\.4
Mirror Image
Demonstrators outside the Hague
mirror opposing sides in Middle East.
• •
TOBY AXELROD
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
1.1
The Hague
olland turned into a staging
ground for the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict this
week, but the streets were
far less volatile than some had feared.
Monday was a day of anger and tears
as the International Court of Justice
began its hearings on Israel's security
barrier. But Israel, the United States and
at least 30 other nations boycotted the
hearings.
Monday was a day of dancing as
2,500 pro-Israel demonstrators from
Europe, Israel and the United States
joined hands, danced and rallied. Later,
the same square was used for a slightly
smaller pro-Palestinian demonstration.
For the most part, Dutch police man-
aged to keep the two groups apart, but
the police efforts did not temper
demonstrators' vehemence toward each
other — and for their cause. While
inside the Hague's Peace Palace represen-
tatives of the Palestinians were testifying
against Israel's security fence before a 15-
judge panel, outside the pro-Israeli
demonstrators spoke of Israel's need for
a security barrier in the face of
Palestinian terrorism.
To make their argument more
poignant, the demonstrators bro
with them an Israeli bus mangled in a
Jan. 29 Jerusalem suicide bombing, in
which 11 people were killed just
around the corner from the Israeli
prime minister's official residence. Ten
members of Zaka, the Orthodox res-
cue and recovery service that collects
victims' body parts after terrorist
attacks in Israel, stood around the bus
in their yellow work suits.
Iris Boker, director of Zaka in
Europe, said the bus had such a strong
effect that it would probably be sent
to other demonstrations rather than
be returned to Israel. •
Palestinian Rally
Pro-Israel demonstrators at the Hague hold posters of the 942 Israelis slain in
Around noon, hundreds of pro-
Palestinian terrorist attacks during the last three years.
Palestinian protesters began assem-
bling, many bearing Palestinian flags,
signs calling for the "end of occupa-
International and representative of the
ence was made to the reason Israel says it
tion" and pictures of Palestinians killed
Conference of Presidents of Major
has built the barrier: to thwart
during the current intiftzda (uprising).
American Jewish Organizations.
Palestinian terrorists seeking to perpe-
Aside from pro-Palestinian citizens of
U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., said, trate attacks against Israeli civilians.
nations from around the world, the
"The issue is not whether or not you
Some 942 Israelis have died in the
Palestinians were joined by a few Jews
support the route of the fence; the issue
attacks.
affiliated with Neturei Karta, an
is the court of justice is not the proper
Orthoodox fringe sect opposed to mod-
place to determine the peace process."
em-day Israel. Ahmed Tibi, an Arab
Protest At U.N.
Wexler was joined by Rep. Steve
member of the Israeli Knesset who is
Chabot, R-Ohio. Both are members of
In New York, two rabbis and a coffin
close to Yasser Arafat, spoke at the
the U.S. House International Relations
blocked traffic across from the United
Palestinian demonstration.
Committee. Chabot said, "The people
Nations to protest the International
The Palestinian demonstration was
who ought to be on trial today are the
Court of Justice's hearings in the Hague.
disbursed prematurely by Dutch police.
people who are training children to
"We were carrying the coffin to the
An Israeli television reporter said some
aspire to be suicide bombers, not people
steps of the United Nations to tell them
Palestinian participants tried to attack
who build fences to protect innocent
that this is 'exhibit A'. in their trial," said
nearby pro-Israel demonstrators.
lives."
Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld, the vice presi-
According to Ronny Naftaniel,
On Tuesday, pro-Israel forces held
dent of Amcha-The Coalition for Jewish
director of the Center for Information
"alternative hearings" with members of
Concerns, which earlier Monday staged
and Documentation on Israel, a pro-
the E.U. Parliament and relatives of
a rally that drew hundreds to lambaste
Israel- Dutch group, Dutch police saw
Israeli terrorism victims, including Arabs the hearings.
several demonstrators were carrying
and Druse.
"The coffin symbolizes the many hun-
signs comparing the Star of David to
The Palestinians and their allies —
dreds of people who have been killed by
the swastika, which is illegal in
who had sent the issue to the interna-
this terrorism that has affected the world
Holland.
tional court in a December vote at the
like a plague," he said.
Some pro-Israel demonstrators said
U.N. General Assembly — made their
Rabbi Herzfeld, along with Rabbi
that while they did not support con-
case against the security fence in an
Eliot Pearlson of Miami Beach and
struction of Israel's security barrier,
opening three-hour session Monday.
Amcha's media adviser, Glenn Richter,
they wanted to draw attention to the
The 15 judge panel did not interrupt
were arrested for obstructing traffic on
reason for it: terrorism. "It is not an
the members of the Palestinian delega-
Manhattan's busy First Avenue, but were
Israeli fence; it is a Hamas fence, it is
tion during their presentations, nor did
released with a summons to appear in
an Islamic Jihad fence," said Joel
they ask any questions or clarifications
court April 2.
Kaplan, president of B'nai B'rith
afterward.
Jewish Telegraphic Agency correspondents
South
Africa's
deputy
foreign
minister
Rachel Pomerance and Rachel Levy con-
The route of Israel's security fence. Thinner
and
representatives
from
Algeria,
Saudi
tributed to this report. This summary was
lines to the north indicate completed sec-
Arabia and Bangladesh also spoke
heavily edited For the complete reports, log
tions.
against Israel's fence. Almost no refer-
on to vvvvvv.detroitjewishnews.com
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If
2/27
2004
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