Israel-Palestine peace demonstrations form around Capital

Thursday, January 1, 2009 at 1:01am

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Two groups of demonstrators formed around the state capital on Wednesday and held up signs begging for peace in Gaza, while also blaming the other side for the recent spike in violence there.

A group of approximately 200 Palestine supporters gathered on James Robertson Parkway in response to the increased bombings by the Israeli army in Gaza. The demonstrators chanted, “Long live Palestine! Long live Gaza!” They also held up signs accusing the Israeli government of killing innocent civilians, including children, while encouraging passing motorists to “Honk for peace.”

“We’re just coming here to stop the war in Gaza,” said Nisrin Alkhiyami, a Murfreesboro woman who attended the demonstration with her children. “You’ve seen in the news there lately it’s very bad. I don’t know why they’re doing it.”

Labeeb Alkoka said the rally, organized by the Islamic Center of Nashville, was to alert Nashvillians to the effect of the military action by the Israeli government.

The rally came on the same day that Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert assured President George Bush that his country was trying to avoid civilian casualties in air strikes on Gaza.

“So far they have killed over 400 people and 200 are in critical condition,” Alkoka said. “Two thousand people are injured… We reject this assault. They are humans and they have the same laws as we all do. We want change.”

In response to the pro-Palestine demonstration, a rally to support Israel took place on the opposite side of the courthouse. The pro-Israel demonstration attracted a few dozen supporters, who also begged for peace but blamed the Islamic terrorist group Hamas for the increased violence in Gaza.

“Israel, again, faces war,” said Laurie Cardoza-Moore, president of the pro-Israel group Proclaiming Justice to the Nations. “So we are here today because we heard there was going to be a protest that was going to be going on by the Islamic Center.

“When I read the media advisory they had put out, it was misleading at best – accusing Israel of disproportionate means and attacking innocent civilians in Gaza. I found that statement outrageous and we came in opposition to that. Israel is trying to protect herself.”

Demonstrators from both sides expressed fears that the average Nashville citizen might not appreciate the severity of the situation in Gaza. Cardoza-Moore said she hoped the rally would draw attention to the conflict.

“The average American is not aware of the dire consequences that are at stake,” she said. “[Terrorism] is not an everyday occurrence for us so it’s out of sight, out of mind. And therein lies the problem. If we had daily missiles being lobbed at the United States every day, then it would be front and center.”

Filed under: City News
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By: bfra on 12/31/69 at 6:00

Do they think this rally has the Israeli army shaking in it's boots?

By: jeremysttn on 12/31/69 at 6:00

An army is not formed to stand by and watch its citizens be threatened and killed by intermittent rockets attacks. The Isreali army is doing what any army, even a Palestinian army, would do to defend its people. To criticize the Isreali actions while not also criticizing the actions of Hamas seems to imply a bias that should itself be corrected.

By: truthtold on 12/31/69 at 6:00

If the Palestinian's want peace then quit firing rockets at Israel. I suggest to the Palestinian to work with Israel, and turn in the thugs who are doing this. They put everyone in the rockets path at risk. Another opinion would be to arrest the terrorist and execute them; show the world you are serious about stopping terrorism. Thank you Israel. If you fail we will have to deal with these killer. In this country we will hold their hands and sing cum-by-ah and reform them. Then we will turn them loose so they can cut our throats. In this country we have the blind leading the blind. Show us the way Israel: you can't fail.

By: airvols on 12/31/69 at 6:00

OK, please understand this, this is not Palestine take your protest back to palestine not the streets of Nashville. You are either an American or your not, If your not, go home and protest. You have been given an unbelievable opportunity to live in our country, so leave your waring past behind you and love it or leave it.

By: proud_Nashvillian on 12/31/69 at 6:00

No, the protest wasn't to strike fear in the Isreali army (an army that is fearful does not deserve to be called an army). It is understood that Isreali army wants to defend its people, but shouldn't Hamas, a political party elected by the Palestinians fair and square, defend its people too? Or are some rights only reserved to some and not all men are created equally.The whole point was to use our "unbelievable opportunity" of freedom of speech and assembly that we have truely thanks to this country, and show that we are against the killing of the innocent, and for heavens sake the CHILDREN!!! DO the research and find out how many civilians has Isreal killed and how many Hamas did. What type of weapons Isreal has and what Hamas has. How the Isreali is living and how a Palestinian lives.By the way, Isreal supporters were also protesting...shouldn't they too go back to "their" country (now that its on the map and not Palestine)?

By: ennet on 12/31/69 at 6:00

proud_Nashvillian please read news, listen to radio or look at tv.You must remember that Hamas, a terroroganisation, has one yhing on their program : to eliminate the state of israel.There was no isolation of gaza until terroracts were committed from gaza.So You are right every army should defend the citizens of their country......But attac somebody again and again and again... and think that there will be no reaction that is NOT defense, that is stupidity.and shooting on civil houses it is terrible and disgusting but one have to shoot on the firingramps, soldiers nad ammo where they are. And they use human shields. And they place firingramps among privat houses...Defense.....Well hamas look for defense among their their people to defend the soldiers