Norway/Denmark/Belgium: Demonstrations
Another round of protests. I said I'll report only on what's unusual, but is it unusual that such protests are becoming a daily occurrence?
In Oslo (Norway) about 200 protesters, including Norwegian-Palestinians, shouting 'intifada' and 'allah akbar' threw eggs, stones and fire-crackers at the police outside the Israeli embassy. The police declared the demonstration over and used tear-gas to disperse the crowd. The demonstration was organized by several left-wing organizations. Yesterday a demonstration organized by the same groups drew thousands of people and ended without violence. Police had set up special trucks carrying barriers around the embassy to prevent demonstrators from trying to storm the embassy again. The police say they expected this demonstration to be calm as well.
In Copenhagen (Denmark) 35 people were arrested, including several minors, after they overturned cars and threw stones after a demonstration in front of the Israeli embassy. The minors were interrogated and sent home to to their parents. The unrest started after the demonstration itself, which ended without violence.
In Antwerp (Belgium) 13 people were arrested in a demonstration organized by the Association for the Development and Emancipation of Muslims (VOEM). The protest was mostly of women and children, but the AEL (Arab European League) also called to join the protest and men were also present.
The Jewish community warned its members to stay away from the area of the demonstration.
Annick De Ridder, council member for Open-Vld, says that she's disgusted by the Jew hatred expressed by immigrant minors. "Some of them don't know where the Gaza Strip is," she says. "I also condemn the violence in the Gaza Strip, but the victims on the Israeli side are too often forgotten."
According to De Ridder the Jewish community is suffering from this explosive situation. "A minority of pests spoils it for the other Muslims in Antwerp. It's time that the immigrant community that means well would be heard in this discussion." She says that there will be debates about this issue in the municipal council.
Meanwhile, Michael Freilich, head editor of Belgian-Jewish journal Joods Actueel says that the journal's website had received threats from a man who said he was willing to sacrifice himself for the Palestinian suffering in the Gaza Strip. Saying things like "You are not safe anywhere any more. I know to find you. A child for a child." As well as other anti-Semitic slogans.
The Jewish community preferred to keep quiet, but after an arson attempt at a Jewish residence today, with 12 children, the community decided to publicize the incident. The community held a special prayer for peace in the Gaza Strip and for the welfare of the Israeli soldiers. The prayers were held under heavy security.
In Leuven (Belgium) about 300 people protested the Israeli attacks in Gaza and called to boycott Israel. The protesters also called for Belgium and the EU to condemn Israel and to immediately stop all European-Israeli cooperation, as well as institute sanctions against Israel. The demonstration, organized by 25 local organizations, ended without incident.
Sources: NRK, Dagbladet (Norwegian), BT, DR (Danish), HLN 1, 2, 3 (Dutch)
Another round of protests. I said I'll report only on what's unusual, but is it unusual that such protests are becoming a daily occurrence?
In Oslo (Norway) about 200 protesters, including Norwegian-Palestinians, shouting 'intifada' and 'allah akbar' threw eggs, stones and fire-crackers at the police outside the Israeli embassy. The police declared the demonstration over and used tear-gas to disperse the crowd. The demonstration was organized by several left-wing organizations. Yesterday a demonstration organized by the same groups drew thousands of people and ended without violence. Police had set up special trucks carrying barriers around the embassy to prevent demonstrators from trying to storm the embassy again. The police say they expected this demonstration to be calm as well.
In Copenhagen (Denmark) 35 people were arrested, including several minors, after they overturned cars and threw stones after a demonstration in front of the Israeli embassy. The minors were interrogated and sent home to to their parents. The unrest started after the demonstration itself, which ended without violence.
In Antwerp (Belgium) 13 people were arrested in a demonstration organized by the Association for the Development and Emancipation of Muslims (VOEM). The protest was mostly of women and children, but the AEL (Arab European League) also called to join the protest and men were also present.
The Jewish community warned its members to stay away from the area of the demonstration.
Annick De Ridder, council member for Open-Vld, says that she's disgusted by the Jew hatred expressed by immigrant minors. "Some of them don't know where the Gaza Strip is," she says. "I also condemn the violence in the Gaza Strip, but the victims on the Israeli side are too often forgotten."
According to De Ridder the Jewish community is suffering from this explosive situation. "A minority of pests spoils it for the other Muslims in Antwerp. It's time that the immigrant community that means well would be heard in this discussion." She says that there will be debates about this issue in the municipal council.
Meanwhile, Michael Freilich, head editor of Belgian-Jewish journal Joods Actueel says that the journal's website had received threats from a man who said he was willing to sacrifice himself for the Palestinian suffering in the Gaza Strip. Saying things like "You are not safe anywhere any more. I know to find you. A child for a child." As well as other anti-Semitic slogans.
The Jewish community preferred to keep quiet, but after an arson attempt at a Jewish residence today, with 12 children, the community decided to publicize the incident. The community held a special prayer for peace in the Gaza Strip and for the welfare of the Israeli soldiers. The prayers were held under heavy security.
In Leuven (Belgium) about 300 people protested the Israeli attacks in Gaza and called to boycott Israel. The protesters also called for Belgium and the EU to condemn Israel and to immediately stop all European-Israeli cooperation, as well as institute sanctions against Israel. The demonstration, organized by 25 local organizations, ended without incident.
Sources: NRK, Dagbladet (Norwegian), BT, DR (Danish), HLN 1, 2, 3 (Dutch)
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