Jewish activists chain themselves to Israeli Consulate building [UPDATED]

Demanding an end to military action in Gaza, eight to 10 Jewish activists chained themselves this morning to the Israeli Consulate building on Wilshire Boulevard.

Other activists who were not chained to the building walked in a circle outside the consulate, chanting: "Let Gaza live! End the siege now." One of the signs they carried read: "The Israeli consulate has been closed for war crimes."

Hannah Howard, a spokeswoman for the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, which is conducting the protest, said demonstrators chained themselves to the front steps of the building at 8:30 a.m. and that two others blocked the walkway. Several more stood in front of the driveway on Wilshire Boulevard to prevent cars from entering and exiting. About 50 protesters participated in the demonstration, she said.

“Jews will not allow the violence that is being done in our name to continue," Howard said. "Not all Jews are united in support of Israel. We [also] recognized the humanitarian crisis in Palestine.”

The consulate is on the 17th floor of the building at 6380 Wilshire Boulevard, and many other businesses have offices inside.

Updated, 5:11 p.m.: Authorities said demonstrators who chained themselves outside the Israeli Consulate ended their protest peacefully about noon, according to LAPD Sgt. Ronnie Crump.  Event organizers were told by police officers that demonstrators could be arrested, because it was against the law to block the entrances of buildings.  Shortly after that, demonstrators ended their protest, Crump said. "It ended peacefully and quietly," he said of the protest's conclusion.

No arrest were made at the demonstration.

-- Ruben Vives

Photos: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[LEO]

Bravo for these people, they understand that for every innocent child that gets killed ,it generates more and more hate towards Israel and the USA.

[john from ojai]

I have the most admiration for Jews who find the truth and act from their heart. It takes great courage to note the lies of AIPAC and military industry controlled politicians as well as war profiting media and then find the truth and act on it. Everyone needs to take responsibility for finding the truth. Check Amy Goodman, If Americans Knew, KPFK, Free Gaza, Occupation 101, Norman Finkelstein, Ian Masters, CIndy Sheehan, Jewish Voice for Peace and Middle East in Focus for some truth.Write your politicians and media. Do something to save the children! Anything!

[ALD]

What these misguided people are doing is reminiscent of Jane Fonda's activities during the Vietnam War. They are giving aid to an enemy, not only of Israel, but of the United States as well. And - I cannot understand why the city allows these hoodlums to blockade and shut down Wilshire Boulevard.

[Tommy D]

These same people are the ones who are silent when Hamas fires 600 missiles into Israel and Israel shows great restraint by not responding. These are the same people who have nothing to say when a Hamas suicide bomber kills 9 teenagers in Tel Aviv. They don't care when Jews are killed, only when Palestinians die.

[Dylan Schwilk]

Bravo! I applaud them. It took time to turn US opinion away from supporting South African apartheid. Public support for Israeli apartheid is weakening too.

[Diane]

These Jewish demonstrators have my ultimate respect. It is not easy to go against your own people, particulary when they are so powerful, to stand up for basic human rights.

[Geoff]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for bringing me tears of joy and hope, and for lifting the tinges of anti-Semitic hate which have been pulling at my heart these last few weeks. I knew the Jewish left had to be out there somewhere; I knew that there had to be Jews of conscious out there to redeem their people and speak out against Israel's illegal war crimes. THANK YOU for doing this.

[Tamar Andrews]

DISGUSTING!!!! Will these same Jews march silently to the gas chambers when there is no country for Jews? Will these same Jews protest when bombs fall on their Jewish neighborhoods like are falling in Sderot? These people have the freedom to protest here in Los Angeles because they are NOT facing imminent death from Jew haters in the middle east. But rest assured, once the zionist Jews are gone, they are coming after YOU too! A Jew is a Jew. To a nazi, to a member of Hamas or Al Queda or any other anti-semite. A Jew is a Jew. And you will be hunted just like the rest of us. So enjoy your freedoms now while you still have those of us willing to protect you. Once we are gone, you are on your own.

[Fred Johnson]

Hilarious. I wonder when anyone will protest the rocket attacks from Gaza (and now Lebanon). Oh right, I forgot, the Jews brought that on themselves. The love and affection the rest of the world has for terrorists is pathetic.

[thank you]

Thank you, thank you!!! I really admire you because you showed that we can not accept these atrocities made in our names. we are more and more Jews who are tired of all these bloodshed. Yesterday the electoral comission banned arab israelis to run on forthcoming election (members of all parties voted for that decision along extrem right wing), today OUR ARMY has reached its 1000th killed people against 20 for israelis, what are we going to do tomorow? To kill or expell all arabs from israel? These are not dog or chicken that we are killing they are people!!!!! There were others ways to deal with this crisis,not this butchery. Lets stop the politics of humiliation and deshumanization and lets embrace a true future policy

[thank you for showing that we are also sentient humane being]

the world is behind you, we love you Jew who are seeing clearly that we can not continue to kill more than 1000 people in 19 days and explain that it assures our security. Livni , barack are war criminals who are directing the state of israel to a future of hatred and confusion as we wll be facing very soon the son of people OUR ARMY has killed. And I doubt that they will undertsand that we bombed their houses for our MUTUAL good. Lets stop the policy of submission these are not dog or rats that we are killing, they are people like us.

[oeste]

as a commenter implied , this is a left right issue. the jew leftists would sell their brethren down, just as the Kapos beat their brethren in the Camps. We pray that the dupes on the left will not succeed in their anti-Zionist screed. and make no mistake, these people are One State Solution people-- and there is no place for jews in the Falestin they support....

[Daniel]

To Geoff, Diane, Dylan, John and Leo: Where were your posts when rockets were falling on Israel daily for 7 years? Or is it that you dont like Jews and Israelis and only comment when you can accuse them of a crime? If someone was trying to kill your baby, would you try to stop it? If someone was cutting off your arm would you be justified in killing them? Cutting off an arm is far less a serious crime than killing. So why do you feel that only Hamas is justified but the Israeli's are not. Why not just say what you really mean. You hate Jews and Israeli Jews in particular and you jumped at a chance to say so in what you thought was a politically correct way?

[ORDONY]

as an arab-american i applaud these protests ,and i wish that us as arabs will protest arab to arab violance as much as we protest violance by israel.lets stop the hypocrisy

[Gali]

I don't understand people like you. You live in America, enjoying the security of our country, and why do you feel that way? You know we have one of the best army in the world. Who do you think train the U.S.A military? who helps the American people feel so safe? It is the Israeli Army who comes here and train our soldiers. They train them and teach them how to handle terrorism, because of the Israelis, our children can go to school without fear (unlike the children of Sderot). The Israeli army protects us hear in the United States.
SHAME ON YOU!!!

[Michael]

Yes, Hamas is wrong firing rockets into Israel. But how many have died? 1 maybe 2. In one day the Israelis have killed over 200 people. Besides over-reacting they have undoubtedly created thousands of recruits willing to die in their hatred of Israel. Whatever your opinion, it's clear that Israel's approach isn't working.

[sina]

So the election of mr. Barrak in feb cost more than 300 palestinian children their lives. Oh well as long as they are arab children the jews are OK with it or are they?

[Amir]

We certainly need more such courageous individuals in our otherwise dysfunctional world. They are calling it like it is: a genocide against poor, forgotten and displaced souls who got kicked out of their land 50+ years ago. And we need to get more people to understand an opposition to zionist agenda is NOT an anti-semitic stance.

[anthony]

AT THIS VERY MOMENT THERE ARE THOUSANDS IN FEAR ON BOTH SIDES, HOW LONG CAN THIS HATRED BETWEEN 2 GROUPS CONTINUE. WHERE IS THE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD????? HOW MUCH HATRED DOES OUR WORLD NEED? I AM GLAD TO SEE JEWISH PERSONS TAKE A STAND AGAINST THIS WAR AND HATRED. NO MAN, WOMAN, CHILDREN SHOULD DIE ........ HOW MUCH BLOOD NEEDS TO COVER THE STREETS? WE LIVE IN A HORRIBLE WORLD WHERE COUNTRIES AND GOVERNMENTS ALLOW THIS KIND OF ACTIONS AGAINST INNOCENT PEOPLE- SPEAKING AGAINST THIS PROTEST SIIMPLY TELLS US WHERE YOU STAND IN THIS PROBLEM......DOES THIS MEAN THAT IF YOU WHERE STANDING ON ONE SIDE OF A STREET CORNER AND I WAS STANDING ON ANOTHER YOU WOULD WANT TO HURT ME????? ITS A SHAME TO SEE OUR WORLD WITH EVERYONE KILLING EACHOTHER IN THE NAME OF RELIGION...... IN AFRICA IN THE NAME OF DIAMONDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES (OIL). WHEN WILL THERE BE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FROM GOVERNMENTS ? I AM JUST A SIMPLE CATHOLIC......... BUT I CAN IMAGINE IS I WAS A SIMPLE JEW IN ISRAEL OR IN GAZA WHERE EVERYDAY THERE IS HATRED AND HATRED..... WILLING TO KILL ONES NEIGHBOR........ THE ONLY THING THAT COMES INTO MY MIND IS "THOSE POOR CHILDREN DYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!" THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO DESERVE THIS, THEIR ONLY FAULT IS BEING BORN IN THOSE COUNTRIES.................... MAY GOD BLESS THE LIVING AND THE DYING AND GIVE STRENGHT TO THE POOR THAT DID NOT ASK FOR THIS CONFLICT...

[CS Laurie]

Let's see... Tijuana starts firing missiles into La Jolla. How long would we citizens allow that before we either demanded military action or took it on ourselves to clean it up. Misguided people giving comfort to the enemy. Shame on you.

[brian]

great job, and thanks, to the protesters. how anyone can defend the actions of israel when roughly 1/3 of the 1,000 killed so far are palestinian children is beyond my comprehension. it is a total cop-out to accuse those who criticize Israel's actions of being anti-Semites.

[nobodysfool]

Shalom, you have done a thing that will awaken (God)
Mal-ach (מלאך)
Malk.

The same angels from the same ( God), the same blood from the same (God)
Thou shall not kill is in both religions. Zionism cannot exist without Hamas.
It is time to sit down, break bread, eat some hommus, smile, laugh, cry and stop the madness on both sides.

[Wardeh Abdelmuti]

I commend these brave people
LET IT BE KNOW OF THE ISRAELI STATE They can murder,humiliate,devastate The Palestinians but EVERYONE is watching like they say "What goes up must come DOWN"

[paulo lyons]

One thing is clear: those that support the murder of thousands of innocent women and children, and attempt to justify it because Mossad agents dress up as Arabs and fire rockets into largely Arabic neighbors in Israel, with almost NO deadly damage to Jewish Israelis, do so without a conscience.

[Mara]

Bravo for the demonstrators! In the name of all the Jews Against Occupation and War such as myself!!!
For those of you that support the War:
Do you know the definition of insanity? It is to do the same thing over and over expenting s different outcome. 60 years of violence have not stopped violence. It is time to try a different stategy. Anything else would be insane.

[Harold]

Bravo and thank you to these brave people. They are willing to stand up for what is right.

As long as Israel considers Palestinian life to be worthless, Israel will not have security or peace. These protestors understand that Israel is not always right, and needs to come to terms with the greater issues.

Israel is a country that needs to grow up and take responsibility for its actions.

[Ron Mepwith]

Anthony says it all.

[Karim]

jews against zionism!
yayyyyyyy!

[Darrell Kern]

Tommy D,
Whether or not these people have not chained themselves to building a protest because of the 600 missiles that Hamas fires into Israel and Israel is such capacity of restraint to withstand- is not even a relevant issue. At least they doing something rather than verbally complain about someone who his merely criticizing an action they took. Its harder to be courageous in person- it is easy to type a complaint and lob a verbal jab. Why don't you go down and chain yourself to the building for Israel's side- no one is stopping you and then all sides would be represented.

[Eddie]

Daniel, the Israeli military actions are completely amoral and unjustifiable. There is no possible way to equate the death of a few Israelis to the slaughter of 1,000 Palestinians - most of whom are completely innocent civilians. While it is not right for Hamas to fire rockets into Israel, the Israeli government's continued oppression of Palenstinians is the root cause behind all of this violence. To oppose Israel's policy toward Palenstinians is not the same as being Anti-Semitic. You should not conflate the two.

[Emily Katz]

Bravo! Thanks for showing the two sides of this issue: justice and injustice. What a relief to see some respite from the horror.

[adam]

These people are not Jews.
If they are, then I am a Palestinian who wants Israel to take over the middle east.
Shmucks!!!

[Mark C]

Amazing, it just like sugar to ants. All the Israel haters are feasting. There is no use in mentioning facts those haters will hate anyhow, so I say go for it very few take you seriously. As far as the self hating Jews this is not a new phenomenon, it used to be called CAPO.

[julie]

These kids have my blessing. The politicians in power have no guts to stand up to what is making the headlines in Europe.

[Ruthie]

You want to know why the Palestinian death tolls are so high? Its not because of Israeli violence, Its because of hammas using THEIR OWN people as human shields and because these 'innocent' Palestinians stage their own deaths/suffering in order to make the world sympathize them. Israel has been at the top of the world in science, physics, math, medicine, military strategy, computer science, inventions.... the list goes on. If their so advanced with things like that, do you honestly think they'd miss a bunch of amateur 'actors' playing 'Hollywood' to make naive media and uneducated americans believe them? I guess this is just one more thing Israel's better at...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_OGhj43GAE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL8ANySuSuk&feature=related

If any of you believe these videos are propaganda or unreliable...the Hamas video (first one) was made by a palestinian civilian, and the second was made by an educated group of research journalists.
Watch and you'll be amazed..
Maybe you should read up on some of your history, and current events for that matter, before jumping into, and trusting the lies the media feeds you.

[D]

Thank you!
What the people who supports Israel actions must understand is that the protesters have nothing against Israel as most of the jewish cummunity would like everyone to think.
Stop believing the retoric being used these days that the protesters support terrorists networks or that they are anti-semitic that is the same retoric used by the government when the US invaded Iraq, back them we were all unpatriotic!
They support a cease fire and the end of the occupation. Stop the killing of children and innocent people
If the same acts were perpetrated by any Arab country against Israel would you guys called those acts self defense, the right to exist or just call it terrorism.
Let not forget that Israel continues stealing land from Palestine, Don't they(palestinians) have the right to exist and defend themselves too?

[steve rodriguez]

let isreal stop the battle, and watch hamas come on strong. terrorist never want peace.

[J Smaili]

I salute your courage. Alas, Jews who care about other's human rights...well done!

[pauline russell]

I thank all of you wonderful jewish people who are so brave to stand against your own people and be called self-hating jews.
it shows that you are humantarians first and formost. what you are doing is a inspiration to all of us

[Dodger Tony]

The sheer white heat generated by this discussion is evidence of blatant anti Semitism and bigotry coupled with a grotesque ignorance of the facts as related to the so called crisis in the middle east. The fact that "only" a handful of Israelis have been killed in "disproportion" to the innocent Palestinian children and elderly is an affront to those who understand that if the Palestinians COULD kill a thousand Jews they would do it in a heartbeat. The horrific actions of Hamas to cynically place armaments in civilian locations WITH civilians in these dwellings acting as "human shields" is one of the most subhuman acts I have ever had the disgust to comprehend. The singular motive of Hamas to sacrifice innocent Palestinians to court world anti-Jewish opinion is incomprehensible. In addition, the almost 50 percent split in opinion on this post is terrifying and reveals a much larger anti Jewish issue in Los Angeles, far worse than I suspected but knew. Thankfully we have a zillion Latinos who have no dog in this hunt.
I suspect that the group of Jews who chained themselves up are converts. No wait, converts would care far more than these self-loathing cripples.
Thank you Tamar Andrews for your brilliant post.
I encourage all of you to see the movie "Defiance". Learn from history people. Thank you Adonai for blessing the Israelis with one remarkable character asset: they don't give a sh...t what you think.

[Miller]

Thank you protestors. I knwo if anyone did this that wasnt 'jewish' some jewish people would complain it was based on anti-semitism . IT ISNT. WHAT ISRAEL IS DOING IS HORRIFIC. HOW they have treated the PAlestinians for years is criminal. That is why the Palestininas that have no $$ or aid from the USA resort to suicide bombing . They have NO other way to fight back..

[LauraDavids]

For those of you who say that disagreeing with the current Israeli government's actions is tantamount to ignoring Hamas when they send rockets, I say "Phooey." It is quite simplistic to suggest disagreeing with actions of a government means you a) are against Israel b) sympathize with terrorists or c) wish that nothing gets done to stop Hamas.

First of all, there are civilians who are trapped in Gaza, trapped. Children are dying: there are god-awful photos of headless babies, bloodied bodies, children covered by dust and buried up to their necks, their eyes closed. Whether or not Hamas is hiding behind civilians, children should not die: civilians should not die.

I would also suggest you google Rabbi Arthur Waskow of the Shalom Center in Philadephia. I wish I had the url; however, he has information from Israeli sources (with the urls) about how Israel has started and escalated this latest round. Now, yes, Israelis are tormented and traumaticized by rockets; however, we (and I say we because it is American-funded military hardware doing this) are killing innocents--now more than a thousand. To say that it's unavoidable, that it must be done to root out Hamas, is to be naive and blind to the suffering of others. So, I say, thank you to those who chained themselves to the Israeli consulate in L.A. Thank you.

[dave]

"The Romans popularized the term Palestina after their destruction of the 2nd Jewish Temple in Jerusalem when they uprooted and exiled the majority of Jews from the land, then known as Judea. This was an attempt to revoke the Jewish connection with the land of Israel in both name and substance." . Palestine: History: 135–337: Syria Palaestina and the Tetrarchy

Who's land is it anyways? Has it not changed hands many times over the millennia? “Rightfull” ownership to lands/borders seems to be one worldwide game of musical chairs where some righteous voice shouted “Stop! This is how it stays, now.”

[jimmy]

Pathetic. They are not Jews, they are imposters. The IDF Is protecting The Jewish right to exist and live peacefully, while traitors like this give the terrorists more fuel. All you people who think Israel is wrong for protecting it's own country need to do some research. The middle east is 99% arab. It's 99% muslim. The Jews want 1% of the land to live in peace and harmony, and the arab anti-semites can't stand it. So they create proxy terrorist groups through Iran like Hezbollah and Hamas which inch closer to Israel and spread their hate and threaten their people. Israel has EVERY RIGHT to protect it's people from these anti-semetic terrorists who would gladly kill all these worms who protest. These people HATE you and me and all the US Christians too. Israel is doing the dirty work, respect that.

[this is pathetic]

What an outrageous protest! Where were these people for the last two years as rockets were fired into Israel? Where were they last January, when a rocket landed in or near Sderot every 3 hours? Why is Israel the only country to blame for Gaza's problems, when there is a border with Egypt? Why the double standard that it is OK to attack Israel, but if Israel should fight back (as every nation has the right to do in self-defense) then suddenly it is "war crimes" and "apartheid" and "holocaust" and other big scary words?

This is just pathetic.

Think your story through a bit more before doing something overly dramatic like this. Israel is rightfully acting to protect its citizens. They do as much as anyone could ask to minimize collateral damage; give them a chance to right the wrongs committed against them.

[layla]

It is becoming more clear by the day and by the hour that Israel, with the backing of the US, seeks to destroy any coherent Palestinian society--no matter the cost in Palestinian blood. Israel's offensive is not about Hamas; it is about denying the basic right of Palestine and its people to exist. Thank you to those who held this action today; it is vital that the world better understand that the state of Israel and Zionism are not one and the same as the Jewish people or individual Jews. In solidarity.

[Figgins]

To ORDONY:

Why can't you include violence of Arabs against Jews?

[Sam]

These Jewish people with a conscience are not only protesting the killing of Palestinians but also protecting the real interest of Israel by trying to awaken the Jewish people to stop the atrocities of the Israeli administration. There is colossal damage to the Palestinians but also tremendous damage to Israel with their standing in the eyes of the world truly tarnished. Israel does not realize it is doing itself great harm by pursuing current policies they need to change urgently so as not to go over the precipice.

[GA]

a hint about making a longterm, positive impact in the world - as opposed to a negative one - as a Jew: Always ask yourself 'What is G-d's opinion of your behaviour according to the Torah?'
For defending Jewish security - G-d DEMANDS this of us, let alone condones it. The current actions of the IDF - especially if followed through thoroughly, will literally save lives on BOTH the Jewish and PA sides, disarming the terrorists who plague everyone.
Lying, tied to a building in order to ridicule the right of fellow Jews to defend themselves and thus, siding with the enemies who would happily slaughter any Jew any age any time any place, (including those chained in the picture), and working to make this a public activity..... such actions are not pleasing in G-d's eyes. We are instructed to support our fellow Jews publicly, working out disagreements within the family respectfully and privately to avoid shaming others.
This behaviour might have some "shock appeal" and appear to achieve something, (like giving laughter and encouragement to our enemies). But because it is against G-d's wishes to degrade fellow Jews in public, all "fruits" of such labor will rot.
Better to have used the energy in ways which do not go against G-d's wishes...

[Daniel]

These people are boneheads. The Hamas in Gaza would love an opportunity to cut thier throats. The civilians being killed in Gaza are just as culpable for tolerating rocket firing squads hiding in their neighorhoods, near their hospitals and near their schools. What did they think would come of that?

Israel should be commended for ceasing putting up with the ceaseless rocket attacks on thier people, defending themselves, and Israelis are people worthy of America's support. The same cannot be said of Hamas.

D

[Eytan]

Disgusting is the word to use. Innocent women and children have been terrorized by Hamas after Israel unilaterally left the gaza strip/ None of you where posting comments of the atrocities commited then. You are all hypocrites. Wake up and see through all the BS. Israel has every right to strike back at there enemies. As for the so-called ugly Jewish gurls it is a joke for those frumpy idiots to even call themselves Jewish. I am sure none of the poster's have ever been to this region let alone actually know the accurate history. Sad day

[RJD]

I am dumbfounded by the different views expressed here.
Is there no way to see the legitimacy of others' points of view?

[Mikhail]

As an ex-Soviet Jew, I have noticed that we, Jews:

1.Are the only ones that use the term "Self-hate" to silence any criticism of Jews, Israel, Zionism, AIPAC, Jewish power , Holocaust exploitation, etc.. you got the picture
2.Equate hate of Jews for ANY reason to hate of Jews for NO reason, thus assuming NO responsibility for wrongs we have inflicted.
3.Assume that Jewish identity is based on religion and support of Israel
4.Seek and amplify anti-Semitism to close the ranks
5.Lost the essence of what being Jewish is: compassion to the oppressed

So, who is a Jew in my book: born by Jewish parents and buried on a Jewish cemetery.

Mikhail

[Will]

Bravo to these courageous young people. It is never easy to against the majority of one's own community. It wasn't easy for white anti-racists, male pro-feminists or straight anti-homophobes, but I believe as more Jews take a stand against the crimes of the Israeli government many more Jewish people will denounce what a powerful minority in the Israeli government is doing. Long Live the Kibbutzim! Long live Palestine! Down with Israeli crimes against humanity!

[Golara Hamzeh]

We also salute those non Jews who feel the same and do the same: opposing the racist tendencies of Zionism. It's not just some Jews who have a problem with Zionism. There are a lot of non Jews who also are anti Zionist. Their opinions and activities against Zionism should not automatically mark them as anti Semitic. The only way zionism will be reformed is through a united jewish and non jewish front against the racist ultra nationalistic realities of this ideology. if people had a doubt in UN racism conference in Durban 2000 about the nature of Zionism, on the eve of Durban 2009, it should be clear to everyone that Zionism is the ideology of Israeli Apartheid. It needs to be seriously reformed or it should be tossed considered expired.

[TV]

This issue is easy to understand. It is not in the least bit controversial. Israel has been breaking international law since at least 1967. Look up UN resolution 242 and keep in mind that is illegal under international law to settle your own citizens in occupied territory.

Also, a really great way to understand this issue better is to turn off Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, etc. Read or watch media from all around the world for 1 week and compare the way the issue is talked about. The bias of the U.S. media is staggering.

[Samuel]

WOW... As a Jew I am proud of my people.. Listen people... Us Israelis are oppressed... save us... The Zionist regime of Israel is killing and imprisoning Jewish Freedom Fighters for speaking out..Now that i am writing this, I know my house is wired to Hundreds of computers in Moss-ad's offices..Yes we are finally speaking out..To those ugly old thinker Jews in USA (old generation) we are sick and tired of your Racism..as USA saved its face and pride by bringing Obama, we would like to bring a new face to show the world that the majority of the Jews hate Zionism..the hatred toward Zionism in my generation is more than the hatred of Arabs to Zionism..we had enough..both of us either Palestinian or the jew... Zionism got to go..they kill people ..they kill Jews..Yes you crazy hardliner Jews, of course if you surround a nation from three sides and close the food and water on them, they are going to protest and send a pocket every once in a while..that is called Resistance..remember? They belong here too... But attacking a nation and killing people and the kids on the day-light is not in our blood..No Jew Wants that..PEOPLE HEAR US... NO GOOD JEW WANTS THAT.... I hope the war ends now ..I hope Israel rises and revolt..TIME FOR CHANGE!!!

[Samuel]

Will, just to correct you: Yes they have gone against the Majority of the American Old Jews living in Rich places, but the Majority of the Jews in Israel and all over the world are against these killings ... Please know that..we are the Jews not the Zionists!!!! Plaese do not count us all in Zionist camp we are not unhappy Zionist Campers .. We are unhappy Jews ....

[nick]

so a couple of jews in the U.S. have a problem with Israel going after Hamas??? Get them on a plane to Israel, the U.S. didn't start up this war, why should we heed their protests. Once they can see the war first person, maybe they'll change their tune.

[Gary Crethers]

I have participated in protests against the Israeli invasion of Gaza, in Anaheim and at the Federal Building. I am glad to see people take some action to disrupt the business as usual of the Israeli consulate. I don't think this is too radical a protest, if anything the Israeli consulate should be shut down until they end the invasion and bombing of Gaza.

[Marika Pratley]

It is really Positive to see Jewish People in solidarity with the Palestinians being terrorised in Gaza. Can I please reinforce the message to all zionists/pro-Israel supporters that people who support Palestine are NOT ANTI SEMETIC! We are not Nazi supporters!! It is actually incredibly hypocritical what Israel is doing to the Palestinian people. Israel is commiting Genocide on them, and Just because Hitler and Nazi Germany commited Genocide on the Jewish people does not justify how they are treating Palestinians.

It is refreshing to know that there are Jewish people in solidarity with Palestinian people. Good work :)

[S. Ahmed]

These people are amazing! I am glad to see that we, from whatever race or religion, can come together and support what is right by protesting what is wrong! I cry for both sides, the innocents who die in Palestine and the innocents who die in Israel. And I am glad that there are people out there who share my view. I agree with the comment mentioned above: Just as Jewish individuals are coming together and protesting Israel's actions despite the many in their community who look down on them for it, so must we Muslims protest when Muslim oppressors hurt the innocent.

[Nadia Shah]

I am SO proud of these protesters. They found out the truth and stood up for what is right. For all the others who are putting these wonderful people down--please research the truth before you spread false information and insult others. Not all media tells the truth.

[SLS]

Where were all the protesters when Israelis died in countless suicide bombings? Children, women, the elderly, countless civilians? Where were these Jews then? Yes, we all want peace and it is tragic to see so many innocent lives lost, but let us consider how many Israelis have perished from terrorism and how many of these brand of Jews cried out for them. Hardly any. Shame on them!

[Hoda]

Yes! Great job and THANK YOU to all who participated. For all of those people who may believe that the issue is about Muslims/Arabs vs. Jews,who "just can't get along," what these people did today shows it's much deeper than that. It's not about differences, it's about human rights and dignity. Take those away and peace is impossible either sides.
If the same injustice were being done against the Jews today, I'd expect that the rest of us would all stand up for them as well.

[Sara]

Israel's justification for the current carnage was 'Hamas broke the ceasfire'. Here we have the Israeli spokesperson saying that that is not true. THUS Israel has NO justification for what it is doing.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SILJxPTqjAM

[A. Wright]

Just as a side note away from the whole "you hate jews" fallacious bit, I would like to direct your attention to this post:

"What these misguided people are doing is reminiscent of Jane Fonda's activities during the Vietnam War. They are giving aid to an enemy, not only of Israel, but of the United States as well. And - I cannot understand why the city allows these hoodlums to blockade and shut down Wilshire Boulevard."

Holy! People actually think the Vietnam war was a life-or-death type war? Really? Do y'all think that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq REALLY have a positive impact on your national security? Or that either country is actually a serious threat? Are they gonna up and hop out over the Atlantic and destroy New York with aircraft carriers and nukes dropped from stealth bombers?? hahahahahahaha

Anyways carry on, it seems that the only real issue is that the Israelis have the added stain on their hands for the fact that those who defend Israeli action take a higher moral stance regarding civilian casualties. What you're essentially saying is that you are willing to sacrifice a large amount of non-Israeli lives to save a small amount of Israelis. If you honestly think that way then you're no different from a member of any sort of racist or nationalist organization. I don't think any of us would enjoy being compared to anything of that sort and instead of focusing on who's more justified in faceless cowardly murder via rocket or missile we should all note that what pisses everyone off who makes the mistake of getting into the arguement of Israel & Palestine.

There are innocent, anonymous civilians, like you or I, being blown to bits while trying to live their day to day lives. And their lives are in the hands of faceless politicians who treat their lives like chess pieces. It seems like everyone in both Israel and Palestine just wants to live their lives without fear of death by random explosive.

This conflict is moot, ridiculous and simply childish for the day and age we live in. No more of this "cease-fire" bull...find a solution in a one-state package...just ease into it.

[Rebecca]

Bravo!

Jews in America have to shoulder the ultimate responsibility for Israeli crimes, as it is only the lobbying of American-Jewish organizations that has allowed them to continue for so long.

Not in my name!

[D2D]

I salute you for your conscience and your courage! It takes a lot of courage to stand up to injustices when it is easy to be silent. But your courage has given much courage to those on the other side, that peace is possible, that there are those on the other side who will not tolerate injustices and will stand up for peace and justice. Let this be a start to a movement that provides an alternate course, a course where disputes are not settled with blood of Palestinians and Israelis, but rather a course where we can all come together and work to stop injustices, regardless of whether the victims are Palestinian or Israeli. Enough is enough, violence and hate only leads to an endless cycle of revenge and sorrow.

[Rafaela]

well done guys. go on. you have my respect and full support :)

[Jack]

Yes, Hamas is wrong firing rockets into Israel. But how many have died? 1 maybe 2.

I'll never understand how someone can say such a foolish thing. It doesn't matter how many people have died, Hamas is wrong. They are terrorists who dress in civilian clothing, operate in mosques and schools. They are terrorists who intentionally exploit their people.

No civilized nation will tolerate recurring attacks of this nature. Would you allow me to stand outside your house and throw bricks at you every day. I don't believe it.

I am sorry that people are dying, but this is necessary. All over the world we see increased amounts of attacks on Jews and Jewish institution. If it is only about Israel why is this happening.

And why didn't these so called activists complain when the rockets were falling. The hypocrisy is shameful.

[Hisham]

This is not a war, it is a massacre. Killing 1000 in less than three weeks, where 1/3 is from women and children. This is a sham on all humanity not to stop this war. It is like leaving an Elephant fighting with an ant!!!!! I really respect these jewish people who shout and express their anger of this massacre.

[Harvey Platt]

I am ashamed to say that here in Israel, where I am now visiting, many commentators consider the Gaza attacks to be a success since there are few Israeli casualties.
This assessment is not only foolish since 7 years of Hamas rockets killed 11 Israelis, and so far 13 have died in three weeks of fighting.
But the darker truth is the extraordinary racism underlying this analysis. During the same three weeks, nearly 1,100 Palestinians have been murdered, and at least half have died because they were civilians in the wrong place at the wrong time: huddling in their homes, afraid to leave, or crowded into refugee centers struck by Israeli bombs or artillery.
Just today a hospital with 500 people was shelled, and a UN center,with supplies waiting for delivery, was hit by three phosphorous shells. There was so much smoke that we could see if from a highway 40 kilometers away.
Those Israeli firsters whose twisted, racist view of the world actually believe that Hamas's WWII era rockets justify mass devastation should prepare the defense of their leaders, who according to Israel's Ha'aretz newspaper of record, have a chance of being sent to the Hague for war crimes. No kidding, just Google Gideon Levy to read his columns in Israel's leading newspaper.

[Peter Miller]

My hat is off to you for opposing Israel's illegal behavior and U.S. support for it.
It is time that we human beings reinvigorate such concepts as International law, human rights, and even the concept of simple mercy and force our politicians to act like actual human begins and stop this carnage. The dishonesty they demonstrate, condemning Hamas but ignoring Israel's starvation of Gaza and occupation and settlement of the West Bank must come to an end.

[Duncan Robertson]

It seems to me that the Americans are not as vulnerable as Israelis living close to Gaza. And far less vulnerable than Palestinians who can not arm themselves to protect their territory from invasion from a neighboring state.

Why then is the US spending billions of dollars to arm Israel?

How can this possibly bring peace or even security to Jews or Moslems or Christians? In Israel, in Palestine or even in the US?

[Paulo Lyons]

As always happens when these Talmudic war crimes transpire, Israeli (“hasbara”) propaganda-operations and their counterparts in the Judaic-controlled media go into high gear. We are seeing the pattern repeated in Gaza now. Every single atrocity committed by the Israelis is explained away as either “collateral damage” or “civilians being used by Hamas as human shields.”

Imagine if in Oakland, California, African-American guerrillas fired rockets at Sacramento in protest over the killing of a black man by transit cops. In response, the California National Guard attacks an all-black school in Oakland, slaughtering 40 children because the rocket-firings by the militants took place “near” the school.

Would the world forgive California for the deaths of the children in Oakland because black militants had been firing near the school? Such a racist devaluation of the lives of the black children collectively punished for acts of armed resistance by guerrilla fighters in their neighborhood would appall and shock the world.

Yet, this is what occurred at the UN school in Gaza after Hamas fighters allegedly fired mortars in the vicinity. But Israel commits atrocities like this with impunity. And for this they are monsters.

[SLS]

When people sympathize with muslim terrorists (considered terrorists even in Arab countries like Jordan and Egypt!!) there is no hope for humanity. There is no hope because muslim extremists--hamas--have no interest in real peace. They outwardly claimed that theirs is a culture of loving death--while the Israelis' culture loves life. Have we heard about how Hamas harrassed its women, harrassed and persecuted, jailed and tortured any opposition to them? To their own people? Have we checked with international law? See below:

Terrorists must not be allowed to use innocent women, children and elderly as human shields for Hamas terrorists firing at Israelis. Hamas makes no effort to comply with international law. The Geneva Convention states clearly that if a missile launcher or weapons stockpile is placed among a civilian population, the responsibility for civilian causalities lies with the party that deliberately put the civilians at risk.

As for aid to the Gazans, let us get the facts straight:

Israel has continued to supply fuel, food, medical supplies, and other humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, despite Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians. During the past six months, Israel has facilitated more than 14,624 truckloads of humanitarian assistance including more than 185,000 tons of supplies and 39 million liters of fuel. There have been more than 4,130 medical evacuations.

[Prince Valiant]

To anyone who thinks that quoting the "6000 rockets over seven years" figure is impressive, or shows off your knowledge of the region, it's not. And it doesn't. It makes you look like an idiot who accepts the taglines spoon fed to you by the US' news networks. Because if you'd actually done your own research, you would realize that less than two dozen Israelis were killed over the course of 7 years. If you checked your facts again, you'd realize that during that same period, over 900 Palestinian children died at the hands of the IDF and their state sponsored terror. When a country thinks it can treat refugees like dirt, demolish their homes illegally, blockade their borders indefinitely, and kill their children intentionally, it must also accept that there are going to be consequences. They only feed the extremists and the violent by treating a civilian population like it has no rights. Now Israel thinks it can use anti-tank weapons and violate international law using white phosphorous missiles in a three week long butcher's spree though a densely populated urban area. This war is the best thing to happen to Hamas in a long time. Hundreds more will join their ranks, angered by Israeli oppression, more Israeli civilians will die and mourn their childrens' deaths as the ordinary people of Gaza have yet to dig theirs out of rubble. This assault is not only stupid on Israel's part, but immoral. The consequences will last the lifetimes of the children Israel now traumatizes with its US-gifted military, fourth strongest in the world. With an arsenal like that you cannot play the victim. If you use it against children, you cannot claim to be right. Israel thinks the whole world will turn a blind eye to its war crimes. But they can't keep the journalists out forever. The numbers alone condemn Israel's actions, so what happens when we begin to hear the stories? Gaza is the new Warsaw. You're kidding yourself if you think that's not true. Go look around with your own eyes and stop pretending you're getting the whole story from CNN. You'll be appalled. I guarantee it.

[René Weemaels]

Lonely (but not quite) are the brave, those Jews who have the guts to say that Israel is wrong when it occupies the West Bank, allows the expansion of settlements there and holds Gaza in a sranglehold.
Those people who bluntly condemn the primitive rockets fired by Hamas, have a very narrow view of the problem. The root of the problem dates back from 1948, when Zionist terrorists killed or expelled the native Palestinians. Those who blame Palestinians for fighting to recover at least part of their land seem unable to experience empathy.

[Libertarian]

Bravo! As a Jew who used to live in Nazareth the MSM in America and in Israel never reports "why" Hamas sends rockets into Israel. They pretend it's about ideology and not the fact that Israel has effectively blockaded Israel into an ironic version of the Warsaw Ghetto. Would we call Jews who fought back out of the Nazi ghettos and concentration camps "terrorists?" Then why do we call these blockaded starving people with no electricity and no medicine terrorists? Wake up America. Our warfare/welfare state is quickly coming to an end with expenditures we can no longer afford while creating enemies we won't be able to afford to fight.

[Isidro Rodriguez]

I applaud them for saying the truth and not falling victim for the propaganda of the media ... Arabs and Muslims are not against jews .. they are against ZIONISM .. I have many Arab, Muslim and Jewish friends who hang out together and are friends in peace ..
I know from the history of my country Spain that jews lived peacefully in Spain when it was ruled by the Muslims .. it is only when Christians ruled, jews and muslims were perscuted ..
I am a Christian and I admit that ..