Protestors, supporters of Israel's Gaza strikes face off in Los Angeles
31/12/2008 17:20
About 500 protestors and supporters of Israel's ongoing strikes in Gaza
faced off yesterday near the Israeli Consulate in Beverly Hills, staking out
their respective positions.
Palestine and Israel supporters began to converge
late in the afternoon on both sides of Wilshire Boulevard in the front of the
consulate office, chanting slogans and waving signs opposing and supporting
Israel's air strikes on the Hamas-controlled area.
No arrests were reported
in the largely peaceful demonstration, police said.
Meanwhile, about 100
demonstrators gathered outside the Federal Building in west Los Angeles to
protest against the US government's positions on the Middle East
crisis.
Earlier in the day, Islamic community leaders in Los Angeles launched
a US$3-million fundraising drive to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinian
victims, and lashed out at Israel for its military operations in Gaza.
There
are an estimated 650,000 Muslims living in Los Angeles and neighboring
areas.
Xinhua
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