Arabs hit streets to protest Israeli offensive

[Purveyor]

Published: 7/21/2006

CAIRO - Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in the Arab world Friday to rally against the Israeli offensive in Lebanon, which one regional leader branded a "genocidal war".

Clashes broke out in Cairo between police and protesters who had gathered after prayers at the Al-Azhar mosque in support of Lebanon and the Palestinians, both facing massive and deadly military operations by Israel.

Several thousand demonstrators, mostly members of the Muslim Brotherhood opposition, shouted anti-Israeli slogans and denounced the recognition of Israel by Arab governments including Jordan and Egypt -- the only two Arab states to have signed peace treaties with the Jewish state.

Some police officers and demonstrators were slightly injured when riots broke out.

In Jordan, some 2,000 people marched through Amman in support of Lebanon and the Palestinians after Friday prayers, heeding a call by Islamists and union leaders.

---end of excerpt from Turkish Press article---

http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=134454

[Xenotime]

1. If Israel would just stop the violence, we would have peace...

it's sad but I see the entire Middle East crashing down because of Israel and the US.

[Fredda Weinberg]

3. If Israel would simply cease to exist, we would have peace

Until then, she will do what every modern state must.

[cali]

4. Sorry, it's not even close

to being that simple. It never was. In any case, when two or more parties are fighting, it takes forbearance on all sides to end hostilities, not just one party setting down its arms.

[Imajika]

5. Nonsense...

"If Israel would just stop the violence, we would have peace..."

This could be perhaps the most naive statement I've seen on DU lately.

I'm gonna pull out the cluebat and let you know what the key to stopping the violence is. Hizbullah returns the kidnapped Israeli soldiers, stops firing illegal missiles into Israel (from a zone the UN has totally failed to control or monitor as intended), and begins disarming as all militia's in Lebanon were supposed to do long ago. Hizbullah does this, and viola' - we have peace.

Short of Hizbullah doing the above, Israel will just have to annhilate Hizbullah's military capacity as much as possible.

Israel only attacked Hizbullah/Lebanon because Hizbullah launched a cross border raid, killed Israeli soldiers and kidnapped two others. This war is a direct result of Hizbullah's actions. Period.

If Israel just stopped their violence, Hizbullah would just be free to attack Israel at will.

Israel needs to continue doing just exactly what they are doing right now, and hopefully they will follow with an invasion of Southern Lebanon and massively degrade the military wing of Hizbullah.

It is a terrible shame civilians are dying in Lebanon and Israel, but that is what happens in wars. War is not pretty, but sometimes it can not be avoided. The fault for this bloodshed is entirely Hizbullah's. Israel at least attempts to avoid civilian casualities, while Hizbullah attempts to maximize them.

[MrPrax]

7. You forgot something...?

The occupied territories...but it was a noble attempt to ignore the week before last and ONLY talk about what Hezbullah HAS to do in Lebanon -- which of course isn't really the issue. Israel is in violation of international law and continues to illegally occupy territories. Israel can't expect it's security to be safeguarded under these conditions. It is foolish to think otherwise and cloud the issues.

[melnjones]

8. Equally naive statement.

Seriously...what would happen if Israel would free the Lebanese and Palestinian prisoners that are being held without being convicted of anything (or at least give them some due process)? Wouldn't that go a long way for peace?

It's gonna take work from BOTH sides, not one or the other.

[funnymanpants]

12. Agree

Especially about the Palestinian prisoners. There are 10,000 of them! And many were kidnapped.

[BeHereNow]

13. Does your logic apply to the civilians dying in Iraq?

Just wondering...
"It is a terrible shame civilians are dying in Lebanon and Israel, but that is what happens in wars."

BHN

[NaturalHigh]

14. That's a load of crap.

Hezbollah is lobbing rockets into Israel, the Lebanese government won't even attempt to stop it, and Israel is to blame? Bullshit.

[Fredda Weinberg]

2. A real spontaneous demonstration n/t

[saigon68]

6. lots of love on this thread

[Monkeyman]

9. yep DU fighting DU no wonder no one can get along

hey Brother

[jonnyblitz]

10. yup. nt

[Igel]

11. I was assuming this meant in Syria--the last report of

the "Arab street" rising up over this was in Syria, with nicely preprinted posters and street cleaners on call as soon as the demonstration ended.

But when I read "in the Arab world", my only thought was, "Is it Friday already?"

So often after hearing the messages of peace and tolerance that are certainly being uttered in such prominent, large, state-funded and prestigious mosques the people ignore those messages and go into the street to protest and spew hate. And not infrequently, to riot.

Why is that, I wonder?

Mycelium, I tell you.