Israeli hostilities will reshape Middle East for generations to come, says Israel official

Separate rallies in support of Israel and Lebanon convened
at Justin Hermannn Plaza earlier today.
Photo(s) by Luke Thomas

By Pat Murphy and Luke Thomas

Copyright fogcityjournal.com

July 23, 2006, 2:30 p.m.

The Middle East will be reshaped for generations by the outcome of current Israeli hostilities, an Israeli official told some 700 pro-Israel demonstrators in San Francisco today.

Israeli Deputy Consul General Omer Caspi indicated the ongoing Israel assault on Hezbollah and Hamas centers will continue "because enough is enough."

The noon Justin Hermannn Plaza rally was organized by an amalgam of Bay Area Jewish organizations and led by U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California), a former San Francisco mayor.

Senator Dianne Feinstein seeks shelter under the sun's anvil.

Pockets of pro-Palestinian partisans, including the Green Party candidate running against Feinstein, stayed on the edges of the rally focusing attention on a planned August 12 pro-Palestine demonstration rather than confrontation with Israeli supporters.

One pro-Palestinian demonstrator was handcuffed and detained by police for 40 minutes as he walked through the rally. The man, who declined to give his name, was cited and released for interfering with public access, he said.

Police corral several Palestinian supporters out of Justin Hermann Plaza
prior to making an arrest.

Caspi gave rationale for continued hostilities.

"The outcome of the confrontation we have with Hezbollah and Hamas will determine in many ways what Israel's future will look like, and even more, what kind of Middle East we are going to see in coming generations," Caspi stated.

"In May 2000 we left Lebanon completely, fulfilling UN Resolution 425. We left Lebanon with hope that a new dynamic would be created and our northern border would be peaceful.

"By the summer of 2005 we left Gaza with hope that the Palestinians would seize the moment and begin building their state and improve their lives.

"In return Israeli found itself facing two terrorist organizations of the worst kind.

"Hezbollah rained down thousands of missiles on the north and Hamas, governing the Palestinians in the south and the west, showered our cities with armaments.

"Nevertheless we gave them a chance. We gave a chance to the Lebanese government. We gave a chance to the Palestinian president and to the people.

"We gave peace a chance but today we say enough is enough.

"It is a human tragedy that breaks our heart. We call the peoples of Lebanon and the Palestinian authorities - stand up and control these organizations, who do control their lives and lead them to a certain disaster.

"We say to them please remove this cancer off your body and soul before it is too late," concluded Caspi.

Feinstein expressed solidarity with Israel.

"When terrorists attacked our country on 9/11 Israel did not waiver in support of the United States and now in time of need we will not waiver in our support for the state of Israeli," said Feinstein.

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein.

"Let there be no doubt Israel was subjected to unprovoked, unjustified attacks from terrorists on both the northern and southern borders.

"Remember it was Israel that pulled out of Lebanon. Remember that it was Israel that pulled out of Gaza, that brought her people out, that dismantled the synagogues... and the result on both the north and the south have been rocket attacks," Feinstein reported.

Financier Richard Blum

For his part, senate candidate Todd Chretien viewed the conflict as an Israeli massacre of women and children.

"Senator Dianne Feinstein voted unanimously, along with the rest of the United States Senate, to back Israel's invasion of Lebanon and massacre of Lebanese's children and Palestinian children," Chretian told some 50 pro-Palestinian supporters prior to Feinstein's remarks.

Candidate for U.S. Senate Todd Chretien leads an anti-Israeli aggression rally.
Peace and Freedom Party candidate for U.S. Senate Marsha Feinland at left.

"And what is that unanimous support for?

"It is for straight up terrorism.

"George Bush defines terrorism as military violence against civilians to achieve a political aim.

"That is exactly what Israel is doing to the Palestinians and to the Lebanese's civilian population," reported Chretien.

Chrietien was joined in condemnation of Israeli hostilities by the Peace and Freedom Party candidate for U.S. Senate, Marsha Feinland.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera appeared in support of Israel.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom

####