USA: Protestors rally outside the United Nations in support of Israel's attack on Gaza

Record ID: 212748

  • Title: USA: Protestors rally outside the United Nations in support of Israel's attack on Gaza
  • Date: 6th January 2009
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 05, 2009) (AGENCY POOL) UNITED NATIONS BUILDING AND PROTESTORS PROTESTORS CHANTING 'HAMAS IS AL QAEDA' PROTESTOR HOLDING 'HAMAS IS AL QAEDA' SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (English) DOV HIKIND, NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, SAYING: "This is part of the war against terror and there is no reason in the world why the President-elect should not do what is morally correct and take the same position that has been taken by the leadership of the Congress, the Senate and the House and by the President of the United States. It is the morally correct thing to do. So, Barack Obama, we urge you respectfully, there's nothing to wait for, there is no reason not to speak out against terror." PROTESTORS CHANTING 'GOD BLESS AMERICA' PROTESTORS CHANTING 'NO CEASE FIRE' (SOUNDBITE) (English) DAVID WEPRIN, NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL, SAYING: "A democracy has the right to defend itself in any means that it deems necessary from those who attack one's freedoms and way of life. Israel did not expect nor invite such confrontation with evil, and it is doing that it needs to do in order to continue protecting its sovereignty. In order for peace in the region to be achieved, Hamas must be defeated and removed from power." PROTESTORS CHANTING 'FINISH THE JOB' PROTESTOR HOLDING SIGN 'CEASE THE TERROR, NOT THE FIRE'
  • Embargoed: 21st January 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAEB9N5SN67SXO9GY1D2UYPCKXD
  • Story Text: More than 200 protestors rally outside the United Nations building in support of Israel's attack on Gaza.
    More than 200 people rallied outside the United Nations building on Monday (January 05), in support of Israel's attack on the Gaza strip. The protest, organised by members of New York's Jewish community and the Rambam Mesivta School of Long Island, defended the military offensive, and encouraged Israel to continue. Protestors, many of them teenage boys, chanted 'Hamas is Al Qaeda' and 'finish the job' as various speakers addressed the crowd.
    Democrats New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind told the rally that President-elect Barack Obama needed to break his silence and issue a statement in support of Israel, as the conflict entered its 10th day.

    "This is part of the war against terror and there is no reason in the world why the President-elect should not do what is morally correct and take the same position that has been taken by the leadership of the Congress, the Senate and the House and by the President of the United States. It is the morally correct thing to do. So, Barack Obama, we urge you respectfully, there's nothing to wait for, there is no reason not to speak out against terror," Hikind said. The crowd also chanted 'God Bless America' and 'no cease fire'.
    The death toll in Gaza has risen to at least 541 people, many of them civilians. The Israeli Government has rebuffed international calls for a ceasefire, saying the military strikes are aimed at stopping Hamas rocket attacks on southern Israel. New York City Councilman David Weprin said Israel had every right to defend itself.

    "A democracy has the right to defend itself in any means that it deems necessary from those who attack one's freedoms and way of life. Israel did not expect nor invite such confrontation with evil, and it is doing that it needs to do in order to continue protecting its sovereignty. In order for peace in the region to be achieved, Hamas must be defeated and removed from power," Weprin told the crowd.
    Hamas has vowed to fight on in 'every street, every alley' and threatened to fire more rockets across the border into Israel.
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