Thread: Montreal hosts huge Lebanon peace rally

http://www.theglobeandmail.com

Montreal hosts huge Lebanon peace rally
ROSS MAROWITS

Canadian Press

Montreal — A demonstration billed as a protest for peace assumed a distinctly anti-Israeli flavour Sunday as protesters denounced the Jewish state for killing hundreds of Lebanese.

Children carrying two large Lebanese flags and adults who trailed behind accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper of being an accomplice to Israeli murder.

“Israel terrorist, Harper accomplice,” members of the crowd shouted in unison as marchers left a downtown park on their journey through city streets.

Police said more than 15,000 people participated in the rally, making it one of the largest that took place around the world over the weekend.

Demonstrations also took place in Belgium, Britain, South Africa, Iraq and Egypt.

A coalition of 60 political, social and union groups invited Montrealers to join the protest in a massive demonstration for peace and justice in Lebanon.

They called for an immediate ceasefire that would end hostilities.

Among the many participants were members of the city's Lebanese community, which numbers about 200,000.

Many held placards denouncing Mr. Harper's handling of the crisis, particularly his open support of Israel.

“Yo Stevie, they're only dead Arabs,” read one sign hoisted by Asem Samhat, whose home village on the Lebanese border has been turned into rubble by Israeli attacks.

“Our country has the right to live,” the 35-year-old construction worker said, denying Canada's assertion that Hezbollah is a terrorist group.

While many participants claimed they weren't singling out either side in the bloody conflict, some carried placards that linked Israel to Nazi atrocities during the Second World War.

“Israel learned from Hitler and the student has surpassed the master,” read one sign.

A representative of the Quebec Israel Committee said he understands the desire for peace. But Marc Gold said there is no hope for peace as long as Hezbollah continues to fire rockets at Israel.

“We all want a peace but a peace that means something not just a pause to give time for Hezbollah to regroup,” he said in an interview.

Mr. Gold criticized rhetoric that singled out Israeli's aggression.

“Demonstrations like this that can find nothing to say except to criticize Israel and do not focus on the causes of this conflict are unbalanced and frankly unprincipled.”

Political representatives from the Bloc Québécois, Parti Québécois and federal Liberals denounced Ottawa's handling of the crisis.

“We want to make sure that Canada comes back as a mediator,” said former Liberal immigration minister Denis Coderre.

“We cannot govern a country and manage a crisis by dogma.”

Some of the loudest ovations were received by some ultra-religious Jews who denounced Israel's actions and its right to exist.

“We are totally in opposition in every step of the way to what the state of Israel is doing,” said Rabbi Israel David Weiss, a New Yorker with Jews United Against Zionism.

“The actual existence of the state of Israel is forbidden by the torah (Jewish bible).”

Rabbi Weiss marched near the front row of the demonstration, locking arms with Sayed Nabil Abbas, a representative of the Islamic Shiite Supreme Council in Canada.

“We don't have any problems against the Jews, our problem is with the Zionists,” said Mr. Abbas.

The demonstration came as Hezbollah and Israel continue to trade violent strikes that have killed about 700 people in nearly a month of fighting.

"We don't have any problems against the Jews, our problem is with the Zionists,” said Mr. Abbas.

And the 'Jews' don't have any problem with the Lebanese, it's with the terrorists!

“Our country has the right to live,” the 35-year-old construction worker said, denying Canada's assertion that Hezbollah is a terrorist group.

Tell you leaders to stop associating with vermin and you and your countrymen won't have any problems.