Building, 
and then at the historic Central Methodist Church.
Abe Suleiman of Canton Township said, "I'm protesting against these 
Israelis' bombing of Palestine. All they do is kill. Israel starts 
terrorists by doing this."
It was an emotional day for many who have starkly different views of 
events in Israel and the Gaza Strip, and throughout the generations-old 
disputes between Arabs and Jews. Local union and human rights activists 
were out in force. And some of the old lions of non-violence and of 
efforts to establish and support the state of Israel stepped to new 
rallying cries.
Referring to a statement by President-elect Barack Obama in Israel this 
summer that he would defend his daughters against rockets from Hamas, 
Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Gumbleton said, "I want all of us to demand 
that when the next president takes office that he does not just go to 
Israel, but that he goes to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, where 
children are brought to hospitals, their bodies bent and broken by the 
bombs."
But at Shaarey Zedek, a local supporter of the Israeli Defense Forces, 
defended what she said is Israel's right to defend itself.
"Imagine walking in downtown Birmingham and having a Katyusha rocket 
land in Shain Park," said Lauren Bienenstock, a member of the Friends of 
the IDF. "We have had enough! We will defend our country. It cannot 
matter what the world says, because what the world says is always too 
little, too late."
Despite the high emotions and difficult issues, even when 40 supporters 
of the Israeli policy and strategy countered the demonstration by the 
critics of Israel outside of the McNamara building, there were no 
altercations, even when members of the different sides passed each other 
in close proximity.
Jews criticized the use of the Nazi swastika, equating it with the Star 
of David, on a few of the signs brandished by the other side. But those 
who held the signs said they were equally reviled by what they described 
as a massacre in the Gaza Strip.
Gershon Kedar, the second-ranking Israeli official in the Midwest, spoke 
twice during the day, accusing Hamas of exposing Palestinians to death 
by using them as human shields in battle and by using schools, mosques 
and hospitals for the storage of weapons and to fight from.
But critics of Israel said the violence began long before Hamas 
escalated the number and distance of rocket attacks, when Israel 
occupied the Gaza Strip and later maintained a blockade that deprived 
Palestinians of a normal life.
"We are here from all walks of life marching in unison against the 
occupation, against the slaughter," said Hasan Newash, a 
Palestinian-American activist and poet.




http://www.roguegovernment.com/index.php?news_id=13625

Protester Calls For Jews To Be Thrown Back In The Oven Published on 
01-07-2009 Email To Friend Print Version

Source: Fox News Propaganda
Like many other protests of Israel's campaign in Gaza, this one ended 
badly — police had to cool an ugly fight between supporters of Israel 
and Gaza, breaking up the warring sides as their screaming and chanting 
threatened to turn into something worse.
But some protesters at this rally in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., took their 
rhetoric a step further, calling for the extermination of Israel — and 
of Jews.
Separated by battle lines and a stream of rush-hour traffic outside a 
federal courthouse last week, at least 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators 
faced off against a smaller crowd of Israel supporters.
Most of the chants were run-of-the-mill; men and women waving 
Palestinian flags called Israel's invasion of Gaza a "crime," while the 
pro-Israel group carried signs calling the Hamas-run territory a "terror 
state."
But as the protest continued and crowds grew, one woman in a hijab began 
to shout curses and slurs that shocked Jewish activists in the city, 
which has a sizable Jewish population.
"Go back to the oven," she shouted, calling for the counter-protesters 
to die in the manner that the Nazis used to exterminate Jews during the 
Holocaust.
"You need a big oven, that's what you need," she yelled.
• Click here to see video from the protest.
Millions of Jews were gassed and burned in crematoria throughout Europe 
during Adolf Hitler's rule of Germany. The protest organizers, asked to 
comment on the woman's overt call for Jewish extermination, said she was 
"insensitive" but refused to condemn her statement.
"She does not represent the opinions of the vast majority of people who 
were there," said Emmanuel Lopez, who helped plan the event, one of many 
sponsored nationwide on Dec. 30 by the ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and 
End Racism ) Coalition.
Lopez, a state coordinator for ANSWER, admitted there is a problem with 
anti-Semitism within his organization's ranks. But then he went on to 
call the supporters of Israel across the street "barbaric, racist" 
Zionist terrorists.
"Zionism in general is a barbaric, racist movement that really is the 
cause of the situation in the entire Middle East," Lopez said.
The unidentified woman, who protest organizers said was a Muslim, wasn't 
the only protester who raised hackles that day. Other demonstrators held 
signs that said "Nuke Israel," and a number made comparisons to the 
Holocaust, accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.
More than 670 Palestinians, including hundreds of civilians, have been 
killed in the 12 days of Israel's campaign in Gaza. At least 30 were 
killed Tuesday by Israeli shelling of a U.N. school that had been 
housing refugees. (Israel said its forces fired at militants who 
launched mortars from that location.)
"This is absolutely inhumane," said Ahmed Suid, who attended the 
demonstration, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "This is a 
modern-day Holocaust."
The comparisons of the Israelis to the Nazis has Jewish organizations 
concerned about a "growing trend" at protests in America, where they say 
hatred of Israel and Jews is being increasingly preached.
"We're worried about hate speech. We're worried because hate speech 
eventually leads to pain and suffering and death," said Abraham Foxman, 
director of the Anti-Defamation League, which has been tracking Gaza 
protests.
"Comparisons of Israel to the Nazis are a deeply cynical perversion of 
history, an attempt to turn the tragedy that befell the Jewish people 
into a bludgeon against Israel," he said.
Even though police had to intercede and break up a potentially violent 
confrontation between the two factions at the Fort Lauderdale protest, 
organizers called it a success, saying it drew crowds of new activists.
"It was not just an academic exercise . . . not just a protest," Lopez 
told FOXNews.com. "It's a material force."




http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1143977&srvc=rss

Protesters arrested at Israeli Consulate in Boston
By Jessica Fargen
Thursday, January 8, 2009 - Updated 97d 24h ago
+ Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio
E-mail Printable (33) Comments Text size Share (5) Rate
About 40 people protesting Israel’s military involvement in the Gaza 
Strip staged a sit-in at the Israeli Consulate this morning and stormed 
the building, resulting in four arrests, police say.
Richard Hess, 49, of Cambridge, Ridgely Fuller, 62, of Waltham, Patrick 
Keaney, 39, of Boxboro, and Susan Barney, 44, of Arlington were arrested 
after they laid down in the lobby of 20 Park Plaza, which houses the 
Consulate.







http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_11516025?source=rss

Child-size coffins fill UC Berkeley plaza during protest of Israeli invasion
By Doug Oakley, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/21/2009 01:15:11 PM PST
Updated: 01/21/2009 01:15:11 PM PST

CT Reddy, a senior at UC Berkeley, holds a sign showing numbers of 
people killed in the Israeli...

UC Berkeley students were treated to the sight of 180 child-size coffin 
replicas at Sproul Plaza Wednesday morning as part of a protest against 
the Israeli invasion of Gaza.
A coalition of campus groups, including Students for Justice in 
Palestine, the Muslim Student Association and the Arab Student Union, 
placed the coffins and plan more protests, including a candlelight vigil 
on campus this week, organizers said.
"To have almost 200 coffins on campus will force students to view the 
issue in Gaza from a different perspective," said Sohir Albgal, 22, a 
Cal student from Yemen. "We feel like this is an issue the American 
mainstream media doesn't depict with the in-your-face facts like how 
many people are getting killed, and we hope this will."
In addition to the coffins, organizers handed out red "Gaza" arm bands 
and fliers with the headline "The Truth about Gaza.
For more information on the groups who held today's protest, check out 
www.calsjp.org.





http://www.14wfie.com/global/story.asp?s=9694157

Tri-State residents protest middle east fighting

Jan 18, 2009 10:15 PM
Jan 23, 2009 10:09 PM

Posted by Sarah Harlan - email
EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) - Dozens gather in Evansville Sunday to rally 
against the bloodshed in the middle east.
Israel and Hamas militants have been firing at each other for weeks now.
Thousands of people have died already, thousands more injured in the 
Gaza strip.
Protesters tell 14 News, it doesn't matter who broke the cease-fire, 
they say the fighting needs to stop now, before more lives are lost.
"It is unfair that women and children are being killed on a daily basis 
in the name of defense," organizer Mohammad Zeiden said.
Although no mutual agreement exists, both Israel and Palestine have 
decided a unilateral one-week declaration of a cease-fire.
We're told many Palestinians are beginning to return to their homes.





http://www.startribune.com/local/37774299.html

Minneapolis rally protests Israeli attacks, U.S. aid
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Minneapolis to show support for 
the Palestinians.
By ROCHELLE OLSON, Star Tribune
Last update: January 17, 2009 - 9:15 PM
Featured comment

As someone who lived in the South for a long time, what I hear is the 
Mid-East version of "Hell No, I Ain't Fergittin'!". Until both sides … 
read more stop putting MORE emphasis on historical one upsmanship than 
on solving the problems from the CURRENT starting point, nothing can 
ever be accomplished. It's one thing to learn from history; it's quite 
another to let that history hold you back from your goals. Good luck.
Shivering under a light snowfall, protesters gathered in Loring Park on 
Saturday afternoon, chanting for a free Palestine and an end to U.S. aid 
to Israel as well as the Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip.
"It doesn't matter how cold it is today ... we need to stand here today 
with the people of Palestine," said Anh Pham of Minneapolis, who 
represented the Anti-War Committee.
After hearing from several speakers, hundreds in the Minnesota Coalition 
for Gaza marched over a bridge and south on Hennepin Avenue, carrying 
Palestinian and peace-sign flags as well as banners reading, "Not one 
more death, not one more dollar" and "No more U.S. aid to Israeli 
terrorists." They chanted, "Gaza, Gaza, don't you cry. Palestine will 
never die."
Ziad Amra of the Coalition for Palestinian Rights rattled off a list of 
dates and places of Israeli attacks on Palestinian people. "When will it 
end? Will it?" he asked. "I'm wondering if people ever get tired, one 
massacre after another and nothing changes for the Palestinian people."
But he said he hasn't given up hope. "Palestine is still alive," he said.
As a new U.S. president who "represents hope" takes office, Amra said he 
wants change for the Palestinian people and urged supporters to write 
letters to newspapers and politicians. "Help us. We need your help. This 
is a battle that doesn't end here today," he said.
On Saturday, Israeli leaders announced they would halt the 22-day 
offensive but said troops would remain on the ground in Gaza.






http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/jan/16/local/chi-antizionismjan16

Archive for Friday, January 16, 2009
Gaza protests in Chicago stir charges of anti-Zionism
By Manya A Brachear
January 16, 2009
Jewish leaders in the Chicago area said they fear placards at two recent 
pro-Palestinian rallies that twist the Star of David into a Nazi 
swastika and compare the deaths in Gaza to the Holocaust inspired a 
string of attacks in the last two weeks on several synagogues and a school.

The “blatant anti-Semitic language” at the rallies, which were held Jan. 
2 and Jan. 9, have delayed a collaboration between local Jews and 
Muslims to draft principles for civil discourse on the Middle East 
conflict, they said.

Organizers of the pro-Palestinian rallies said they don’t condone the 
vitriol in the placards. Some condemn it. But some say complaining about 
cardboard won’t solve the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Middle East.

“I think both the protesters who exaggerate the message out of emotion 
or to draw attention—as well as their critics who jump on it to score a 
‘gotcha’— are distracting from the real and tragic humanitarian crisis 
at hand,” said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Council for 
American Islamic Relations.

At a news conference in support of Israel this week, Jewish leaders 
called attention to the offensive signs and slogans at the rally as well 
as recent attacks on area synagogues where vandals spray-painted “Death 
to Israel” and “Free Palestine.”

“The organizational sponsors of these rallies have a civic obligation to 
make sure the imagery, the chanting, the tenor of their gatherings 
remain prejudice- and bias-free and don’t serve as venues for incitement 
and further divisive sentiments between communities,” said Jay Tcath, 
senior vice president of public affairs for the Jewish United 
Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.

Anti-Zionism is the new anti-Semitism, Tcath said.

“Rejecting the right of the Jewish people of having a Jewish state is 
the new and most dangerous form of anti-Semitism,” he said. “It’s in 
that context in which these signs are being seen by myself.”

In addition to placards, protesters also waved flags of the militant 
Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and the equally militant Lebanese 
Islamist group Hezbollah, which aim to eliminate Israel as part of their 
mission statements. One banner touted the debunked conspiracy theory 
that Jews were responsible for the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Rehab agrees that rally organizers should have confiscated offensive 
signs. But he said the point of the rally shouldn’t get lost.

“As hundreds of innocent human lives are crushed in full view of the 
world by a belligerent Israeli government, I find it appalling that some 
on the pro-Israeli side are better concerned with cardboard paper,” he said.

But like other forms of hatred, anti-Semitism also can transcend words. 
Jenna Benn, assistant director of the Anti-Defamation League in Chicago 
and the Upper Midwest, said incidents of vandalism and harassment have 
dramatically increased in recent weeks—a ripple effect similar to the 
one seen in 2006 during the Lebanon war.

Six Jewish institutions have been vandalized in recent weeks, including 
one arson attempt. On one college campus, a Jewish student was called a 
Nazi, Benn said.

The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago has condemned 
the synagogue attacks.

“There’s a fine line between what’s anti-Israel and what’s 
anti-Semitic,” she said. “If the U.S. were being repeatedly attacked 
from Canada by rockets, we would retaliate, whereas Israel doesn’t have 
that right … Comparing Jews to Nazis [is] problematic.”

But Stephanie Weiner, who organized Thursday’s protest of Chicago’s ties 
to Petach Tikva, one of Chicago sister cities, simply doesn’t want 
Chicago to support what she believes are war crimes. Seven miles east of 
Tel Aviv, Petach Tikva was one of the first exclusive Jewish settlements 
in Israel. Weiner and about five protesters distributed leaflets to 
guests at a breakfast hosted by Mayor Richard Daley.

“This has nothing to do with religion,” she said. “People who know and 
care know it’s a human-rights issue.”







http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=52905

Locals Protest War in Gaza
Posted By: Dave Marquis
DAVIS, CA - About 70 opponents of the intensifying war in the Gaza Strip 
showed up at the Davis City Council meeting Tuesday night.
Carrying signs and asking to speak before the council, the protestors 
were at first denied a chance to speak by Davis Mayor Ruth Uy Asmundson. 
Other councilmembers voted to allow them to speak during the time 
allocated for public comment.
"We are all Palestinians and we all come from the same place. It's 
humanity and it's right for us to protect those," said UC Davis student 
Dina Wahbe.
Protestors want the city council to consider a resolution condemning the 
war. "We will be back next week and the week after that until our 
resolution is on your agenda. I thank you again," said UC Davis student 
Amin Abdelah.
On Tuesday afternoon, about 100 opponents of the conflict took their 
message to rush-hour motorists at 16th and J streets in Sacramento.
Many said they were especially outraged at an Israeli attack on a school 
in Gaza that killed students and other civilians taking refuge there.
"Today they shot (the) whole school. They killed about 30 children. It's 
unacceptable for human beings," said Yusef Marmosh of Sacramento. 
Mormosh added that he is opposed to acts of war by both Israelis and Hamas.
The Israeli military said the school they fired upon was the origin of 
several rocket attacks on its troops.
Dueling protestors shouted and opposed one another outside the Israeli 
consulate in Los Angeles on Tuesday, shutting down a two-block section 
of Wilshire Boulevard for several hours. The protests ended without any 
arrests.





http://wnyt.com/article/stories/s732079.shtml?cat=300

01/06/2009 11:50:41 PM
By: Kumi Tucker

Local protesters rally over Middle East conflict
ALBANY - A rally and a counter-demonstration ovre the Middle East 
conflict took place next to the State Capitol Tuesday.
"Ceasefire! Now!" chanted one group.
At the same time, across State street, another group chanted, "Jewish 
blood isn't cheap!"
When the two groups met, tempers flared.
"However, however what Israel is doing, is self-defense," yelled one 
protester.
"Israel doesn't create hate. Hamas creates hate!" yelled another.
On the one side, people spoke out for Palestinian rights; those who call 
for peace with humanitarian concerns.
"Not only stopping the war but stopping the war is not enough, or the 
genocide. I want them to actually engage in talking to Hamas to find a 
solution, said Zuhair Alatwi.
"Right now, it's the slaughter of the innocents. The average person 
there is not firing rockets," said Jen Illenberg.
"War crimes. Violation of international law," said Joseph Koczaja.
"They say it's to stop Hamas rockets, but end the occupation and the 
rockets will stop," added Alatwi.
Those supporting Israel say Hamas has been firing rockets into and 
terrorizing southern Israel for seven years.
"Israel responded, just as America would respond and it's part of the 
larger terrorist network, whether it be Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah that 
wants to take on not only Israel and the Jewish people, but all free 
people everywhere in the west" said Larry Farbstein.
"Israel has had enough. I myself missed a rocket four years ago when I 
was in Steroad. I've seen children scarred with these rockets. Hamas is 
using their people as human shields," said Jack Lauber.
"Every time it doesn't defend itself, it just emboldens them to take 
more suicide bombings, more rocket attacks, more death and destruction, 
and the world sits idly by," said Farbstein.
International pressure is mounting to end the eleven-day offensive in Gaza.






http://www.roguegovernment.com/index.php?news_id=13588

ADL Upset At Protesters Comparing Israel To Nazi Germany Published on 
01-06-2009 Email To Friend Print Version

New York, NY, January 5, 2009 … Of all of the recriminations aimed at 
Israel at scores of demonstrations held across the country in response 
to its military operation against Hamas, none has been more consistently 
or emphatically employed than comparisons of Israel to the Nazis, or the 
situation in Gaza to a "Holocaust."

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said that in-your-face comparisons of 
Israel's actions to those of Hitler, or signs altering the Jewish Star 
of David into a swastika, have been a recurring feature at many rallies 
across the country, including protests held over the past weekend in 
several major U.S. cities.
Some demonstrations have included expressions of support for Hamas, a 
U.S.-designated terrorist organization, or for terrorism against Israel 
in general, according to ADL. And some protesters at rallies have spewed 
inflammatory anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric.
"Freedom of speech is not just a right, it is also a responsibility," 
said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director and a Holocaust survivor. 
"Comparisons of Israel to the Nazis are a deeply cynical perversion of 
history, an attempt to turn the tragedy that befell the Jewish people 
into a bludgeon against Israel.

"While we have come to expect to see such and hear this type of 
inflammatory rhetoric in Arab and Muslim capitals overseas, it is deeply 
disturbing that it is appearing in anti-Israel demonstrations at home," 
said Mr. Foxman. "Offensive Holocaust comparisons and the use of Nazi 
imagery are deeply offensive and have no place in a civil society such 
as ours."
ADL is monitoring anti-Israel rallies across the country and is posting 
updates and visuals to a dedicated Web page.
Examples from the more recent rallies include:
• In New York City's Times Square, six city blocks were filled with 
anti-Israel demonstrators holding signs that read "Israel: The Fourth 
Reich;" "Holocaust by Holocaust Survivors;" "Stop Israel's Holocaust;" 
"Holocaust in Gaza;" and "Stop the Zionist Genocide in Gaza." One sign 
juxtaposed gruesome images of Holocaust victims and Gazans and read, 
"Nazi Genocide, Israeli Genocide." The January 3 rally was endorsed by 
Al-Awda, the Muslim American Society, the Islamic Circle of North 
America (ICNA) and several other organizations.
• More than 2,000 individuals demonstrated at Tribune Plaza in Chicago 
on January 2 before marching across the Michigan Avenue Bridge to the 
Israeli Consulate. Protesters held mock coffins draped with Palestinian 
flags and waved signs that included "Stop Israel's Genocide in Gaza" and 
"Palestinian Holocaust in Gaza Now."
• Demonstrators gathered at the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles waving 
Palestinian flags and holding signs, including ones that read, "Every 
Israeli committing the genocide in Gaza is a 'Hitler'." One sign 
depicted an image of the Israeli flag with the Star of David replaced by 
a swastika and above the flag, the words, "Upgrade to Holocaust Version 
2.0." The December 30 protest was sponsored by the ANSWER Coalition, 
Al-Awda and several local Muslim organizations.
• Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Tampa, FL, on December 30 
carrying signs that compared Israel to Nazi Germany and calling for the 
dissolution of Israel. One sign declared, "Zionism is Cancer; Radiate 
it," and other signs featured the word "Nazi" written over an Israeli 
flag with a swastika.
• Approximately 200 demonstrators gathered at the federal building in 
San Diego, CA, with signs that read: "Stop the Israeli Third Reich;" 
"Israel is a Terrorist State;" "Israeli Zionism = Nazism;" "Stop the 
Israeli Holocaust on Gaza;" "Israel is the old South Africa" and "Stop 
the Massacre in Gaza." The rally was co-sponsored by Al-Awda, American 
Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the Muslim American Society, 
the ANSWER Coalition, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and 
others.






http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/06/MNU4153SE1.DTL

Pro-Palestinian protest at Federal Building
Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 6, 2009

________________________________________
(01-05) 15:23 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- More than 200 pro-Palestinian 
demonstrators protested Monday outside Sen. Dianne Feinstein's office 
and the Federal Building in San Francisco, venting anger over Israel's 
military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The demonstrators assembled about 8 a.m. at the intersection of Market 
and Montgomery streets, near Feinstein's office on Post Street, before 
heading up Market toward the Federal Building on Golden Gate Avenue.
Traffic was stopped at several intersections. Police on foot and on 
motorcycles monitored protesters but made no arrests.
One protester, Yvonne Steffen, 77, of El Cerrito, said she was marching 
"because I think what Israel is doing is horrible. It's against 
humanity, and the government needs to talk with Hamas and make real peace."
About 10 protesters tried to get into the Federal Building in hopes of 
gaining entry to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's district office, but were 
turned away by guards.
"Are you denying us entry?" one woman asked.
"Ma'am, you can stay out here and get a tent, but you are not going to 
pass this point," a guard said sharply.
Finally, one protester, Nadeen Elshorafa, 26, of San Francisco was 
allowed inside. She later emerged to say that Pelosi, who was in 
Washington, was unavailable and that the group would need to make an 
appointment for later.
On Golden Gate Avenue, 15 protesters sat and linked their arms to block 
three entrances to the Federal Building. People trying to do business 
inside were told to go to the Turk Street entrance.
The protesters dispersed without further incident around noon.
It was at least the fifth pro-Palestinian demonstration in San Francisco 
since Israel began an aerial bombardment of Gaza on Dec. 27.






http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/nyregion/04march.html?_r=1&em

Times Square Rally Protests Fighting in Gaza

John Marshall Mantel for The New York Times
Protesters rallied in Times Square on Saturday against the Israeli 
attacks on Gaza. Police officers cordoned off a lane and a half of 
Seventh Avenue for protesters, and that lane was filled for several 
blocks. A smaller group of anti-Hamas protesters demonstrated across the 
street.

By RAY RIVERA
Published: January 3, 2009
Anger over the Israeli assault on Gaza spilled into Times Square on 
Saturday, as hundreds of protesters condemned the attacks in a 
demonstration that stretched four blocks and clogged much of the city’s 
central tourist district for several hours.
Skip to next paragraph
Related
Israeli Troops Launch Attack on Gaza (January 4, 2009)
The protest came as Israeli troops began a ground incursion into the 
Hamas-controlled territory in what officials described as an effort to 
end Hamas rocket attacks on southern Israel. The land campaign followed 
eight days of Israeli airstrikes that have killed more than 430 
Palestinians, many of them civilians.
News of the escalation came midway through the demonstration and cast a 
pall over the crowd as it was announced over loudspeakers and crept 
across the news tickers nearby. But many protesters said they were not 
surprised, and some sounded a defiant note.
“As organized as the Palestinian community is here in the United States, 
we already knew this was going to happen, and I think the Palestinian 
people in Gaza have expected it,” said Linda Sarsour, 28, a 
Palestinian-American social worker from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, home to one 
of the country’s oldest Arab communities. “Now it’s time for Israel to 
come in and face the people on the ground. It’s all-out war now, and 
we’ll see what happens.”
Demonstrators waved signs that read “Stop Massacres in Gaza” and “End 
the Siege.” Speakers led the crowd in chants of “Free, free Palestine.” 
The protest was made up predominantly of people of Middle Eastern or 
Arab descent, but also included Jewish groups, students and others who 
support an independent Palestinian state. Many, whether Palestinian or 
not, wore black-and-white kaffiyehs, the traditional Palestinian scarf, 
and waved Palestinian flags.
Police cordoned off part of the sidewalk and a lane and a half of 
Seventh Avenue from 42nd Street to 38th Street to accommodate the crowd. 
The demonstrators then marched in a slow procession along 42nd Street to 
the Israeli Consulate on Second Avenue.
The protesters drowned out a small counterdemonstration of a few dozen 
people who gathered across Seventh Avenue from the larger crowd before 
also moving to the Consulate. They waved Israeli and American flags, and 
carried banners condemning Hamas, the Islamic group that has been in 
control of the Gaza Strip since 2007.
“Blame Hamas; Destroy Hamas,” read a banner carried by Buddy Macy, a 
52-year-old small-business owner from New Jersey who helped organize the 
counterprotest.
The two groups hurled insults — each calling the other racists and 
terrorists — but mostly kept their distance. The police said there were 
no arrests.
The anger mirrored tensions that have played on a global stage. The Arab 
world has condemned the attacks, and some United Nations officials have 
called for a cease-fire. Israel and the Bush administration have 
defended the attacks, saying Hamas provoked the airstrikes by firing 
rockets into southern Israel. At least four Israelis had died from Hamas 
rockets before the ground assault began.
“They may say, sure, this is disproportional and only a few Israelis 
have died,” Mr. Macy said. “Why is this disproportional? You have to 
protect yourselves. If you and your family lived in a home and there was 
a rocket within a hundred meters of you, wouldn’t you call the National 
Guard? Wouldn’t you call everyone you could?”
Many in the pro-Palestinian crowd brought their children, and came from 
towns and mosques across the region to be there. Ned Abu Irsid, 40, a 
gas station owner in Monroe, in Orange County, drove his wife and three 
children two hours to join the demonstration. His children, ages 10, 8, 
and 5, were bundled up in down jackets to protect them from the winter 
chill. Two of them waved small American flags, the other a Palestinian 
flag.
“The massacre of the Palestinian people is really a horrible thing,” Mr. 
Irsid said, “and that’s the least we can do, is to come down and make 
our voices heard a little bit.”
Mr. Irsid, who immigrated from Jordan 23 years ago, said he wanted his 
children, who were all born in this country, to carry American flags to 
show them and the nation that support for Palestinians did not mean 
disloyalty to America.
“First and foremost,” he said, “we live in this country, and this is who 
we are.”
Told about the ground invasion, Mr. Irsid looked crestfallen.
“I was hoping that this would never happen, because of the simple fact 
that a lot of innocent people are going to die,” he said.
Colin Moynihan contributed reporting.







http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20090104_Protesters_decry_Israeli_air_strikes_in_Gaza.html

Posted on Sun, Jan. 4, 2009

Protesters decry Israeli air strikes in Gaza
By Allison Steele
Inquirer Staff Writer
Carrying signs and hoisting Palestinian flags high in the air, about 200 
people gathered outside City Hall yesterday to protest Israel's attacks 
on Gaza.
Organized by the Philadelphia branch of the International Action Center, 
the rally was one of many demonstrations held across the country and the 
world yesterday to condemn Israel's air strikes.
In Philadelphia, students and activists urged the U.S. government to end 
its support of Israel, saying the foreign aid funds Israel's military 
tactics. "The tax money that we pay, to think that it is used that way 
is a great shame," said Ali Shaath, 25.
Shaath immigrated to Philadelphia from Gaza six years ago to run a 
flooring business. The events of the past week have made it difficult to 
be away, he said. "I have family. I wish I could be there," Shaath said.
The bombings, which began Dec. 27, have been one of the Mideast's most 
violent clashes in decades. The air strikes have killed more than 400 
people and injured at least 1,700. United Nations observers have 
estimated that a quarter of the Palestinians killed were civilians.
Israeli warplanes are targeting the Palestinian militant group Hamas, 
which has been responsible for a growing number of rocket attacks in 
southern Israel. Israeli military planes flying over northern Gaza 
yesterday morning dropped leaflets warning residents to leave the area 
immediately, and ground troops and tanks entered Gaza in the afternoon.
Exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal had promised bloodshed if the Israeli 
ground troops moved in.
In front of City Hall, cars honked their support as members of the rally 
chanted, "Stop the killing! Stop the war!"
Samar Shraim, 19, whose family is from Palestine but moved to Jordan 
before she was born, said her friends in Palestine and Israel were 
equally horrified by the attacks.
"In the bigger scheme, it affects all of us," said Shraim, who came to 
the United States 10 years ago and is studying international relations 
at Community College of Philadelphia. "It's just so hard to believe this 
is even happening."
The conflict in the Mideast is hard to even talk about at times, Shraim 
said. Often, she said, people oversimplify the issues or focus on 
fragments of the overall picture.
Bert Strieb, 70, a semiretired professor at La Salle University, said 
America needed to exert some financial muscle over Israel.
"As long as Israel has the United States' backing, they have no reason 
to back down," he said.






http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008587915_protest04m.html?syndication=rss

Sunday, January 4, 2009 at 12:00 AM
Seattle protesters call for peaceful end to Gaza Strip conflict
Israeli ground attacks in Gaza provided a sense of urgency to a 
Palestinian-organized demonstration at Seattle's Westlake Park on 
Saturday, where some 500 gathered to support a peaceful end to the 
conflict in the Gaza Strip.
By Emily Heffter
Seattle Times staff reporter

ALAN BERNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Chanting "Free, free Palestine," hundreds of protesters opposing the 
bombing of Gaza by Israel march north on Fourth Avenue in downtown 
Seattle on Saturday.
The morning news of Israel's ground attacks in Gaza gave a sense of 
urgency to a Palestinian-organized demonstration at Seattle's Westlake 
Park on Saturday, where some 500 gathered to support a peaceful end to 
the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Nearly a dozen community groups of various religious, ethnic and 
political backgrounds co-sponsored the protest.
The event drew, among others, Palestinians worried about family members 
in immediate danger in Gaza; Jewish protesters dismayed by the violence; 
and supporters of changes in U.S. policy, which they say would create a 
peaceful and secular state in Israel.
At one point, dozens of shoes were scattered around several tarps spread 
on the pavement as Muslims at the demonstration knelt in prayer. Many 
protesters held signs and some wore traditional black-and-white 
Palestinian scarves.
"Cease fire now," read some signs. And: "Stop the real terrorists/ 
US-Israeli war machine," and, "As a Jew, I cannot support attacks on 
civilians."
Demonstrators chanted, spoke and planned to march through downtown to 
try to bring awareness to an issue they say many Americans misunderstand 
or ignore.
"I'm disgusted. I'm ashamed. I'm very angry at the government here," 
said Mitra Ziainia, of Seattle. "They think it's going to go away on its 
own, and it's not."
For many at the event, the conflict thousands of miles away was 
intensely personal. A tearful Mona Marouf spoke from the podium of her 
fears that she could get a phone call at any moment about her parents 
and family in Gaza.
"It's a disaster, by all means," said her husband, Hussam Marouf. "They 
are waiting to be killed at any moment ... They don't know where to run 
or where to go."
Neil Fox, who is Jewish, attended the protest with his wife and two 
daughters, who are 8 and 10. He described his own upbringing as Zionist 
but said he hopes to pass a different legacy on to his own children.
He and his wife send their girls to Middle East Peace Camp for Children 
in Seattle's Magnuson Park to ensure they have personal connections to 
Palestinian and Muslim children, he said.
American Jews, he said, have a particular responsibility to speak out 
against the Israeli government's military actions.
"As a Jew, I want to tell Israel that they're not doing this in my 
name," he said.
Tens of thousands of people staged similar protests in European cities 
on Saturday, including some who hurled shoes at the tall iron gates 
outside the British prime minister's residence in London and waved 
Palestinian flags.
Shoe-throwing has become a popular gesture of protest and contempt since 
an Iraqi journalist tossed a pair of shoes at President Bush in Baghdad 
last month.
Protests in Paris, Amsterdam, Rome and Berlin all drew thousands of people.





http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/03/BALR153FN7.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

Protesters in S.F. and Europe blast Israel
Marisa Lagos, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, January 4, 2009

(01-03) 21:02 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- Since the Israeli offensive against 
Gaza began a week ago, 18-year-old San Francisco City College student 
Ahmed Alkhatib can check in with his family only once a day- and that's 
if the phones work.
Otherwise, Alkhatib can only hope that his parents, two brothers and two 
sisters will stay safe in their Gaza home as they watch bombs fall 
around them. And, much like tens of thousands of people around the world 
did today, he can protest.
Alkhatib and hundreds of others who flocked to Market Street in San 
Francisco this evening said they were there to protest the Israeli 
ground invasion, which began earlier today. But they also had their 
sights set closer to home: Many said they want to urge American leaders 
and citizens to oppose any financial support of the Israeli government, 
by boycotting and divesting from companies that support the Middle East 
state.
"I do feel powerless and guilty, because I am part of the (American) 
establishment that is financing and supplying the occupation," said 
Alkhatib, a Pacifica resident who came to the United States three years 
ago as an exchange student and was unable return to Gaza because of 
ongoing violence.
"But I also feel powerful," he said. "If I wasn't here, there would be 
nobody to talk about my family, nobody to tell, through my family's 
story, that the violence is not just compromising one family, it is 
compromising thousands."The San Francisco rally began with several 
hundred demonstrators gathering around 5 p.m. at Market and Powell 
streets. By 6 p.m., the crowd - many of them waving Palestinian flags 
and wearing head scarves - had swelled to about 500, and marched up 
Market Street to City Hall. There were no counter protests, as there 
have been in days past.
Many protesters, such as San Francisco resident Ateyeh Ateyeh, were 
Palestinian.
"This is the least we could do to protest our government's action," said 
the U.S. citizen, who fled the West Bank in 1989 and brought his wife 
and four children to the rally. "We don't want to say, 'Support the 
Palestinian's ... cause.' We just want to say, 'Stay neutral, stop 
sending American planes and our tax dollars.'"
Many simply urged peace.
Francesca Rosa, a 54-year-old San Francisco resident, held an olive 
branch in one hand and a Palestinian flag in the other. And Natalie 
Hrizi, also of San Francisco, garnered loud cheers as she spoke to the 
crowd through a bullhorn.
"Palestine isn't just about Palestine, it's about all of us who stand 
for peace," she said. "It's about all of us who stand against racism and 
for justice."
The San Francisco rally - the fifth last week - was small and peaceful 
compared to many elsewhere in the world.
In Europe, tens of thousands of people demonstrated in major cities on 
Saturday against Israel's bombardment of Gaza.
In London, at least 10,000 people marched past Prime Minister Gordon 
Brown's Downing Street residence to a rally in Trafalgar Square. Outside 
Downing Street, hundreds of protesters threw shoes at the gates that 
block entry to the narrow road.
Shoe-throwing has become a popular way to express protest and contempt 
since an Iraqi journalist pelted U.S. President George W. Bush with a 
pair of shoes in Baghdad last month.
Rallies also were held in other British cities - including Manchester, 
Liverpool and Glasgow. Elsewhere in Europe, protests in Paris, 
Amsterdam, Rome and Berlin all drew big crowds.
In Paris, police said 21,000 marched through the streets, shouting "We 
are all Palestinians" and "Israel assassin." Later, about 500 protesters 
threw objects at police, burned Israeli flags, overturned and torched 
cars, and vandalized several shops, police said.
Angry protests continued for a second day in Turkey, where about 5,000 
demonstrators in Ankara shouted "killer Israel."
In The Netherlands, thousands of people marched through Amsterdam. One 
banner declared: "Anne Frank is turning in her grave. Oh Israel!"
In Athens, a few of the 5,000 protesters threw stones and gasoline bombs 
at police outside the Israeli Embassy. Riot police retaliated with tear 
gas and stun grenades.
More protests are planned, including another in San Francisco at noon 
Sunday at Powell and Market streets. Next Saturday, there is an 11 a.m. 
event in San Francisco's Civic Center.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.





http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jan/03/protesters-gather-baywalk-denounce-gaza-fighting/news-breaking/

Protesters Gather At BayWalk To Denounce Gaza Fighting

News Channel 8 photo by ANTHONY ALLRED
Dozens of protesters gathered at BayWalk on Saturday night in response 
to Israel's military action in the Gaza Strip.
http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Gaza-protests-in-St-Petersburg/eCy9dGWsik-_3JYcMJWU4Q.cspx?rss=794

Gaza protests in St. Petersburg
Reported by: Keith Baker
Email: kbaker at abcactionnews.com
Last Update: 1/04 10:10 am

Protests about conflict in Gaza
ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- The conflict in the Gaza strip brought out loud 
opinions in Pinellas County. About 100 people showed up in support of 
the Palestinian view while a smaller group stood across the Baywalk area 
holding signs supporting Israel.

St. Petersburg Police were on hand to keep the protest peaceful but it 
didn't prevent the shouting and the expressing of opinions.

Nothing in the demonstration resulted in arrests. Both sides agreed 
peace is necessary and the fighting needs to end.

The protest was organized by groups called ANSWER, Rise up Tampa Bay and 
St. Pete for Peace while counter protests showed up after publicity of 
the protest became known.








http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2009/01/04/mn/03gaza.txt

Twin Cities protesters urge end to attacks on Gaza
By The Associated Press
.
MINNEAPOLIS — Hundreds of people marched in Minneapolis to protest 
Israel’s military offensive in Gaza City.

The newly formed Minnesota Coalition for Gaza organized the rally 
Friday, urging an end to Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. They also 
called for a restoration of the cease-fire and peace in the Middle East.
It’s been a week since the start of the Israeli strikes on Gaza. At 
least 460 people have been killed and about 1,700 wounded.







http://www.katu.com/news/local/37047414.html

Nearly 2,000 march through Seattle in protest of Israeli attacks

Story Published: Jan 3, 2009 at 5:39 PM PDT
Story Updated: Jan 3, 2009 at 5:39 PM PDT
By Matt Markovich
SEATTLE - The Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip in the Middle East are 
sparking massive protests on the streets of Seattle.
A rally kicked off earlier Saturday at Westlake Center, then spread from 
there as nearly 2,000 Palestinian supporters marched through downtown 
Seattle in a planned protest.

Protesters march through Seattle in opposition to the Israeli attacks 
against the Gaza strip.
Their original intent was to protest Israel's aerial bombing this week 
of Gaza. But as word spread that Israeli ground troops had just entered 
the Palestinian territory, the rally's tone grew more intense.
"Free free Palestine, free free Palestine," marchers chanted. "Fight the 
power, fight the tide. End Israeli apartheid."
"Please keep going until they stop killing our kids," they chanted.
The protest came on the same day as several other rallies across Europe 
opposing the Israeli attacks on Gaza.
The Seattle rally began with a series of speakers who opposed America's 
so-called blanket support of Israel, as about 200 others participated in 
noon prayers in the Center Plaza of Westlake Square.
Then marchers took to the city streets under gray skies, led by a group 
of children who held signs saying, "Am I your next target?"
"We are marching because we feel morally responsibility for what's going 
on in Gaza," said Hunza Chaudahry. "Our dollars are the ones that fund 
Israeli bombs and tanks."
The protest had the earmarks of an Arab funeral procession, complete 
with caskets symbolizing the innocent victims. One casket was carried by 
a 14-year-old who said she has family in Gaza - and the coffin had their 
names on it.
"This is stupid. My goodness we are all people. We are all the same," 
said Safaa Darwish. "We lived in harmony for so many years. This needs 
to stop."
Not far away, a mother followed her kids and family members who carried 
a symbolic dead child.
Zeina Askr says, "Would you like your child to pass away at this age by 
a bomb that comes down when they are sleeping in their house? Is that fair?"
Nobody who spoke with KOMO News would justify Hamas' use of rockets on 
innocent Israelis.
And shadowing the crowd was one man carrying the Israeli flag. He said 
he wasn't even Jewish.
"They are trying to defend themselves from ruthless attacks that have 
been going on ever since Hamas took control of Gaza, so somebody has to 
stand with them so they can defend themselves," said the lone marcher, 
George Bentley.
The march was loud but peaceful. And organizers say expect more in the 
future.






http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008586991_webprotest03m.html?syndication=rss

Hundreds in Seattle protest Gaza attacks
A Westlake Mall protest Saturday drew about 500 people supporting a 
peaceful end to the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
By Emily Heffter
Seattle Times staff reporter
ALAN BERNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Chanting "Free, Free, Palestine," hundreds of protesters opposing the 
bombing of Gaza by Israel march north on Fourth Avenue in downtown 
Seattle Saturday.
A Westlake Mall protest Saturday drew about 500 people supporting a 
peaceful end to the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
As their protest got underway, Israeli ground troops were moving into 
the Gaza area. Israel said its continued strikes were in retaliation for 
sustained rocket fire into its territory from Hamas, the Islamic group 
that controls the Gaza. Israel's actions have sparked an angry reaction 
across the Arab world.
"Words cannot explain what I feel right now," a tearful Mona Marouf, 
whose parents and family live in Gaza, said from the podium at Westlake 
Center. "Every single day I'm imagining myself holding my daughter dying 
in my arms ... The news is terrible every day."
Nearly a dozen community groups from different religious, ethnic and 
political organizations co-sponsored Saturday's protest, which was 
organized by Voices of Palestine.
Those present included Palestinians anxious to hear news of family 
members in the path of troops in Israel; Jewish people upset about 
Israeli government policies, and people who supported peace in the 
Middle East in general.
They chanted, spoke and planned to march through downtown Seattle to try 
to bring awareness to an issue they say many Americans misunderstand or 
ignore.
"I'm disgusted. I'm ashamed. I'm very angry at the government here," 
said Mitra Ziainia, of Seattle. "They think it's going to go away on its 
own, and it's not."






http://newsok.com/group-protests-gaza-unrest/article/3335645

Group protests Gaza unrest at Oklahoma state Capitol
Demonstrators at state Capitol want state, national leaders to press 
Israel for cease-fire
Comments 25
Buzz up!
BY MICHAEL MCNUTT
Published: January 6, 2009
America should take immediate steps to end Israel’s "illegal and 
immoral” offensive against the Gaza Strip’s Hamas rulers, the executive 
director of the Oklahoma City chapter of the Council on American-Islamic 
Relations said Monday.

Malaka Elyazgi of Norman carries the American flag as she marches Monday 
outside the state Capitol to protest Israel’s military offensive against 
Gaza Strip’s Hamas rulers. BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN

"We as Oklahomans and as Americans should be concerned about this 
conflict because our taxes are going towards Israel,” Razi Hashmi said. 
"We should not allow our government to give Israel a blank check to 
allow the destruction of hopes for peace in the Middle East.”
More than 200 mostly Islamic Americans demonstrated peacefully Monday 
outside the state Capitol asking state and national leaders to press 
Israel for a cease-fire.
People walked in a circle during the noon hour by the south steps of the 
Capitol holding signs and chanting "Stop the killing, free, free Gaza!” 
and "Free, free Palestine; occupation is a crime!”
Michael Barlow, past president of the Jewish Federation of Greater 
Oklahoma City, watched quietly.
"War is unfortunate, but the question is: What is Israel to do, with 
scores of missiles being shot into Israeli population centers daily?” he 
said. "How long do you allow missiles to be shot into your country from 
another country?”
Hamas, whose charter specifically calls for the destruction of the state 
of Israel, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States. 
Hashmi said as an American citizen he agrees with the U.S. description 
of Hamas.
Barlow said it is difficult for Israel to negotiate with Hamas leaders 
when they do not recognize its right to exist.
At least one Jewish member participated in Monday’s demonstration.
Jillian Holzbauer of Stillwater carried a sign saying, "This Jew 
supports peace in Palestine.”
Holzbauer, a student at Oklahoma State University, said she spent the 
past three summers in the West Bank working with Holy Land Trust, a 
Palestinian nonprofit group.
"I saw that this isn’t really a religious issue, this is an issue about 
people who are living under military occupation for 40 years and they’re 
in a very desperate situation,” she said. The Rev. Kristen Brown, a 
United Methodist minister assigned to the campus of Southwest Oklahoma 
State University in Weatherford, said she attended the event to bring 
awareness about the Palestinians’ plight.






http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/117410/as_attacks_on_gaza_escalate%2C_nyc_protesters_decry_u.s._aid_to_israel/

As Attacks on Gaza Escalate, NYC Protesters Decry U.S. Aid to Israel
Posted by Zahra Hankir, Indypendent at 12:18 PM on January 5, 2009.

"As Americans, we are demanding that our tax money not be spent on 
killing innocent civilians."
As Israeli ground troops crossed the border into Gaza, rapidly 
escalating an offensive that has taken the lives of over 460 
Palestinians, thousands of New Yorkers gathered at Times Square on 
Saturday afternoon demanding that Israel end the killing and that the 
U.S. renounce its support of the Jewish state.
"We are demanding that the Palestinians be protected, but as Americans, 
we are also demanding that our tax money not be spent on killing 
innocent civilians," said Ayman el-Fawa, an Arab American volunteer at 
Al-Awda, one of the organizers of the events.
In the bitter cold, protesters covered an entire four blocks for hours, 
spanning 38th St to 42nd St, before marching to the Permanent Mission of 
Israel to the UN on 2nd Ave. Spectators continued to spill into the 
crowd well into the evening, even after the protest officially ended.
The event was the fourth of its kind, and the protests have visibly 
gained momentum. This time around, the rally brought together the 
largest number of protestors who heavily criticized the U.S. for its 
continuous support of Israel.
"Innocent civilians are being killed and the American government is 
giving money to the Israelis, especially the administration of George 
Bush which has tried to justify the massacre by condemning the 
Palestinian resistance, who have the right to resist," said Father 
George Makhlouf, a Palestinian priest who resides in Long Island.
The crowd was filled with many Arab Americans but also with anti-Zionist 
Jews, African American organizations and various other human rights and 
civil rights organizations. "Not in our names! Not with our money!" read 
one placard; "Yes We Can! Stop U.S. Military Aid to Israel," read another.
Tens of police officers were deployed in the area, some on horses. A few 
counter-protesters demonstrated across the street, carrying Israeli and 
American flags and charging Hamas with terrorism, but the loud 
pro-Palestinian chanting and speeches drowned their voices out.
At one point during the protest, the opening verse of the Qur'an was 
recited, and some Muslim spectators could be seen praying in the middle 
of the bustling crowds. A young Arab rapper took to the stage to express 
his rage through rhyme. "To exist is to resist," he rapped, "remember 
one thing, the bells of freedom will ring."
Anti-Bush and anti-Condoleezza Rice placards were in abundance. Rice has 
blamed Hamas for the offensive, arguing that the conflict will end if 
the movement ceases its rocket attacks on Israel.
Chanters compared the current situation in Palestine to apartheid in 
South Africa and charged Israel with carrying out genocide. The crowd 
also voiced opposition to Arab regimes and leaders that have not done 
enough to end the violence, in particular Egyptian President Hosni 
Mubarak. Protestors across the Arab world have expressed outrage against 
the Arab response, with many demonstrating in front of Egyptian 
embassies. "I'm ashamed with the Egyptian response," said el-Fawa, who 
is originally Egyptian. "The Arab nations… have to come together and say 
that this is enough."
During Saturday's protest, hundreds of curious tourists watched and took 
photos as they passed by, while members of various participating 
organizations delivered impassioned speeches from a loudspeaker. Some of 
the speeches called on incoming president Barack Obama to relinquish the 
U.S.'s support of Israel and for U.S. forces to leave Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Enough innocent children have died. Today will let people know that 
there are many in New York who do not support this sort of destructive 
response. It will let people know that there is a large number of us who 
are against war and killing and who understand the unreasonableness and 
the lack of logic that it took for this response," said John Charles, a 
New York based attorney.
Speakers called on the crowds to continue expressing their outrage as 
the crisis goes on, and to pledge to continue protesting, lest the 
plight of the Palestinians be forgotten.
"We're doing this and we're going to keep doing this! Tomorrow, and the 
day after tomorrow, and the day after that, we're going to be here. We 
will keep protesting until they stop these attacks and break the siege 
on Gaza," said one speaker.
A similar protest will be held next Sunday.





http://cbs5.com/national/israel.protesters.SF.2.900240.html

Jan 5, 2009 5:56 pm US/Pacific
Israel Protesters Block Traffic In San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5/KCBS/BCN/AP) ―
Protesters block Market St. at Montgomery in San Francisco Monday.

More than 150 demonstrators succeeded in shutting down the San Francisco 
Federal Building for a brief time Monday to protest Israel's military 
action in Gaza.

They marched from the Israeli consulate downtown to the Federal 
Building, then sat with their arms linked and blocked the entrances to 
the building for about an hour, according to police. No one was arrested.

A group of protesters was blocking the entrance to the building around 
11:15 a.m., chanting, "Hey hey, ho ho, the occupation has to go."

They were holding signs that said "Gaza is Warsaw," and "Another Jew for 
Justice in Gaza: Free Palestine."

Others demonstrators were chanting "Stop bombing Gaza. Stop bombing 
children."

"I'm abhorred at the silence of our government," 53-year-old El Cerrito 
resident Toby Blome said.

Blome, who was carrying a rag doll she said symbolized the deaths of 
young Palestinian children, said demonstrators felt that their rights 
were being violated because they were not allowed into the building to 
talk to U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

A San Francisco police officer at the scene would not say whether there 
had been any problems or arrests related to the protest.

There was a far larger protest over the weekend, as some 600 protesters 
in San Francisco were among the thousands around the world to protest 
Israel's military offensive in Gaza on Saturday.

At Powell and Market Streets, demonstrators gathered with signs and 
Palestinian flags to condemn the Israeli air strikes that have lasted 
for almost a week and killed hundreds. They marched up Market Street to 
City Hall. Unlike the five previous protests in the city against Israel, 
there were no counter-protesters Saturday night.

"We would like it to end with a cease-fire which is something that Hamas 
has been pleading for… and it's something that the Israeli government is 
not open to hearing because they're not open to talking to Hamas, and I 
think that's really part of the big problem," said East Bay resident 
Laura Ostrow.

About two hours before the march's scheduled start, police were already 
at the scene prepared with barricades and a command post. While the last 
several demonstrations have not turned violent, wary officers said they 
were prepared for the worst.

In Europe, tens of thousands of people protested the on-going air 
strikes in demonstrations that were mostly peaceful.

However, some protesters in Athens threw stones and petrol bombs at 
Greek police outside the Israeli Embassy.

In Paris, police said 21,000 people marched through the streets, 
shouting slogans that included "We are all Palestinians." Later, a small 
group of protesters set fire to at least three cars and smashed shop and 
cafe windows.

Angry protests continued for a second day in Turkey, where about 5,000 
demonstrators shouted "killer Israel" in downtown Ankara.

On Saturday, tens of thousands of reserve soldiers were mobilized as the 
offensive in Gaza widened with the launching of a ground invasion that 
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said "won't be short" or easy.

The Israeli military did not give out specific numbers. But it says it 
has expanded a call-up of some 9,000 reserves soldiers that began 
earlier this week.

Some of these reservists are being mobilized as a warning to Palestinian 
militants in the West Bank and Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon who 
fought a monthlong war with Israel in the summer of 2006.

Israeli ground troops began pouring into Gaza earlier Saturday. The 
incursion expanded an 8-day-old operation that had been conducted almost 
exclusively from the air.

It's been a week since the start of the Israeli strikes on Gaza. At 
least 460 people have been killed and about 1,700 wounded.







http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jan/05/1m5b2briefs03599-short-takes/?metro

Protesters criticize Israel for offensive in Gaza
2:00 a.m. January 5, 2009
BALBOA PARK: Chanting “free, free, Palestine!” about 200 protesters 
yesterday afternoon called for the end of violence in Gaza.
Supporters of the more than 1.4 million Palestinian Arabs living in Gaza 
criticized Israel for its military offensive, which has involved 
airstrikes and ground attacks. Palestinian civilians, as well as members 
of the militant group Hamas, have been killed. Israelis say the 
offensive is in retaliation for rocket attacks on Israeli towns by Hamas 
fighters and to protect citizens.
“We are here to stop aggression and invasion, and we are looking for 
justice,” said Imam Sharif Battikhi of the American Islamic Services 
Foundation.
Many among the crowd carried signs reading “Free Palestine,” “Support 
Palestinian Resistance,” and “No More Deaths.” Other signs carried 
inflammatory messages.
Earlier in the afternoon, several dozen pro-Israeli demonstrators 
defended the country's actions.
San Diego police monitored the demonstrations, which were peaceful.
Battikhi said he believes an end to the hostilities can be the start of 
a process for reconciliation that can result in Muslims, Jews and 
Christians living peacefully in Gaza. –R.W.P.





http://www.kcci.com/news/18409584/detail.html

Iowa Protesters Decry Gaza Violence
Picketers Stage Rally Along Jordan Creek Parkway
POSTED: 4:29 pm CST January 4, 2009
UPDATED: 4:36 pm CST January 4, 2009

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- A group of protesters rallied along Jordan 
Creek Parkway in West Des Moines to call for an end to the invasion of 
Israel's military action in the Gaza Strip.
About 50 people gathered across the street from Hope Lutheran Church on 
Sunday to take part in the protest.
Israel sent ground troops into the Gaza Strip on Saturday after nearly a 
week of aerial bombardments. Thousands of soldiers advanced through the 
area Sunday, surrounding its biggest city.
Israel has said it's trying to eliminate radical leaders of Hamas.
More than 500 people have been killed since the attacks began.





http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/MI108414/

Miami hosts dueling protests over Mideast conflict

MIAMI (AP) -- The conflict in the Middle East made its way to South 
Florida over the weekend, as competing protests became heated and a 
dozen people were arrested for disorderly conduct.
More than 1,000 people lined both sides of Biscayne Boulevard in 
downtown Miami on Sunday, outside the Israeli consulate. The two groups 
yelled slogans at each other, waved flags, and a few demonstrators threw 
rocks and water bottles. Police officers broke up fights.
More than 500 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli offensive 
in Gaza began more than a week ago. At least seven Israelis have been 
killed by militant rockets.





http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09001/939027-84.stm?cmpid=localstate.xml

100 here protest attacks in Gaza
Thursday, January 01, 2009
By Sadie Gurman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
About 100 protesters, waving Palestinian flags and holding handmade 
signs bearing messages such as "End The Occupation," fought biting winds 
yesterday to protest the Israeli military assault on Gaza.
At Liberty Avenue and Grant Street, they gathered during rush hour 
traffic to show their opposition to the fighting in the territory, 
namely Israel's air attacks on Hamas targets.
Many at the rally -- dubbed the "Stop the War on Gaza! Regional Rally" 
-- said they were urging residents to tell lawmakers to make halting 
violence a priority.
"It's incredible, the outpouring of solidarity and disgust with what's 
happening," organizer Kate Daher said after the rally.
"We want the bombing to end," said Omar Hijleh, 37, of Regent Square. 
"We want them to end the siege in Gaza."
Mr. Hijleh is a member of Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee, one 
of several peace and justice and student groups who demonstrated in the 
busy intersection yesterday. He said Israel's punishing air attacks are 
a "completely disproportionate" response to Hamas' rocket fire.
"In reality this is creating a situation on the ground where the 
Palestinians are completely desperate, they're completely besieged, and 
they're completely hopeless," he said.
Jim Niesen and Barbara Mackenzie-Wood, of Point Breeze, agreed Israel's 
bombing was "an overreaction."
The couple, who held signs more than an hour despite the wind and snow 
in below-freezing temperatures, also said they believe the fighting is 
unfairly portrayed in American media, which, they said, tends to take a 
pro-Israeli stance.
Others said they hoped the fighting would stop so that humanitarian aid 
can be delivered to the Gaza Strip.
"The people of Gaza cannot get food or medicine, and they live under 
constant fear," Ms. Daher said. "We want Congress to condemn these 
attacks and ask our ally Israel to stop the attacks on Gaza."





http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/189586

Group protests Israeli attacks
A Blacksburg woman rallied area organizations to speak out for a 
peaceful resolution to violence in the Middle East.
By Lerone Graham
381-8621

Jeanna Duerscherl | The Roanoke Times
Autumn Taylor of Blacksburg organized a protest against violence in the 
Middle East. The protestors gathered near the New River Valley Mall in 
Christiansburg.

Sanabil Issa, 5, and her mother, Nadira Issa, attended Wednesday's 
protest of Israel's attacks on Gaza.
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. -- A small group braved bitter winds, temperatures 
in the 30s and snow flurries Wednesday afternoon to speak their minds on 
recent violence in the Middle East.
"Stop the killing, stop the war!" they yelled periodically, among other 
chants. They held signs with messages such as "Free Palestine" and 
"Humanity is Universal."
The purpose of the protest was to raise awareness of the conflict while 
pushing for a peaceful resolution.
"On both sides, innocent lives are being affected by this. Nobody is 
stepping in with a neutral opinion on the situation," said Autumn Taylor 
of Blacksburg, organizer of the protest.
Taylor said she got the idea from her husband on Sunday, when they both 
realized that not enough was being done on the issue.
She said that the protest was the least they could do, because it is not 
safe enough to even think about helping directly.
The result was a group of about 30 people bundled up, standing along the 
sidewalk in front of the Olive Garden and Panera Bread restaurants in 
Christiansburg.
Taylor said the group originally wanted to set up in Blacksburg. They 
decided, however, that the proximity to the New River Valley Mall made 
the sidewalk an ideal spot because of heavy traffic from shoppers.
"Hopefully, people will be out shopping, out having fun and feeling safe 
and relaxing and enjoying the holidays," so that they can appreciate how 
fortunate they are, while citizens in Gaza "huddle in bathrooms hoping 
not to get injured."
Taylor reached out to different student organizations and peace 
coalitions in the area via e-mail to rally their support.
Overall, Taylor said that she was satisfied with the turnout. The group 
protested for two hours, and she estimated that a total of 50 people 
showed up at some point during the protest.
Amine Chigani, a graduate teaching fellow and officer in the Muslim 
Students Association at Virginia Tech, said he is outraged by the 
attacks happening in Gaza.
"Our blind support to the Israeli government and the military aid has a 
direct impact on civilian people and I think that's wrong," he said.
Chigani said he has written to members of Congress to express his 
feelings and is glad that the protest has afforded him another 
opportunity to speak his mind.
"When I see injustice, cruelty and massacre on a large scale, I have to 
do something about it," Chigani said.
Originally from Morocco, Chigani said that human rights is one of the 
most important ideals he has learned since becoming an American citizen. 
He feels that Americans from all backgrounds should do anything they can 
to help because innocent lives are at stake.
"Israel, like any country, has the right to defend itself, but we need 
to put that statement in context," he said. "Defending yourself doesn't 
mean killing civilians by the thousands."
Taylor said she realizes that a protest in a small town such as 
Christiansburg is a small step, but feels that it is more worthwhile 
than sitting at home complaining about the situation.
"We want to put it out there that there are people that are actually 
caring about the situation and want something to happen," she said.





http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_605304.html?source=rss&feed=7

Federal Building protest targets air strikes on Gaza
By Jason Cato
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, January 1, 2009
A pro-Palestinian crowd of about 100 people gathered Wednesday afternoon 
outside the William S. Moorhead Federal Building, Downtown, to protest 
Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip.
Several Palestinian flags flapped in frigid winds while protesters 
called for Israel to end bombings and its occupation of Palestinian land 
in the Middle East. Among dozens of handmade signs were ones that read 
"Free Gaza," "End the Massacre" and "Pittsburgh Supports Palestine."
"I feel I should support justice and peace in the world," said Mohammad 
Seleem, 32, an Egyptian graduate student at the University of 
Pittsburgh. "I feel it's extremely unjust for the Palestinian people to 
be treated in this way."
story continues below
For the past five days, the Israeli military has carried out air strikes 
against Hamas and militant targets in an effort to stop rockets being 
launched from Gaza into Israel.
Yesterday, Gaza officials estimated nearly 400 people had been killed 
and 1,600 injured in Gaza. Four Israelis, including three civilians, 
were reported to have been killed by militant rocket fire.
Jeffrey Cohan, spokesman for Pittsburgh's United Jewish Federation, said 
Israel would stop its military attacks as soon as the militant bombings 
ceased.
"Israel is only doing what any other country in the world would do if 
its civilian population was under attack," Cohan said.
Philip Khoury, a 2007 Pitt graduate who was visiting from his home in 
the West Bank, said he was pleased to see support for what is happening 
to his fellow Palestinians.
"It's not surprising to me, because I've been here," said Khoury, 25, of 
Ramallah, "and I know how welcoming the people of Pittsburgh are to 
Palestine."
The protest was organized by about 20 local groups, including the 
Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee and the Arab-American 
Anti-Discrimination Committee.
Leon Zionts of Point Breeze watched the protesters but said he does not 
support their message.
"I wonder where these protesters were when Hamas was bombing Israeli 
civilians for years and years," Zionts said. "I think it's unfair they 
are asking Israel to accept that which no other country would accept."





http://www.olyblog.net/jay-inslee-capitol-theater-confronted-protesters

Jay Inslee at the Capitol Theater Confronted by Protesters
Submitted by Berd on Sun, 01/11/2009 - 12:53pm.

A protest was rapidly mobilized yesterday in order to confront 
Representative Jay Inslee about his vote in support of HR 34. A sizable 
group of around 20 protesters assembled at the Capitol Theater, 
interacted with hundreds of people who were there to see the film 
documentary Fuel (which is about alternative energy), and eventually got 
to speak with and directly confront Congressman Inslee about his vote on 
the one-sided/lopsided bill, HR 34, which basically supports Israeli 
aggression against Palestinians.
Here's an account of the protest, as told by Phan Nguyen, one of the 
protest organizers and participants. Another participant wrote 
additionally of the encounter that Inslee's first line of defense was to 
say that Hamas believies in the destruction of the State of Israel. One 
of the protesters pointed out that although Hamas held that position 
years and years ago, that's no longer the case. Hamas has changed it's 
position on wiping out the State of Israel. Here's Phan's great account 
of the events last night at the Capitol Theater:
I think we mobilized quickly for such short notice about Jay Inslee's 
appearance. About 20 folks showed up altogether to protest Jay Inslee's 
pro-war vote. After the film and panel discussion, Inslee agreed to meet 
with us. I had printed a handbill explaining why we were protesting 
Inslee, and Inslee admitted that he had read it over dinner.
However, instead of directly addressing anything I had written in the 
handbill, he proceeded to give a long spiel about how he felt pain for 
both sides of the conflict and that he supported a two-state solution. 
In other words, just abstract meanderings that did not address the 
current situation in Gaza or H.Res.34, which he had voted for yesterday.
When pushed to explain why he voted for H.Res.34, he explained that he 
didn't write the resolution (what a cop-out!) and that he was presented 
with the dilemma of pressing "a red button or a green button" -- which 
was nonsense, because he could have voted "nay" (like Kucinich), answer 
"present" (like McDermott), or not do anything at all (like Baird). 
Instead he voted "yea."
He also pulled out the trusty AIPAC talking points and said that if we 
were being attacked by Tijuana(!), what would we do. Anna replied that 
he was taking us for fools, and that that argument was so silly that 
even Jon Stewart made fun of it.
I asked Inslee to answer the four questions that were printed in the 
handbill. He refused to, saying that he had to go. I and others pushed 
him to answer the four questions, but he kept talking over us about how 
he had to go and that nothing he said was going to satisfy us. We asked 
him to answer just one of the questions, but he still refused, turned 
around and walked away.
It was interesting that he didn't even try to defend his vote, instead 
saying that he had to press "a red button or a green button," as if 
someone was forcing him to flip a coin. That, plus the fact that he 
wouldn't answer any questions directly, proves that he knew his vote was 
indefensible. That makes me respect him even less than if he had tried 
to defend his vote.
He even had to refer to his progressive position on Iraq because he 
couldn't defend his appalling position on Israel.
He clearly knew that H.Res.34 was immoral, but he knew how to toe the 
line and play the political game. Inslee is indeed progressive on many 
issues. But when it comes to Israel, he knows how to fall in line like 
the rest of Congress. It was disgusting to see someone like Inslee 
epitomize that so clearly.
Anyway, below are the four questions to Inslee that were printed on the 
handbill. These were simple yes/no questions. There was nothing tricky 
or clever about them, and I wrote them quickly, just before heading over 
to the Capitol Theater. They were not very challenging questions, and 
yet Inslee avoided them as if we had caught him in a scandal:
1. Would you agree with the Red Cross, Amnesty International, and UN 
relief groups that there is a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip 
caused by Israel’s ongoing blockade?
2. Do you believe that it is unjust to put 1.5 million innocent 
civilians under siege, supposedly to punish a few “terrorists”? Do you 
believe that constitutes collective punishment and is a violation of 
international law? [okay, this one was a two-parter]
3. Are you willing to stand up for your former colleague, Cynthia 
McKinney, who was on a humanitarian boat that was attacked by Israel in 
international waters last week?
4. Amnesty International says that Israel is violating the US Arms 
Export Control Act of 1976. Will you follow Amnesty International’s call 
for the US to “suspend the transfer of weapons to Israel immediately and 
conduct an investigation into whether US weapons were used to commit 
human rights abuses”?
Thanks, everyone, who came to protest!




http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/11/MNK6157880.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

Peaceful S.F. protest of Israel's Gaza bombing
Deborah Gage, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, January 11, 2009

(01-10) 14:28 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- People of all ages and on both sides 
of the controversy rallied in San Francisco's Civic Center Saturday to 
either protest or support Israel's bombing of the Gaza Strip.
More than 1,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators and a few hundred 
pro-Israel demonstrators waved flags and pumped their fists at each 
other before the pro-Palestinians marched downtown and back to the Civic 
Center. The pro-Israel demonstrators did not march.
Chanting "Free, free Palestine" and "Stop killing children," the 
pro-Palestinian group carried banners, waved pictures of bloodied 
children and clutched white helium balloons representing Palestinians 
killed in Gaza.
San Francisco police, holding riot helmets, lined the marchers' route 
and rode motorcycles ahead of the protest, but the demonstrators were 
peaceful, with no property damage and no arrests.
Many spectators treated it like a show. They took pictures and shot 
videos as the protesters walked down Market Street, circled back up 
Mission Street, and then back to Civic Center. Some spectators beat the 
tops of city garbage cans, like drums, in time to the chants.
"I am not worried at all," said Michael Burkett, general manager of Old 
Navy on Market Street, as he stood outside the store and watched the 
marchers go by. "I appreciate that in this country we have freedom of 
speech."
Pro-Palestinian organizers from a group called answercoalition.org, 
which sponsored marches across the country on Saturday, including a 
march on Washington, held hands to form a human chain so they could keep 
marchers together along the protest route. They wore neon yellow vests.
"We're trying to keep the peace for everyone," said Nabil Fara, who was 
preventing demonstrators from crossing police tape on Polk Street to 
approach pro-Israel counter-protesters before the march. Fara said he 
has friends in Gaza but has not heard from them since the violence began.
Standing behind yellow police tape before the march, protesters from the 
pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups stood across from each other along 
Polk Street and waved signs in front of San Francisco City Hall.
Motorists honked support for one side or the other as they drove by, and 
tourists riding red open-air buses gaped.
Mike Harris, of a group called Stand With Us/San Francisco Voice for 
Israel, said the pro-Israel demonstrators would not march "to ensure 
their safety" but felt compelled to attend the protest to counter the 
Answer Coalition's "anti-Israel agenda."
He said the group's purpose was "to ensure Israel's right to exist."
Meanwhile, across the street in Civic Center Park, speaker after speaker 
tried to keep the pro-Palestinian demonstrators pumped up with chanting 
and patriotic music.
Grace Shalhoub, a graduate student at the California Institute of 
Integral Studies in San Francisco who said she has family in Lebanon, 
wept after her speech. She said she came to the protest because "after 
9/11, I feel this is my responsibility and duty" to be involved in 
Middle Eastern politics.
Some of the other protests held around the world on Saturday were far 
larger and angrier than the protest in San Francisco.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators burned Israeli flags in Sweden and threw 
shoes at the U.S. consulate in Edinburgh, Scotland. In central London, 
three officers were hurt when demonstrators hurled shoes and placards at 
police outside the Israeli Embassy. One officer was knocked unconscious. 
Some 180 people were arrested in Paris.
In Norway, police used tear gas to try to disperse at least 1,000 
protesters after some hurled bottles, rocks and fired fireworks at 
officers. Two people were injured and two were taken into custody.
Protesters in Sweden tried to break through sealed-off areas at Israel's 
embassy in Stockholm after a march through the city by 3,000 to 5,000 
people.
More than 60 people were injured during a large demonstration in 
Algeria's capital on Friday, many by stone throwing, the Interior 
Ministry said. One journalist was left in a coma.
By contrast, San Francisco's protest had a mellow feel. Homeless people 
sunned themselves in Civic Center Park, families with young children 
greeted each other, and the Musicians Action Group, a band that has been 
appearing at Bay Area protests since the war in Vietnam, played horns, 
woodwinds and drums as the marchers headed out of the park toward downtown.
At a post-march rally in Civic Center Park, protesters danced to the 
beat of drums and sang along with Sellassie, a San Francisco performance 
artist. Some lay on their stomachs and got massages after the two-mile 
march.






http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/10/BAK6157880.DTL

Peaceful S.F. protest of Israel's Gaza bombing
Deborah Gage, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, January 11, 2009

________________________________________
(01-10) 14:28 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- People of all ages and on both sides 
of the controversy rallied in San Francisco's Civic Center Saturday to 
either protest or support Israel's bombing of the Gaza Strip.
________________________________________

More than 1,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators and a few hundred 
pro-Israel demonstrators waved flags and pumped their fists at each 
other before the pro-Palestinians marched downtown and back to the Civic 
Center. The pro-Israel demonstrators did not march.
Chanting "Free, free Palestine" and "Stop killing children," the 
pro-Palestinian group carried banners, waved pictures of bloodied 
children and clutched white helium balloons representing Palestinians 
killed in Gaza.
San Francisco police, holding riot helmets, lined the marchers' route 
and rode motorcycles ahead of the protest, but the demonstrators were 
peaceful, with no property damage and no arrests.
Many spectators treated it like a show. They took pictures and shot 
videos as the protesters walked down Market Street, circled back up 
Mission Street, and then back to Civic Center. Some spectators beat the 
tops of city garbage cans, like drums, in time to the chants.
"I am not worried at all," said Michael Burkett, general manager of Old 
Navy on Market Street, as he stood outside the store and watched the 
marchers go by. "I appreciate that in this country we have freedom of 
speech."
Pro-Palestinian organizers from a group called answercoalition.org, 
which sponsored marches across the country on Saturday, including a 
march on Washington, held hands to form a human chain so they could keep 
marchers together along the protest route. They wore neon yellow vests.
"We're trying to keep the peace for everyone," said Nabil Fara, who was 
preventing demonstrators from crossing police tape on Polk Street to 
approach pro-Israel counter-protesters before the march. Fara said he 
has friends in Gaza but has not heard from them since the violence began.
Standing behind yellow police tape before the march, protesters from the 
pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups stood across from each other along 
Polk Street and waved signs in front of San Francisco City Hall.
Motorists honked support for one side or the other as they drove by, and 
tourists riding red open-air buses gaped.
Mike Harris, of a group called Stand With Us/San Francisco Voice for 
Israel, said the pro-Israel demonstrators would not march "to ensure 
their safety" but felt compelled to attend the protest to counter the 
Answer Coalition's "anti-Israel agenda."
He said the group's purpose was "to ensure Israel's right to exist."
Meanwhile, across the street in Civic Center Park, speaker after speaker 
tried to keep the pro-Palestinian demonstrators pumped up with chanting 
and patriotic music.
Grace Shalhoub, a graduate student at the California Institute of 
Integral Studies in San Francisco who said she has family in Lebanon, 
wept after her speech. She said she came to the protest because "after 
9/11, I feel this is my responsibility and duty" to be involved in 
Middle Eastern politics.
Some of the other protests held around the world on Saturday were far 
larger and angrier than the protest in San Francisco.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators burned Israeli flags in Sweden and threw 
shoes at the U.S. consulate in Edinburgh, Scotland. In central London, 
three officers were hurt when demonstrators hurled shoes and placards at 
police outside the Israeli Embassy. One officer was knocked unconscious. 
Some 180 people were arrested in Paris.
In Norway, police used tear gas to try to disperse at least 1,000 
protesters after some hurled bottles, rocks and fired fireworks at 
officers. Two people were injured and two were taken into custody.
Protesters in Sweden tried to break through sealed-off areas at Israel's 
embassy in Stockholm after a march through the city by 3,000 to 5,000 
people.
More than 60 people were injured during a large demonstration in 
Algeria's capital on Friday, many by stone throwing, the Interior 
Ministry said. One journalist was left in a coma.
By contrast, San Francisco's protest had a mellow feel. Homeless people 
sunned themselves in Civic Center Park, families with young children 
greeted each other, and the Musicians Action Group, a band that has been 
appearing at Bay Area protests since the war in Vietnam, played horns, 
woodwinds and drums as the marchers headed out of the park toward downtown.
At a post-march rally in Civic Center Park, protesters danced to the 
beat of drums and sang along with Sellassie, a San Francisco performance 
artist. Some lay on their stomachs and got massages after the two-mile 
march.





http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20090110/VIDEO/901100310?Title=Gaza_Protesters_Take_to_Washington_Streets

Gaza Protesters Take to Washington Streets


Published: Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 9:54 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 9:54 p.m.
Scores of protesters hold a rally near the White House, lamenting the 
plight of people in Gaza after the latest skirmish with Israel. Later, 
the crowd marched to media outlets and businesses felt to be sympathetic 
to Israel. (Jan. 10)






http://www.myantiwar.org/view/169913.html

2 arrests at LA protest for Gaza

January 10, 2009 5:50 PM
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Authorities say two people have been arrested during 
a demonstration in Los Angeles against Israel's incursion in the Gaza Strip.
Los Angeles Police Officer April Harding says about 1,500 people 
gathered for the largely peaceful protest at the Federal Building in 
Westwood Saturday afternoon.
She says two men were arrested, one for climbing a power pole and the 
other for ''creating a disturbance.''
A smaller counter-demonstration was held nearby but Harding says there 
was no crowd estimate for it.
The demonstrations were the latest of several held in the city since the 
conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza began.
In San Francisco, thousands of demonstrators flooded Market Street on 
Saturday to protest Israel's bombing, waving signs and chanting ''Free, 
free Palestine.''
A few hundred pro-Israel protesters also appeared at the march.
San Francisco police lined the march route, but there were no arrests 
reported.





http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=128171&provider=rss

Jacksonville Residents Protest Violence
Posted By: Talia Naquin Created: 1/10/2009 1:48:36 PM Updated: 1/11/2009 
4:09:20 PM

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- About 100 people gathered in Five Points Saturday 
for a protest against the violence in Gaza, as Israel warned residents 
in the Gaza Strip it plans to escalate its offensive.
The Israeli air force has been dropping leaflets throughout the area 
today, warning of a "new phase" in its war targeting Hamas militants. 
The leaflets urge Gaza residents not to help Hamas militants and to keep 
a distance from its members.
Already today, flames and smoke have been rising over Gaza City amid 
heavy fighting. Meanwhile, southern Israel has been hit by more 
Palestinian rocket fire.
In the day's bloodiest incident, an Israeli tank shell landed outside a 
home in northern Gaza, killing nine people as they sat in an outside garden.
Palestinian officials say more than 800 people have died so far in the 
fighting.
CAIR Jacksonville along with Jacksonville community members demonstrated 
Saturday to bring attention to the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza 
and to promote a cease-fire in the Middle East.





http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/religion_theseeker/2009/01/conflict-abroad.html

January 9, 2009
Gaza protests ripple through Chicago
One group chanted in Hebrew. The other chanted in Arabic. One accused 
Israel. The other accused Hamas.
But despite the different languages and varied villains, the message at 
dueling demonstrations in downtown Chicago Friday was the same: The 
fighting in Gaza needs to stop—but on their own terms.
 From a stage at Federal Plaza festooned with giant Israeli and American 
flags rabbis and Jewish leaders implored a crowd of thousands to 
understand that Israelis are fighting not Palestinians but the terrorist 
group Hamas.
"Israel acts in self-defense, seeking to hit military targets, and is 
heartsick if civilians are inadvertently killed," said Steven Nasatir, 
president of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. "Hamas fires 
rockets randomly, seeking to hit civilian targets and celebrates when 
women and children die."
A few hours later, pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched from Daley 
Plaza to the Israeli consulate carrying bloody dolls as props and 
shouting slogans that decried Israel’s recent military actions in the 
Gaza Strip as hypocritical and cruel.
Thousands of marchers chanted, "Hey Olmert you can’t hide, we charge you 
with genocide," comparing the military actions in Gaza to the Holocaust 
that exterminated 6 million Jews and led to Israel’s creation. Ehud 
Olmert is prime minister of Israel.
While Jewish leaders rallied for support of Israel, the Chicago chapter 
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and about 30 other Chicago 
organizations are calling on the U.S. to pressure Israel to stop its 
offensive, which Palestinian health officials have said has killed more 
than 700 civilians. Ten Israeli soldiers and four Israeli civilians also 
have been killed during the conflict, which has brought calls for a 
cease-fire from aid groups and the United Nations.
"It’s kind of hard to have a cease-fire with folks who won’t be happy 
until you’re dead," said Linda Haase of the Jewish United Fund.
Supporters at the rally said Hamas broke the previous cease-fire by 
firing more than 6,000 rockets into southern Israel after the unilateral 
withdrawal from Gaza in 2005. But starting four years before that, 
Nasatir said, residents of southern Israel have lived under siege.
"Fifteen seconds is all you, your child and your grandmother have to 
race to a bomb shelter when the ‘red alert’ alarm signals incoming 
rockets," he said. "These alarms go off day and night, sometimes several 
times an hour, making normal life impossible.
Israel’s military action is merely a defensive measure, supporters said.
"In this case, an ounce of offense is the best defense," said Doron 
Feinsilber, 30, of Chicago. He said Hamas should be charged with war 
crimes for putting Palestinian civilians in the line of fire by planting 
military outposts in densely populated civilian neighborhoods.
But protesters at the pro-Palestinian march later insisted that Israel 
broke the original cease-fire by destroying underground tunnels used by 
Palestinians to transport food and supplies into Gaza, which had been 
cut off by the Jewish state.
"I come to you not as Hamas, not as Fatah [the Palestinian political 
parties], only as a Palestinian Arab who believes in the freedom and 
dignity of his people," said Rev. Nicholas Dahdal, pastor of St. George 
Antiochian Orthodox Church in Cicero. "For months Israel has sent 
missiles of hunger on people of Gaza and they are the terrorists."
Rami Nashashibi, head of the Inner City Muslim Action Network, reminded 
the crowd that Dahdal was not the only Christian who supported the 
cause. He said many Jewish activists also stood in solidarity with the 
Palestinians.
"Brothers and sisters, it is a dark hour," he said. "But it is also a 
hopeful hour when we can stand in this country with all communities."





http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090109/NEWS16/901090370/-1/RSS

January 09, 2009
Local contingent joins Gaza protest in D.C.
By DAVID YONKE
BLADE STAFF WRITER

Hundreds of Ohioans will be leaving for Washington by car and bus 
tonight to take part in a rally outside the White House tomorrow in 
protest of Israel's attacks on Gaza.
Two buses will be departing from Masjid Saad, the Alexis Road mosque, at 
11 p.m., said Ziad Hummos who is helping organize transportation for the 
local contingent.
"People are coming from all over the country. We want to save the people 
of Palestine," Mr. Hummos said. "We've been predicting at least 100,000 
people will participate."
Among the Toledoans making the trip will be Imam Ismail Azzouni, 
spiritual leader of Masjid Saad, Mr. Hummos said.
Most of the Ohioans heading for D.C. are Muslims but organizers 
emphasized that they are concerned with a humanitarian crisis, not 
religious or ethnic issues.
"Our community is just heartbroken at the humanitarian needs of the 
people of Gaza," said Julia Shearson, executive director of the 
Cleveland chapter of CAIR - Council on American-Islamic Relations.
She said three buses will be leaving from Columbus, one from Cleveland, 
one from Pittsburgh, and possibly one from Akron.
Ms. Shearson predicted a much larger turnout in Washington tomorrow than 
the estimated 40,000 to 50,000 who rallied there in July, 2006, to 
protest the Israeli-Lebanese fighting.
More than 700 Palestinians have been killed and 2,000 wounded since 
Israel began its offensive against Gaza on Dec. 27, according to the 
latest news reports.
Israeli officials have said the military action is in response to 
rockets being fired by Hamas militants at Israeli territory.
"Israel is in a conflict not of its own making - indeed it withdrew 
every Israeli soldier and all 8,000 Israeli civilians from the Gaza 
Strip as part of its 2005 disengagement initiative," the Israeli 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. "However, Israel has 
been forced to act in defense of its citizens, who have been and 
continue to be deliberately attacked by the Hamas terrorist organization."
Ms. Shearson said the rockets are "an act of a desperate people who have 
been besieged for 18 months. They are being strangled there. Even the 
Vatican said it is 'slowly becoming a concentration camp' in Gaza," 
citing a statement by Vatican official Cardinal Renato Martino.
Ibrahim Hooper, communications director for CAIR's Washington office, 
called the situation in Gaza "absolutely unbelievable."
"Now we even see that a U.N. driver of an aid truck was killed and the 
U.N. has suspended relief supplies in Gaza because it can't even provide 
safety of its personnel," Mr. Hooper said.
He said Israel's ban on western media in Gaza has prevented balanced 
reporting of the fighting.
"What are they trying to keep from the public?" he asked.
In addition to the Toledoans traveling by bus, many more will be driving 
their cars, Mr. Hummos said.
The protest is scheduled for 1 p.m. tomorrow in Lafayette Park, on the 
north side of the White House.
Ms. Shearson said protesters are hoping President-elect Barack Obama, 
who is staying at the Hay Adams Hotel overlooking Lafayette Park, will 
take note.
"We hope he will hear our voices in reaction to what we see as his 
stunning silence," she said.
The "Let Gaza Live" rally is being sponsored by a number of 
organizations and spearheaded by the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop 
War and End Racism).






http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jan/03/crowd-protests-gaza-violence/?partner=RSS

Nearly 100 gather for silent Peace Walk in protest of Gaza violence
By Jenny Ratledge
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Only the hum of the Henley Street traffic could be heard among a crowd 
of nearly 100 people silently protesting the violence taking place in 
the Gaza Strip on Friday afternoon.
The Prayerful Peace Walk was organized by the Muslim Community of 
Knoxville to raise awareness about the situation between Palestine and 
Israel, said Fathi Husain, a member of Masjid Annoor mosque.
"We hope that this gathering and this procession will bring attention to 
the plight that the Palestinians people are going through right now," 
Husain said.
The walk began at the Masjid Annoor mosque, on the corner of Grand 
Avenue and 13th Street, and continued to the Knoxville Convention 
Center. Once at the convention center, the group stopped to observe one 
moment of silence for each of the 430 people who have been killed during 
the past week.
Husain said they are calling upon countries with ties to the Israeli 
government to persuade them to allow humanitarian aid to cross the 
currently closed border of Gaza.
"It's very hard for (Palestinians) to cope with the lack of food and the 
lack of medicine," Husain said.
Bilal Sheikh, a recent University of Tennessee graduate, said he joined 
Friday's protest because of its peaceful nature.
"This is a chance to show there are other kinds of protests than what 
you see on TV," Sheikh said.
He said flag burning and mayhem are all too commonly associated with 
protests concerning the Middle East.
"We think what's going on (in Palestine) is wrong, but we're not 
(demonstrating in a violent) manner," Sheikh said.
Children, walking with their parents, hoisted handmade signs imploring 
the end of violence against their peers in Gaza.
"We want to tell people that it's not right that the Palestinian 
children are being showered with bullets and bombs while the children of 
the world, in this season, are being showered with gifts," Husain said.





http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/02/BA3B15353M.DTL

Hundreds in S.F. again protest Israeli bombings
Nanette Asimov, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, January 3, 2009


________________________________________
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators - including several Jews - 
protested outside of the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco for the 
fourth time this week, venting anger over Israel's bombardment of the 
Gaza Strip.
________________________________________

The largely peaceful protest was among many public condemnations of the 
bombing around the world, in London, Manila and throughout the Middle East.
In San Francisco, protesters draped in checkered Palestinian head 
scarves and carrying anti-Israel signs - "End the massacre", "Gaza = 
Warsaw Ghetto" - marched from Hallidie Plaza to the consulate on 
Montgomery Street blocking traffic and shouting, "End the occupation now!"
"I'm descended from Holocaust victims, and we need to identify with the 
oppressed - not imitate the oppressors," said protester Jack Fertig, an 
astrologer by profession and known to San Franciscans a generation ago 
as Sister Boom Boom.
He was among several Jewish protesters opposed to the bombing that began 
seven days ago in retaliation for rocket fire from Hamas, which killed 
an Israeli and wounded six people, the Israeli military reported. 
Israeli air strikes have reportedly killed about 400 Palestinians and 
wounded some 1,700 people. Hamas has threatened to resume suicide 
attacks on Israel.
Protesters on Friday called Israel the main aggressor.
"If you are strangled, you have to fight back," said Buthina Rashid of 
Concord, who stood in the throng of protesters blocking Montgomery 
Street between Sacramento and California streets for two hours as police 
looked on.
With Rashid were her 4-year-old niece, Rawan, and her 2-year-old nephew, 
Nezar, who each astonished the crowd by taking a megaphone and leading 
the crowd in a chant: "Free, free Palestine!"
The demonstrators remained peaceful until around 5 p.m., when a small 
group carrying Israel flags gathered across from the consulate. 
Suddenly, anti-Israel protesters screamed, "Murderers!" and tried to 
push them.
Police hustled the pro-Israeli group into the nearest open building. 
Then, as the marchers headed back up to Market Street, an organizer 
named Madean Elshorafa took a megaphone and ordered everyone to sit down 
in the street and admonished them to be peaceful.





http://www.ktvu.com/news/18403409/detail.html#-

Hundreds Protest Gaza Bombing At S.F. Israel Consulate
Posted: 7:53 pm PST January 2, 2009Updated: 8:05 pm PST January 2, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- A group of more than 200 people carrying 
Palestinian flags and protesting Israeli's military violence in the Gaza 
strip marched in downtown San Francisco Friday afternoon.
The march followed a rally organized by the Act Now to Stop War and End 
Racism coalition that started around 2:30 p.m. at Powell and Market 
streets. Protesters marched to the Israeli Consulate near Montgomery and 
California streets and continued marching for more than three hours.
Around 5 p.m., the group briefly sat down and blocked the intersection 
of Sutter and Montgomery streets before heading toward Market Street.
The protesters of all ages chanted "Free, free Palestine," and, "Stop 
bombing Gaza."
Police, equipped with batons and plastic handcuffs, accompanied the 
peaceful protesters on foot and in vans.
Shortly after 5:30 p.m. the group was marching along the sidewalk of 
Market Street, heading west toward the U.N. Plaza.
Around 6 p.m., the official march was over but protesters lingered, 
urging people to spread the word about future marches through social 
networking sites such as Facebook.
Organizers assured marches will continue as long as violence in Gaza 
proceeds.






http://english.sina.com/world/2009/0102/208833.html

Thousands in Chicago protest against Israel's military actions in Gaza
2009-01-03 02:04:37 GMT2009-01-03 10:04:37 (Beijing Time) Xinhua English
CHICAGO, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people gathered Friday 
afternoon in Chicago's downtown, protesting against Israel's recent 
military actions in the Gaza Strip.
About 4,000 people gathered around 3:00 pm in the Pioneer Plaza in 
downtown Chicago, chanting slogans, waving Palestinian flags and 
carrying signs that read: "Stop U.S. Aid to Israel Now", "stop the siege 
of Gaza now" and so on.
Protesters later spilled across the Michigan Avenue Bridge to East 
Wacker Drive in front of the building that houses the Consulate General 
of Israel. Police there closed off a block-long stretch to vehicle traffic.
The protest was one of many recent demonstrations around the world in 
response to Israel's week-long air strikes on the Gaza Strip, a series 
of assaults Israel says are meant to deter rocket attacks into southern 
Israel by Hamas.
A smaller group of Israel supporters counter protested outside the 
consulate. The protest was largely done by about 6:00 p.m. Police said 
no arrests were reported. Organizers are planning another protest on 
Saturday in Chicago's Hyde Park.






http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/010209kvue-isreael-mw.319af8f9.html

Local Muslims protest Gaza strikes
10:26 PM CST on Friday, January 2, 2009
By SHELTON GREEN / KVUE News
Dozens of commuters passing the south side of the Texas State Capitol 
building Friday evening honked their horns in a show of support for 
protestors who met to denounce the recent attacks from Israel on the 
Gaza Strip.
"We need to tell the whole world, especially Austinites that your tax 
dollars nowadays are being used to buy F-16'S that will drop 2-thousand, 
3-ton bombs on civilians in the Gaza Strip and that is absolutely 
unacceptable," says Mohammad Al Bedaiwi, a member of the Austin Network 
for Islamic Studies. Al Bedaiwi was one of close to 100 people who met 
at the south end of the Capitol to protest and to pray for the dead and 
injured in the recent conflict between the militant group Hamas and Israel.
One woman who came with her husband and three children is especially 
concerned for many of her relatives who live in the Gaza Strip.
"They're living in complete depression and fear and anxiety and they 
just can't live like normal people basically, that's all," says Ghada 
Saloha of Austin.
On Friday, more than 300 Palestinians escaped the Gaza Strip to safety 
as aerial assaults from Israel continued pounding the area.
More than 20 homes which Israel says belonged to Hamas militants were 
destroyed as well as a mosque believed to be one of the terrorist 
group's strongholds.
At last count at least 421 Palestinians have been killed in the 
week-long conflict. Two-thirds of those were militants according to Lisa 
Goodgame who represents the Jewish Community Relations Council of Austin.
"Israel has the right to defend itself against these hostilities," says 
Goodgame. "Israel has the ability to target very precisely the 
installations that it will attack, the fact that Hamas has chosen to 
locate them in these densely populated areas the result is that 
unfortunately there are going to be civilians that are attacked," she added.
Jewish community leaders in Austin are scheduled to meet next week to 
discuss what show of support if any will be shown locally for Israel.






http://www.mathaba.net/rss/?x=614621

Thousands in Chicago protest against Israel`s military actions in Gaza
Posted: 2009/01/03
From: MNN

Thousands of people gathered Friday afternoon in Chicago`s downtown, 
protesting against Israel`s recent military actions in the Gaza Strip.

CHICAGO, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- About 4,000 people gathered around 3:00 pm 
in the Pioneer Plaza in downtown Chicago, chanting slogans, waving 
Palestinian flags and carrying signs that read: "Stop U.S. Aid to Israel 
Now", "stop the siege of Gaza now" and so on.

Protesters later spilled across the Michigan Avenue Bridge to East 
Wacker Drive in front of the building that houses the Consulate General 
of Israel. Police there closed off a block-long stretch to vehicle traffic.

The protest was one of many recent demonstrations around the world in 
response to Israel's week-long air strikes on the Gaza Strip, a series 
of assaults Israel says are meant to deter rocket attacks into southern 
Israel by Hamas.

A smaller group of Israel supporters counter protested outside the 
consulate. The protest was largely done by about 6:00 p.m. Police said 
no arrests were reported. Organizers are planning another protest on 
Saturday in Chicago's Hyde Park. #





http://www.wbbm780.com/pages/3591369.php?contentType=4&contentId=3295980

Friday, 02 January 2009 6:39PM

Chicagoans Protest Gaza assault; Tie Up Traffic

CHICAGO (AP) -- Hundreds have protested in Chicago for and against 
Israel's air offensive targeting Hamas.
Similar protests have been held across the world since Israel launched 
the bombing campaign last Saturday.
The Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed more than 400 
Palestinians and sparked outrage among the Arab public. Israel says its 
offensive is aimed at silencing Hamas rockets.
The Chicago demonstration, which ended in front of the Israeli 
consulate, included people from about 30 different organizations. 
Protesters asked for an end to the offensive and for President-elect 
Barack Obama to get involved.
Earlier Friday, a smaller group of pro-Israeli demonstrators also stood 
in front of the consulate, waving Israeli flags.

The protesters snarled traffic on Wacker Drive through the late 
afternoon and early evening.





http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/oh/story/news/local/2009/01/02/ddn010209protestweb.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=16

More than 150 locals protest Israeli fight
By Margo Rutledge Kissell
Staff Writer
Friday, January 02, 2009
DAYTON — More than 150 people took part in a pro-Palestinian rally at 
scattered sites in downtown Dayton Friday, Jan. 2, as fighting between 
Israel and Hamas continued.
Among the marchers was Basel Namara, 46, of Dayton, who grew up in the 
Gaza Strip. He moved to the United States in 1988 as a college student 
and now works in the Miami Valley.
Namara said he still has family living in Gaza, including a sister who 
cut short her phone conversation with him the other day during the 
ongoing Israeli assault on the Palestinian territory.
"I'm very panicked for them," he said.
The marchers protested outside the Dayton Convention Center before 
making stops near the federal courthouse and Courthouse Square. People 
held signs, waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans like "Free 
Palestine."
Participant Lamia Ali, 16, of Dayton and her sisters, Yasmin, 14, and 
Amira, 11, moved here with their family from Palestine five years ago. 
They are pained watching news footage of innocent children being killed.
Yasmin held a sign proclaiming, "Peace for All." When asked if she 
believes that peace is possible, she said, "I hope so."
Israel has been building up artillery, armor and infantry on Gaza's 
border in an indication the week-old air assault against Gaza's Hamas 
rulers could imminently expand with a ground incursion, the Associated 
Press reported Friday. Meanwhile, international pressure has been 
building for a cease-fire that would block more fighting.






http://www.kctv5.com/news/18396682/detail.html?rss=kan&psp=news

KC-Area Muslims Protest Israeli Attacks
POSTED: 7:31 pm CST January 1, 2009
UPDATED: 8:16 pm CST January 1, 2009

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Protestors on the Country Club Plaza on Thursday 
hoped their efforts would make people aware of Israel's attacks on 
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Dr. Mohamed Odah was one of the protestors. Odah, who lives in Overland 
Park, is from Gaza. His family still lives there, and he said he fears 
for their lives. Odah said that's why he decided to join more than 500 
Muslims protesting on the Plaza.
"I heard one of the blasts while I was on the phone with my sister," 
Odah said. "They don't know when death is coming. There's a constant 
fear and struggle for basic necessities, the food. There's no food there."
Dr. Odah said Israel closed the Gaza borders more than a year ago. No 
one can go in and out, he said.

Recent rocket attacks by Hamas sparked Israel to attack.
"When you put 1.6 million people in a jail, what do you expect? Some 
kind of reaction is going to happen." Odah said.
"They're all trapped there. The borders are closed. They're not letting 
the people go anywhere. It's sad," said Lawrence resident Hazem Chahine.
The local chapter of the Muslim American Society organized Thursday's 
rally. Organizers said they want Israel to cease fire, to stop killing 
innocent women and children and open the Gaza borders for humanitarian aid.
"We want them to let food and medical supplies in. That's why we're 
here," said rally organizer Jomona Qaddour. "Let's not blame the 
victims. This has got to stop."
Many of the Muslims want the United States to force Israel to stop the 
attacks, and they said they are hopeful the new Obama administration 
might be able to bring peace back to the Middle East.






http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/stories/Phoenix-local-news-122808-gaza-strip-attack-protes.175cd6a5.html

Local protest against Israel's assault on Gaza strip
More Phoenix Local News
05:46 PM Mountain Standard Time on Sunday, December 28, 2008

Valley protesters on 2nd day of attacks
PHOENIX –Protests are being held all over the world as well as here in 
the Valley against Israel's air assault on the Gaza strip.
This is the second day of attacks. Each side blames the other for 
violating an Egyptian-brokered cease fire. Nearly 300 people have been 
killed and hundreds of others are injured.
Stephanie Jennings, a protester, tells 3TV, “As a U.S. tax-paying 
citizen I'm opposed to my tax dollars going to this aggression and this 
carnage of the Palestinian people.”
Hospitals in Gaza are stretching to provide care and medical supplies 
are running thin.
Also, the largest hospital on Israel's southern coast has moved 
underground for fear of rockets.