Around 100 people gathered in protest outside Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s Tel
Aviv apartment complex on Wednesday night, following the IDF’s launch of
Operation Pillar of Defense in Gaza.
The activists, including members of
Meretz, Hadash and the newly formed Pirates Party, chanted slogans such as:
“Israel, Palestine, two states for two peoples,” “Money for welfare, not war,”
“No war for tycoons,” and “Defense minister, defense minister, how many kids did
you kill today?” One of the placards waved at the protest referred to Barak as
Israel’s “No. 1 terrorist,” while others called for an immediate cease-fire and
an end to the Israeli “siege” on the Gaza Strip.
Amit Ashkenazi, a
spokesman for Hadash’s election campaign who participated in the demonstration,
accused the government of taking a “cynical step” to raise support for the right
wing ahead of the January 22 election.
“This will only bring death to
Palestinians and Israelis, and we call on everybody who is able to come stand by
our side and fight against this step before civilians and soldiers on both sides
are killed,” he told The Jerusalem Post.
More protests were planned for
Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa on Thursday, the Hadash spokesman said.
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