- Title: USA: Supporters of Israel's recent actions in Gaza rally in New York
- Date: 7th January 2009
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA (JANUARY 6, 2009) (AGENCY POOL) DEMONSTRATION BY MEMBERS OF ISRAEL'S CONSULATE OUTSIDE THE UNITED NATIONS CAMERA CUTAWAY (SOUNDBITE) (English ) GABRIELA SHALEV, ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO THE UN, SAYNG: "I hope that the world will understand that the Security Council is not the place to get any arrangement, any concessions, any resolution this has to be taken place on the ground." PULL FROM TIGHT OF ISRAELI CONSULATE TO RALLY ACROSS STREET PROTESTERS SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROMAN SHMULENSON, PRO-ISRAEL SUPPORTER, SAYING: "I truly believe that Hamas is responsible for these deaths because it's shooting the rockets into the civilian population of Israel from schools, from hospitals, from day care centers and unlike Israel that is protecting its children, Hamas is hiding behind the children and I believe it is very unfortunate. And we truly, truly feel the pain and suffering of the Palestinian civilians and no one wants to see these deaths. We truly hope the situationsoon." PROTESTER HOLDING US AND ISRAELI FLAGS SIGN SAYING "ISRAEL WITH STAND WITH YOU" AND PULL OUT TO WIDE OF CROWD
- Embargoed: 22nd January 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA95N8QZJEJGLA86FTQT1LHK0FX
- Story Text: Supporters of Israel's actions in Gaza rally in New York.
The Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gabriela Shalev, speaking at a small rally across from the United Nations on Tuesday (January 6), said that the recent crisis in Gaza was not one that could be solved by UN Security Council resolutions. It was one of two events in the city showing support for Israel's recent actions in Gaza.
"I hope that the world will understand that the Security Council is not the place to get any arrangement, any concessions, any resolution.
This has to be taken place on the ground," said Shalev.
Later in the day a much larger group of about 2,000 demonstrators also rallied across the street from Israel's consulate in support of the country.
Protester Roman Shmulenson said he would like the violence to stop, but pointed out that Israel must protect its citizens.
"I truly believe that Hamas is responsible for these deaths because its shooting the rockets into the civilian population of Israel from schools, from hospitals, from day care centers and unlike Israel that is protecting its children, Hamas is hiding behind the children and I believe it is very unfortunate," said Shmulenson.
More than 500 Palestinians, including at least 100 civilians, have been killed in the fighting and during Israeli bombing runs. Hamas rockets and combat inside Gaza have killed at least nine Israelis.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as well as Arab and European foreign ministers are in New York to seek a diplomatic solution to the situation in the Middle East.
The United Nations Security Council will hold a meeting late in the afternoon chaired by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner to discuss resolutions aimed at ending the crisis in Gaza.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will attend the meetings at the United Nations in a bid to broker a sustainable cease-fire as soon as possible and plans to hold several separate meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Arab and European foreign ministers to lobby for a three-tiered U.S.
truce proposal and will then attend a U.N.
Security Council meeting on Gaza.
The U.S. wants to see three key elements in any agreement: an end to rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza and securing border crossings between Gaza and Israel and between Gaza and Egypt.
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa and the foreign ministers of Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco planned meetings with envoys from other Arab nations, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Security Council members. Some Arab nations want the Security Council to pass a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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