Rabin Square rally
Photo: Ofer Amram
Rally: No to surrender agreement
Protest organized via the internet calls on government to continue Lebanon war until kidnapped soldiers released; ‘this ceasefire agreement weakens all those who believe West must protect itself from terror,’ protester says
An anti-ceasefire rally was held Monday evening at Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square.
The rally was organized by internet surfers who, in chat rooms, called on people to participate. A few dozen people arrived and called on the government to resume the fighting in Lebanon until the abducted are released.
“We felt the need to protest not only via the internet,” Ariela, one of the rally’s organizers, said. “This protest emanate from the talkbacks (to internet articles). Talkbacks are our channels of rage.”
Sign reads: 'To kidnapped soldiers: We haven't forgotten' (Photo: Ofer Amram)
“We are opposed to the surrender agreement,” she said. “The next war is right around the corner. We were hesitant. The policy was hesitant and there was no true will to fight among the decision-makers.”
Boaz Arad, who owns a software company, said “we believe that in inviting an international force to protect us we are showing that we cannot protect ourselves; in this manner we are losing our status as a strategic asset to elements that need a strong Israel in the Middle East.
“This ceasefire agreement weakens all those who believe the West must protect itself from terror; it may raise doubts regarding financial support for Israel and may result in the allocation of funds to countries such as Saudi Arabia; the agreement also weakens Jewish communities around the world – any surrender to terror strengthens their resolve to hurt Jews around the world.”
Brian Blondy, 25, from Detroit and David Perl, 27, from Frankfurt, came to Israel plan to volunteer to the IDF.
“We believe the ceasefire agreement should have included first and foremost the disarming of Hizbullah and sanctions against Iran and Syria,” Blondy said. “Israel should have thought two steps ahead – it should have annihilated Hizbullah so it would think twice before attacking us again; but this didn’t happen."
