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Violence fears over rival London protests
Jack Lefley7 Jan 2009
THERE were fears of violent street clashes in London today after it emerged that a mass pro-Israeli rally has been planned for minutes after a demonstration against the country's attack on Gaza, the Evening Standard can reveal.
Police sources said riot officers are on standby amid concerns the two demonstrations may overlap, leading to angry confrontations.
Demonstrations against Israel's military action are being held all week outside the country's embassy in Kensington as the civilian death toll of the ground assault grows. Yesterday evening about 100 people gathered outside the building and shouted slogans against Israel's campaign.
On Monday last week there were 12 arrests after 2,000 people surrounded the embassy in Palace Green to voice their anger.
The Standard has learned that a rally in support of Israel's actions has been planned at the same spot this evening - half an hour after the pro-Palestinian demonstration is due to end. The pro-Israel rally has been organised by a group on Facebook called London Solidarity Stand for Israel. Within hours of it being set up 1,600 people had said they would come to the event with another 1,811 saying they might attend.
Organiser Matt Freelander said the group had told police about their plans but they would probably go ahead with or without official approval. The 28-year-old property dealer from Hendon said: "It will be very hard to stop the demonstration now. We are British citizens who have friends in the Israeli army and we have a right to have our say. Hamas are terrorists who hide behind civilians."
Local MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind said the plans were "risky" and called on both sets of demonstrators to work with police to ensure there was no disorder.
He added: "The right of peaceful protest is precious and needs to be protected. There are people who feel strongly on both sides of this issue and they must not be stopped from doing that.
Pro-Palestinian protest organiser Mohamad Sawalha, of the British Muslim Initiative, said: "It would be better for them not to organise it this way. It will be strange watching people support killing in Gaza. But this is a free country."
Scotland Yard was not able to confirm whether it had given the pro-Israel rally the go ahead.
Reader views (4)
Selective statistics doesn't change reality.
Hamas have done, and continue to call for the total destruction of Israel. The government has sent out a call for attacks against Jews all over the world. They facilitate, at the very least, the supply of missiles to the supporters who persist in their attacks against Israel, that some seem to believe have nothing to do with the government.
I haven't seen anything matching this coming from Israel.
'nuff said.
- Rogan, Irving, 07/01/2009 17:57
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During the ceasefire Hamas only began firing rockets after an Israeli army incursion in the first week of November 2008. Before that point they had respected the cease fire and criticised Palestinian militant groups that had fired rockets. Rocket attacks for the four months following the ceasefire dropped by 97%. Israel's very own Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed this. Meanwhile the blockade of Gaza continued, settlement expansion continued, killings/imprisonment by the Israeli army in the West Bank continued and life for the Palestinians continued much as before - in fear, poverty and deprived of basic human rights and living under occupation. Of course, the firing of rockets at Israeli civilians is not acceptable but the government of Israel had a very real opportunity to make lives safer for its citizens and it failed them badly.
The Israeli government are now bombing indiscriminately, using chemical and cluster munitions and waging war against a civilian population. Their supporters should feel deeply ashamed.
- Ian, Norwich, 07/01/2009 16:54
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The blame for this war lies squarely at the feet of the Hamas.
If they used the millions of dollars of aid to build homes, universities, hospitals and schools for their people instead of buying arms and rockets which they fire indiscriminately into Israel, even during the ceasefire period, and if they stopped using the Palestinians as human shields, we would be in a different place.
- Lynda Solomon, London, England, 07/01/2009 15:24
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"Pro-Palestinian protest organiser Mohamad Sawalha, of the British Muslim Initiative, said: "It would be better for them not to organise it this way. It will be strange watching people support killing in Gaza. But this is a free country."
So Hamas had not been killing innocent civilians with their rockets before the Israelis retaliated?!?
- Colin, London, 07/01/2009 15:17
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