Rick Spatter and his 7-year-old grandson Meir Shomer, both from West
Bloomfield, wave the Israeli flag.

Michael Higer

JN Intern

T

Jerry Zo ly nsky

Pro-Israel and Palestinian demonstrators
protest outside West Bloomfield JCC.

ensions were high and
emotions ran strong dur-
•
ing a protest outside of the
hi ■ Erat"r'
Jewish Community Center in West
Bloomfield the evening of July 31.
Both Israeli and Palestinian support-
ers stood on opposite sides of Maple
Road with signs, megaphones and
heavy hearts.
The Palestinian group, which was
organized by several groups including Cars drive by as the two sides square off.
the Detroit Light Brigade and Jewish
Voice for Peace, was there to protest
the Zionist Organization of America
(ZOA) Michigan Region's annual
meeting. When pro-Israel support-
L
ers got word that a Palestinian group
would be protesting, they chose to
come out and counter with their own
group.
The president of the ZOAs
Michigan Region, Eugene Greenstein
of Farmington Hills, was outside with
the rest of the Israeli supporters. He
said there were no talks of moving
Palestinian protestors chant slogans at
the meeting to a different location.
the Israeli protestors.
"We heard about the protest on
Sunday. [Moving the meeting] would
launched from Gaza: explained that
be giving in to those who want to
cause trouble," he said.
she was out there to make the mes-
Supporters of Israel began stand-
sage known to the public.
ing outside with American and
"I feel that the public needs to
Israeli flags about 4:30 p.m., singing
know that we support Israel and that
songs and holding a wide variety of
Israel has the right to defend its sov-
signs that included messages "Free
ereign territory," she said.
Gaza From Hamas" and "Hamas
Police from multiple forces, includ-
Uses Children as Human Shields:'
ing West Bloomfield and Novi, came
Counselors from the JCC Day Camps
out to ensure the protest remained
joined together in the singing of
peaceful and the JCC remained
Salaam (Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu),
secure. Each entrance to the JCC, as
which translates to "peace will come
well as Henry Ford Hospital across
upon us:'
the street, was blocked off except for
Ruth Moss of West Bloomfield,
people who had official business there.
whose sign read "Israel left Gaza for
Demonstrators were also not allowed
peace and has received 5,000 rockets
to protest on JCC property.

„- .s,

1.*

111'.

The Pallette Collection

Pictured styles priced from $1,360

Items shown larger than actual size to show detail.

GREENSTONE'S

FINE JEWELRY SINCE 1925

430 North Old Woodward Birmingham, Michigan 48009

248-642-2650
www.greenstonesjewelers.com

Hope on page 18

1927320

August 7 • 2014

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