A month after the disengagement ended, and amid growing violence in Gaza, about 7,000 left-wing activists protested near the Prime Minister’s official residence in Jerusalem.
The demonstrators called on the government to end the occupation by reaching a final-status agreement with the Palestinians in accordance with the Geneva Accord, a proposed peace deal formulated by left-wing politicians and some Palestinian officials.
Protestors want to see peace talks renewed (Photo: AFP)
As the protest was winding down, dozens of right-wing activists, mostly youths, arrived at the scene to stage their own protest. Large police forces deployed in the area to prevent disruptions and clashes.
Meretz-Yachad Chairman Yossi Beilin opened the rally and said Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is “saying exactly what we are saying and we are feeling we have a partner on the other side.”
Referring to the recent escalation in Gaza, Beilin said: “The calm was violated by Hamas, which again proved where its interests lie. But we are calling (on the government) not to become captive to Hamas’ policy and not to fall into its trap.”
“We won’t allow radicals on both sides to set our agenda. We are here, and we’ll set the agenda,” Beilin said, as the crowd applauded.
Another speaker at the protest was Colonel (Res.) Shaul Arieli, the former Gaza Division commander, who said the Left supported the Gaza exit “not out of weakness, but because we want to stay strong.”
“We are not seeking to replace the prime minister, but only his policy,” he said. “The conflict cannot be resolved unilaterally, we are calling for political separation between the two peoples and the way (to do it) is only through negotiations.”
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