[THS] Leftist and rightist Israelis clash at Gaza flotilla protest in Tel Aviv

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Leftist and rightist Israelis clash at Gaza flotilla protest in Tel Aviv
Smoke grenade hurled at left wing protesters from unknown source; demonstrators
carry banners saying 'the government is drowning us all.'

By Chaim Levinson
Haaretz (Israel)
June 5, 2010
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/leftist-and-rightist-israelis-clash-at-gaza-
flotilla-protest-in-tel-aviv-1.294359

Leftist and rightist demonstrators clashed Saturday
night in Tel Aviv as more than 6,000 Israelis gathered
to protest the Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid ship
earlier this week, in which nine pro-Palestinian
activists were killed.

The protest was originally planned by to mark the
anniversary of the Six Day War which broke out 43 years
ago today. Among the organizers were left wing parties
Meretz, Hadash and Peace Now organization. The
demonstrators carried banners saying "The government is
drowning us all," "We must stride for peace," and "A
right wing government = clear and immediate danger to
state security."

As the demonstrators marched from the Rabin Square near
the city's municipal building toward the Tel Aviv
museum several hundred of rightist demonstrators
followed the demonstration. Upon their arrival at their
final destination the spirits heated up between the two
opposing groups, during which they two sides cursed and
shouted at each other.

A smoke grenade was also hurled at the left wing
demonstrators from an unknown source.

Police were deployed to keep the two sides apart.
Clashes were also reported on the central Ibn Gevirol
Street.

Hundreds of left wing demonstrators carried Israeli
flags to establish that they were not demonstrating
against Israel nor questioning the country's existence,
but rather protesting the actions executed by Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government.

Thousands protest Gaza blockade
By BEN HARTMAN
06/05/2010 20:51

Leftists rally against occupation, blame government of "drowning Israel."
By Jerusalem Post Staff


http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=177555

    Leftists protesters commemorate 43 years of
    occupation, call to end blockade.

Left-wing groups in Israel organized a demonstration in
Tel Aviv Saturday night in support of the international
activists on the Rachel Corrie which was boarded by IDF
forces earlier in the day and directed to the port in
Ashdod.

Members and supporters of NGOs Gush Shalom, Physicians
for Human Rights and Peace Now and the political
parties Hadash and Meretz organized the event,  which
started with a march from Rabin Square and culminated
with a rally of several thousand protesters at Museum
Plaza in Tel Aviv later in the evening.

The crowds marched under signs that read "the
government drowns us all" and called for a negotiated
solution that would lead to a Palestinian state and
joint-sovereignty over Jerusalem.

"Our deep respect  goes to  the small group of peace
activists on board the Rachel Corrie, who went on
sailing, unarmed and undaunted, and who now find
themselves in captivity for the crime of sailing  aid
to the people of Gaza," said Gush Shalom spokesperson
Adam Keller.

Another "Free Gaza" aid ship is currently docked in
Cyprus waiting to conduct another attempt to break the
blockade around Gaza, a senior IDF naval officer
revealed earlier Saturday.

The boat was supposed to have joined the earlier
attempts but has been delayed by technical difficulties
and the refusal of Cypriot authorities to allow their
territory to be used for the purpose of interfering
with Israel's blockade.

Elsewhere in the world, thousands of protesters took to
the streets around the Place de la Bastille in Paris on
Saturday to show solidarity with the "Free Gaza"
flotilla activists and the residents of Gaza.

Near the pro-Palestinian demonstration, a smaller group
of pro-Israel demonstrators made up largely from the
local Jewish community gathered to show their support
for the IDF's actions.

The British government also called on Israel to allow
an international investigation of the Mavi Marmara
incident and end the blockade.

"We continue to stress to the Israeli government the
importance of an investigation that ensures
accountability and commands the confidence of the
international community, and includes international
participation," said British Foreign Secretary William
Hague.

Hague continued, "we urgently need to see unfettered
access to Gaza to meet the humanitarian needs of the
people of Gaza and to enable the reconstruction of
homes, livelihoods and trade. That is why we continue
to press the Government of Israel to lift Gaza's
closure."

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