Protesters across Canada slam 'terrorist' Israel as Palestinian toll grows
Published Sunday December 28th, 2008
TORONTO - The raw realities of Middle East politics spilled onto the streets in several cities across Canada on Sunday as pro-Palestinian protesters denounced the bloody Israeli attacks on Gaza and blasted Israel as a terrorist state.
The largest demonstration was in Toronto, where tempers flared and tensions mounted as about 800 protesters outside the Israeli consulate screamed at a few dozen pro-Israel supporters across busy Bloor Street.
"I am here to stand up for the victims of Palestine who are being brutally slaughtered by the Israeli terrorist state," said protester Ali Mallah as he waved a Palestinian flag.
"If there was no occupation, there would be no rockets. Occupation is the worst form of terrorism. People have the right to resist their occupier by any means necessary."
Police had their hands full keeping the two groups apart as the pro-Palestinian group surged across the road, but, apart from some minor scuffles, there was no violence.
At least 290 Palestinians have been killed and about 800 injured in recent days in a series of intensive Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip that Israel says is in reprisal for rocket attacks from Palestinian militants.
Harold Medjuck, who stood holding a pro-Israel banner across the road from the larger protest, said the Israeli air strikes were defensive.
"What would Canada do if somebody wanted to do air strikes against Canada?" Medjuck said. "All they (the Palestinians) want to do is kill Jews."
In Montreal, about 300 protesters showed up on a warm, windy day to show solidarity with people in the Gaza Strip.
Blasting Palestinian music and flying Palestinian flags, the protesters - many wearing the distinctive black-and-white checked keffiyeh - marched through the city's downtown core as shoppers stopped to gawk and take photographs.
"They're living in fear," said Abdul Elsalfiti of his family in the Gaza strip.
"My family is looking for bread, they're looking for shelter, they're looking for water, they're just looking for basic needs."
Lesley Levy, a member of the British-based Independent Jewish Voices, said she "felt ashamed" for what was going on in Israel.
Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon has expressed concern about the escalating violence but has made clear the federal government believes Israel has a right to defend itself.
Protection of civilians was Canada's utmost concern and the deliberate and constant targetting of civilians by Hamas was the main reason for the bloody events, Cannon said.
Ismail Zayid, who joined dozens of protesters at a downtown Halifax park in condemning the "massacre" of Palestinians, was incredulous at Cannon's statement.
"The people who've been subjected to this don't have the right to defend themselves, but Israel has the right to defend," said Zayid, 75, a retired doctor who has lived in Halifax for 36 years but is originally from the West Bank.
"We claim to uphold (international law) and yet here, when human rights are violated, we are not critical of the people who commit these crimes."
Following their protest outside the Israeli consulate in Toronto, hundreds of demonstrators then marched about a kilometre to the U.S. consulate, shutting down University Avenue as police, some mounted, some on bicycles, kept a watchful eye.
Among the protesters was Samer Noureddine, 11.
"I don't like what I'm hearing on the news about the bombs in Palestine," Noureddine said.
"I have some family friends in Palestine right now that live in Gaza so I'm here to represent them."
About four dozen protesters also gathered in Ottawa outside City Hall carrying flags and signs reading "Save Gaza."
Organizer Monzer Zimmo calling for international pressure on Israel to stop "this madness of attacking civilians and police stations and women, men, children and elderly people this holiday season."
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