Jews opposed to Israeli occupation protest outside Israeli consulate
April 11, 2002
Renee Koury, San Jose Mercury News
SAN FRANCISCO _ A group of Bay Area Jews outraged by Israel's occupation
of Palestinian territories staged their own occupation Wednesday when
14 protesters blocked the offices of the Israeli consulate in San Francisco
and about 150 rallied in the streets below.
The protesters were demanding that Israeli consul general Yossi Amrani
issue a personal statement calling for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli
forces from Palestinian areas. It has been estimated that about 433 Israelis
and 1,368 Palestinians have been killed in the last 18 months in fighting
that has escalated in the last month with suicide bombings by Palestinians
and Israeli offensive against terrorism. Amrani declined even to meet
with the protesters. He could not be reached to comment.
The demonstration effectively shut down business at the consulate offices
on the 21st floor of a Financial District highrise and police restricted
access to the entire building for about three hours.
The 14 who blocked the offices later descended into Montgomery Street
where they linked arms and barricaded the busy strip, causing a brief
traffic jam. It was only then that helmeted officers arrested the protesters,
who were cited for impeding the flow of traffic, and released.
The Bay Area protesters join other dissident Jews in several nations who
have denounced military actions of the past weeks under Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon, and who view President Bush as a supporter of the
military incursions. Another group, the Tikkun Community, is planning
further protests Thursday at the Israeli consulate in San Francisco, New
York City and Washington D.C.
"We want the world to know that there are Jews who don't agree with
Sharon and Bush, and who see that we must give Palestinians their own
land and their own rights or there will never be peace," said Jacob
Mandelsberg, of the Jewish Voice for Peace, the group that protested in
San Francisco on Wednesday. Mandelsberg, who said he once served in the
Israeli army, and others contend that the stability of Israel is dependent
on giving Palestinians their own land without threat of occupation.
But a smattering of pro-Israeli activists staging a small counter-protest
across the street said Israel must be free to fight back against Palestinian
terrorists who have set off bombs in restaurants, buses and cafes.
"The protesters seem like they are more into leftism than they are
being a Jew," said one woman who declined to give her name.
The high tensions of the Middle East violence were reflected in some fiery
clashes between the peace activists and pro-Israel bystanders.
"How come you're not protesting when a bomb goes off in a cafe and
kills innocent Jewish children?" shouted Mark Jaffe of San Francisco,
a worker who just happened by the demonstration. He said he has friends
and relatives in Israel. "My brother can't even go anywhere without
fearing for his life," he said, shaking with anger.
Wednesday's demonstration began about 10:30 a.m. PDT when 13 protesters
parked themselves at the doorways to the consular offices and vowed to
stay until Amrani issued the statement. Building managers and police tried
to persuade them to move. But demonstrators only began singing peace songs
and linking arms. Amrani never emerged.
"They want to express their protest," said Amir Segev, a consular
press officer. "It's their business. If they want to sleep there,
they can sleep there, as long as they're not disturbing the neighbors."
The consulate staff closed the offices at about 2 p.m. PDT. So protesters
left, too, and joined the rally on the streets. There, people held signs
saying "I am ashamed to be a Jew" or "Sharon you are killing
Israel, not saving it."
The protesters urged each other to put aside fears of speaking against
their homeland, and call for peace. "Go to your synagogues, speak out, do not be afraid," said activist
Henri Picciotto. "We must let the world know that American Jews do
not support this occupation."
Yael Ronen, 34, an Israeli national who is in the United States studying
at Foothill College, said she has long wished for Palestinian sovereignty.
"No people have lived under military occupation as long as the Palestinians
have," she said. "Their prolonged suffering is ignored by the
West and the Western media. No true peace negotiations can begin until
occupation ends. There are Palestinian people my age with graying hair
who have never seen a single day of freedom."
Copyright
2002 Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service