Arab MKs, right-wing protesters face off at Erez

[ProgressiveMuslim]

By Mijal Grinberg

Arab MKs Ahmed Tibi, Talab al-Sana and Jamal Zahalka were among some 300 protesters at the Erez crossing yesterday who demonstrated against Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, and attempted to bring crates of food into Gaza.

In a noon showdown on the Gaza-Israel border, the demonstrators faced off against an opposing group of about 50 people wearing red shirts, including MK Effi Eitam, which arrived at the scene to protest the first rally and call for Israel to cut off all ties with Gaza.

"With spirit and blood we will redeem Gaza," the first group sang. "State of cowards," the second group shouted back.

The red-shirted protesters from Eitam's National Union-National Religious Party ran toward the food trucks brought by Tibi and al-Sana of the United Arab List-Ta'al and Balad's Zahalka. Just as it looked like violent clashes would break out, the police moved in to keep the two groups apart.

Israel shut down the Gaza crossings last week in response to the massive Qassam rocket barrages targeting southern Israel, but delivered fuel to the Gaza Strip yesterday for the first time since the closure.

At the Erez crossing, Zahalka called on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) to halt negotiations with Israel, saying: "The continuation of negotiations is Abu Mazen's agreement to what is happening in Gaza. It cannot be that they promise Gaza fire and brimstone and promise Ramallah candies and sweets."

Tibi said lifting the embargo was an ethical matter because of the humanitarian crisis he said it is causing. Members of the opposing rally meanwhile called him a terrorist and a traitor.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/objects/pages/PrintArticleEn.jhtml?itemNo=947244

[ProgressiveMuslim]

1. If I were Israeli, this would be more worrisome to me than Gaza. nt

[Tom Joad]

2. hmmm, didn't they used to wear brown shirts? Now red shirts.

otherwise, the ideology is the same.