You must have been in a wrong place or something. The demonstration was huge, more than a kilometer long. All the people did not even fit in on Esplanadi.

I'm proud that somebody in my native country had an idea to contrast the shameless Finnish leaders and their ideas. Most of them were Soviet-leaning radicals in the 60' and the 70' and now they continue the same line as politicians. The protest was a great move! Todah/Kiitos!

The Hizbullah parade in France doesnt makes France a Muslim state , its called Freedom of support.. Many rallies were taken all around the world when the war in Lebonan was going on some pro israeli and some pro Lebanese. Why so much double standards i dont understand .. this is a part of the so called Civilised world abt whom many Israelis talk everywhere and even say that they are defending the civilised world against Syrians, lebanese, Palestinians.. Does this pro Israeli rally in Finland makes Finland a zionist state ?

The pals live in refugee camps by choice. They could've had a country in 1947, they refused, they could've had a country in 2000, they refused. So stop crying about the poor pals. Suicidal people will die in the end.

Certainly they're victims - of their own damned STUPIDITY!

Most of those demonstrators in Helsinki extreme Christians, collected and transported (who paid)all around Finland. 2500 extremists do not show the support of Finland towards Israel. Actually Finnish people nowadays understand the miserable situation of Palestinians better as before. Not for many years shopkeepers have dared to sell Israeli oranges (Jaffa) separaterly. The only way Finns buy them is when they are mixed with Egyptian or other oranges. So much of Finnish support to Israel.

Lynne, you are correct but you can add Germany as well.

You all should know that most of us (Finns) did not accept what Israels army has done in Lebanon. That "Rally pro Israel.." was well organised by a some Jewish and other religions organisations in Finland. Those about 2800 people (which actually is not very much) who participate the Rally were from all over Finland and many came to Helsinki by organized buss transport.

According to finnish police, there was over one kilometer line of people maching and 2000 to 4000 attendants

Get a new pair of glasses. The rally was one kilometer long with at least 5 people in one row.

In principle there is a freedom for demonstrations in Finland, if arranged according to the laws. There are many different opinions in Finland concerning the recent crisis in Lebanon. There are some people, who would defend any action, which Israel might do (, because they are thinking that it is an action ordered by a god). There are some people, who are thinking that some of the actions by Israel are wrong, some are right. There are also people, who are thinking that almost everything, which Israel is doing is wrong (, because they are thinking that the creation of the state of Israel was a political mistake, which is leading into problems). There are some people, who are thinking that the main problem maker is now America, which is willing Israel to do some quite crazy acts. Hezbollah and would be started by an arranged provocation. Quite many people in Finland know about American newspaper and magazine articles published already months ago telling that America is planning a war against Iran and that the war would have a predecessor as a war by Israel against Hezbollah/Lebanon. Please see for example: http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060417fa_fact "the Pentagon adviser on the war on terror said of Hezbollah. “This will mobilize them and put us up against the group that drove Israel out of southern Lebanon. If we move against Iran, Hezbollah will not sit on the sidelines. Unless the Israelis take them out, they will mobilize against us.” (When I asked the government consultant about that possibility, he said that, if Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel, “Israel and the new Lebanese government will finish them off.”)" So some people in Finland are thinking that both Lebanon and Israel are victims of American plans.

IT SAD WHEN THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ALWYS COMPLAIN ABOUT OTHERS TACIST AND ANTI SEMETIC REMARKS CONTINUE TO EXPRESS THIER THEIR IGNORANCE AND RACISM AGAINST ARABS AND MOSLEMS. THE PROBLEM IS OCCUPATION UNTILL THE OCCUPATION OF PALESTINE IS ENDED AND PALESTINIAN ARE FREE IN THEIR OWN VIABLE STATE THIS VIOLENCE WILL CONINUE. THERE IS NO WVIOLENCE AND TERRORISM WORSE THAN OCCUPATION. AND AS FAR AS GAZA IS CONCERNED, ISRAEL LEFT THE CITIY AND LOCKED THE GATE WHERE PALESTINIASN CANNOT MOVE IN OR OUT WITHOUT PERMISSION. STOP THE OCCUPATION AND STOP THE VIOLENCE IS THE ONLY VIABLE SOLUTION.

Infact 99% of Palestine or Afghan or Lebanon or Iraq support demomonstrators in Europe & West are organized by Muslims and majority are hardcore islamic fundamentalists.

My countrymen are wrong: many of us do sympathize Israel. Many participants, definitely, were devoted Christians, however, not all. People sympathize Israel out of various reasons: for example because of justice, because of sympathizers' independent ability to think, because of democracy, because of intl law, because of wish for balanced media, because of disgust towards Arab terrorism and so on...

Only skinheads are anti-semi in Finland. There are some similarities with Israel and Finland: 1. Our neighbours hate us. (We finns have been mistreated by both Swedes and Russians hundreds of years) 2. Sense of humor, for example: Eurovision song contest, Israel won with a tranny (Dana International) , Finland won with Monster band (LORDI).

I am delighted to be visiting Finland this week!

I did'nt wrote about sympathize Israel (nation) or not...I wrote about what have Israels Army done now in Lebanon "...not accept what Israels army has done in Lebanon." I am against violents whether it comes from Israel or Hezbollah.

As a Finn I do not understand, that you, Petteri, label demonstrators as extreme christians. You should remember, that 85% of Finns are Lutherans or Orthodox Christians. Not very extremist, prefer quite secularistic. By the way, did you ask their religious opinion? Should we then say that all those hundreds of demonstrators for Lebanon were extrimist muslims? I would not, because my neighbour was marchind. He is lovely person. Not at all extremist. Sorry, but I have ever asked his religion. It is pity to say, but Finland has offically supported Israeli´s military industry. We have bought anti-tank missiles (Sic!) and tank-simulators from Israel.

I do neither like violence. However, the terrorist org Hezbollah attacked unprovoked Israel and the org has an arsenal of approximately 12000 missiles (only Lebanese army has the right for such items inside Lebanon). The org has to be dismantled according to UN reoslution 1559. Israel, like each state, has the right and obligation, too, to defend its citizens from terrorism. Israeli army tried to do what the Lebanese army should have done a long time ago. Lebanon is a hostage of Hezbollah. Israeli and Lebanese civilians suffer while the coward Hezbollah terrorists celebrate a fiesta. Not OK.

All three posts were well off the mark. As one of those who marched in the pro-Israel rally, I can verify that there were close to 2800-3000 people marching. When it comes to extremists, I would prefer people dancing and waving flags, than the other form of extremism that sees people burning flags, splashing fake blood while stabbing effigies of foreign leaders. I find it more than telling, that the only person who I saw "counter demonstrating, was a man saluting with nazi hand gesture shouting long live Palestine. The marchers sang of peace and co-existence, and the end to terror, as well as balance in the media (not partisanship, one way or the other). Yeah, I'd rather see that form of extremism than the violent slathering that goes on in pro-Arab hate fests, where one tries to outdo the others outragious behavior. As for buying Israeli fruit, its openly sold in the market , and under the proper label of Israel. #66 is a liar. Besides, Finns are great on technology, and imports far more Israeli techno products than ever before.

Lars do not be naive (=lapsellinen). There are extreme Christians in Finland (USA, Russia, Sweden etc). A Luhterian can be also extremists, like some of them are. "Vanha Lestadiolaiset" make Talebans seem as liberal. Most of Finns are secular, who and those 5.2 million did not attend this demonstration. The demonstration was organized by Israel friendship organizations which are not secular. Suomen Karmel yhdistys is hardly secular, nor is ICEJ. In the inviting letter is said that the organization makes the demostration signs, own signs not allowed. Hmmmm.. spontanious support indeed. The people intervieved in the Finnish news expressed views that God has commanded us to support Israel so we are here. By the way Lars Finland has sold much weapons to Israel. That is business not actually "showing support". Israel sells legally weapons to 46 countries and Israeli companies and citizens to anybody who has cash.

G-D bless ISRAEL AMERICA AUSTRALIA FINLAND And all countries who stand with Israel!!!!

I think that Thomas Münzer was extremist. He waited the thousand-year kingdom and 13.000 peasants was killed in Germany 1525. The societies you mentioned are not religious churches and so they are not allowed to practise religion in those sosieties. Individual members can have religious thoughts. And with "spontanious" I mean without any external force. You may remember communist movements marches in the 1950´ . The question of Palestine is deeply religious issue. Jerusalem is the holy town for Jews, Christians and Muslims. In this historical order mentioned. Your comparison with Lestadiolaisuus and Taleban limps with both legs. You have some reading to do. I warmly recomend Jaakko Hämeen-Anttila´s books. I knew all the facts you mentioned except military trade between Finland and Israel. But that´s all this time.

Much import from Israel hmmm. What Israeli products have you KG seen besides fruits. Uzis's or other high tech democratization tools? Finlands export to Israel was 155.24 milion and import 95.96 mil. euro in 2005. In 2003 the import was 74 milion Euro and export 133 milion. Finland exports more to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Emirates and Iran than Israel. The trade with Israel is peanuts compared to the business with Muslim countries..

Hi ADAS, just to let you know in your fury and tirad you forgot to let go of the shift key. See most people care for a reasoned arguement, not abuse, rants, tirads and sabre rattling. (not ignoring the threats of violence you allude to). As for Palestine, there never was a Palestrinian state. You lost your homes because you attacked Israel and got your ar*es wiped. You left Israel because your leaders said to, as a way to inspire fear and loyality to radicalism. If you want to talk about 'occupation' and 'compensation' then you might like to address the thousands of Jews that were forced to leave Arab lands due to the very Violence you accuse Israel of. The real harse truth is, Israel looked after its refugees, and has made deserts turn into forests. The surrounding Muslim states abandoned the 'refugees' of the Arab Israeli conflict and have never cared about them. When Arabs and Muslims care more for their brothers and their children than about killing Jews then you might just have the platform for some tolerance and understanding. Until then, enjoy your Panoramic views of nothingness.

I agree. I shop at an upscale store with imports and I look for products from Germany, Finland, and Denmark. I greatly appreciate the support of these wonderful people!

Thank you Finland for standing to protect a peace loving people = Israel. Be diligent to work to stop Hizbullah and Syria who is arming them as we speak. G-d bless you!

We in the UK are subjected to BBC pro-Hizbullah retoric most of the time. It is very refreshing to see Finns stand up for democracy. The British Government talks from both sides of it's mouth simultaneously - from one side anti-terrorism and from the other side support for Hizbullah. A few years ago British politicians rewarded Provisionl IRA terrorists by releasing all their killers onto the streets in Northern Ireland. Israel must watch out for British support for Hizbullah terrorists in the weeks ahead.

RIGHT ON!!!!! You hit it right on the mark to the muslim guy in Montreal!!

How much I was paid - I got my life from the GOD of Yisrael halleluYAH!