World Watches As Gaza Violence Flares

Anti-Israel Protests Spring Up Across Globe; Many Governments Condemn Attacks

(CBS/AP)  Tens of thousands of Lebanese Hezbollah supporters stood under pouring rain Monday to protest Israel's air assault on the Gaza Strip, now into its third day.

The protesters thronged a huge square and nearby streets in the militant group's stronghold south of Beirut, carrying Palestinian, Lebanese and yellow Hezbollah flags and banners supporting the Palestinian people.

The rally was by far the largest protest in the Arab world, where outrage over Israel's air strikes continued into a third day.

The massive rally was called for by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah who in a speech on Sunday urged crowds in the Arab and Islamic world to rise up in support of Gaza and declared Monday a day of mourning and solidarity with Gaza.

Addressing the crowds on Monday through a large screen from an unknown location, Nasrallah urged Palestinians to unite and sought to boost morale.

"Israel's air force will fail to destroy the will of the (Palestinian) fighters firing rockets ... and the residents of (Israeli) settlements 20 and 40 kilometers away from Gaza will remain either outside their settlements or in shelters," he said.

"Death to Israel," and "At your service, Gaza!" many in the crowd shouted.

Nasrallah warned Israel that any ground offensive will result in many losses for the Israelis and said Israel will fail as it did when it fought Hezbollah guerrillas in a monthlong air and ground offensive in 2006.

The overwhelming Israeli bombing campaign, the deadliest against Palestinians in decades, had killed 315 people by Monday morning.

In the Lebanon's southern port city of Sidon, around 3,000 people also staged a demonstration, many of them chanting slogans in which they insulted the rulers of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia for perceived complicity with Israel.

In Egypt, which has been particularly criticized for joining Israel in closing its borders with Gaza, thousands of people rallied, calling for the active intervention of Arab armies to protect the Palestinians.

Demonstrations were held near the parliament building and in downtown Cairo amid a massive security presence of black-clad riot police. Demonstrations in the tourist destination of Luxor, however, were prevented.

The largest protest, a crowd of up to 3,000 people outside the Journalists' Union, was organized by the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, and in an unusual move, the Islamist organization's Supreme Guide Mohammed Mahdi Akef took part, urging the crowd to make "their declaration of anger through peaceful means."

In Iran, a prominent conservative political party announced it is registering volunteers to fight against Israel in response to the attacks on Gaza.

The party, the Combatant Clergy Society, has provided three options for the volunteers on its Web site to fight Israel, including in the military, financial and propaganda fields - most signing up opted for the military option.

The group said Monday it decided to sign up volunteers after Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a religious decree to world Muslims Sunday, saying anybody getting killed while defending Palestinians in Gaza would be considered a martyr.

In Iraq, about 1,000 backers of anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr staged a protest in eastern Baghdad. "No, no to Israel," they shouted as they burned Israeli and American flags.

Separately, the political party of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki issued a statement condemning the attacks and calling on Islamic countries to cut relations with Israel and end all "secret and public talks" with it.

Jordan's King Abdullah II donated blood to Gaza victims, telling reporters he was "upset" by the scale of the Israeli offensive in the coastal strip.

The violence in Gaza also prompted European reaction. In Athens, a mixed a mixed group of some 300 Arab and Greek protesters threw rocks at the Israeli embassy and scuffled with riot police, in a demonstration organized by Greece's communist party.

In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel has spoken by telephone with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert about the assault on Gaza. Merkel spokesman Thomas Steg said the chancellor and Olmert agreed that the "clear, sole responsibility for the situation lies with Hamas" for breaking a cease-fire.

Steg said Merkel stressed in the telephone conversation late Sunday that Israel must do everything possible to avoid civilian causalities and insisted that Hamas must immediately halt its rocket attacks on Israel.Governments across Asia called for an immediate halt to Israeli airstrikes in Gaza that have killed nearly 300 Palestinians, with some accusing the country of crimes against humanity.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attacks and appealed for the cessation of hostilities, saying they violated the U.N. Charter, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

"Violence aggravates conflicts and never solves them," Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, expressing fears Israel's incursions would undermine attempts to negotiate a Middle East peace.

In Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, nearly 1,000 students waved Palestinian flags and chanted "Israel is the real terrorist" at the Hotel Indonesian traffic circle in downtown Jakarta.

"The Western countries are the concubines of America and the Jews," said rally coordinator Ferry Putra as the crowd chanted "Free Palestine, destroy Israel."

The Indonesian government, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, pledged $1 million in cash and $200,000 in medical supplies for the victims of the bombings.

The vast majority of Muslims in Indonesia practice a moderate form of the faith. Although most back the creation of a Palestinian state, they do not support violence against Israel.

China, which traditionally supports the Palestinian cause but has been building stronger political and military ties with Israel, said it was shocked by the attack and called for it to end.

The Mideast peace process must continue, Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang said in a statement, calling for the adoption of "realistic measures to ease the tension."

Government and opposition leaders of mainly Muslim Malaysia denounced the raids on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip as a crime against humanity with Deputy Foreign Minister Abdul Rahim Bakri saying they were "tantamount to genocide."

Malaysia, a staunch supporter of a Palestinian state that also does not have formal political ties with Israel, said "there is no excuse for the disproportionate, indiscriminate and excessive use of force in Gaza."

India "urges an immediate end to the use of force against Palestinian civilians," a Foreign Ministry statement said. "India hopes that ongoing efforts within the region to restore peace would be supported."

South Korea said Monday it was "seriously concerned" about the worsening security condition in Gaza and asked both Israel and Hamas to stop using military power and initiate dialogue.

[samael2014]

Separately, the political party of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki issued a statement condemning the attacks and calling on Islamic countries to cut relations with Israel and end all "secret and public talks" with it.

Clearly someone who has had dealings with the Bush administration and knows what sort of un-Godly things and atrocities -- particularly against the American people and other oppressed peoples seeking actual "freedom", liberty and democracy in the world -- an un-fettered psychopath and war criminal is capable.

[samael2014]

How refreshing to see in pictures what so many of us feel but are unable to duplicate as an expression of speech in our own "free" society without threat of police state action or worse.

The stench of American "freedum" fills the air with every sight and every sound.

[samael2014]

Malaysia, a staunch supporter of a Palestinian state that also does not have formal political ties with Israel, said "there is no excuse for the disproportionate, indiscriminate and excessive use of force in Gaza."

Why exactly does the American Propagandist (AP) feel compelled to include a preamble stating that Malaysia is ''a staunch supporter of a Palestinian state that also does not have formal political ties with Israel'', when quoting their government''s statement there is no excuse for the disproportionate, indiscriminate and excessive use of force in Gaza."

And more importantly, why isn''t this sort of overt protectionism for a counter position to "there is no excuse for the disproportionate, indiscriminate and excessive use of force in Gaza." obvious pro-Israel propaganda.

What exactly is the "free press" role in all of this, to alert us to nation''s that don''t follow the pro-Israel propaganda party line, so as not to confuse readers with a rogue nation''s uncoerced expression of outrage against Israel''s actions?

Nothing like a little known nation''s perspective on world event''s to alert you to your own "free press" PERSPECTIVE on world events.

[samael2014]

In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel has spoken by telephone with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert about the assault on Gaza. Merkel spokesman Thomas Steg said the chancellor and Olmert agreed that the "clear, sole responsibility for the situation lies with Hamas" for breaking a cease-fire.

Such a BOLD initiative by the useless German Chancellor, to actually form a consensus of opinion in private conversation with Israel, that this is indeed "clearly sole responsibility" of Hamas, who apparently happened upon a particular cherry-picked time of Israel''s choosing, regardless of any atrocities including attacks and blocking of humanitarian aid by Israel, to launch a rocket after a ceasefire that officially ended Dec 16, in a desperate response.

A cherry-picked time very near a major Christian holiday and new American administration with which Israel would launch ANOTHER violent invasion and blood-bath against civilians in a neighboring state, to re-assert Israeli immunity to world-wide response.

What''s actually somewhat comforting about this, is that God judges Merkel with the same irreconciable wisdom that He does Israel. So there is something of a joyous Christmas hope for redemption about this after all. Good for her.

[emperorlotku]

How nice it is that all the protestors are gathering together all over the world. Haven''t we seen this before? Wasn''t it called Nuremberg where all the fascists got together. The civilized world should never ever forget that while the Israelis are targeting the fascist thugs that make up Hamas, the Hamas scum target innocents including their own people. Remember that the so called leadership of Hamas scurries off like rats to other countries like Syria because just like every terrorist they are cowards. It takes strength and honor to come to the peace table without duplicity. The Hamas leadership will never bring any peace or justice to their own `people. That''s because they are corrupt mafioso fascist thugs that are enriching their swiss bank accounts on the backs of their population. While the Palestinians live in squalor their leaders live in splendor by syphoning off charity money and black market profits. The Hamas scum want chaos. They thrive on chaos.

[edadam14]

perhaps samael will keep posting diatribes through the year 2014.

[evian_ycnan]

Ya know, pretty damned soon Israel and North Korea will realize they have a lot in common -- the top pariahs in a world that doesn`t need either of them.

[mrjustice1]

Would someone please tell us where we can report and punish, those who spread hate, and incite others to hate and to harm people in the Middle East or elsewhere?

These evil, sadistic criminals should be incarcerated and be denied their ''freedom to incite'' hate, harm and death!

[jsd330]

I''m suprised that the israeli prime minister would even talk to the German chancellor. Since the jews hate the Germans even more then the arabs.

[lordsuntzu]

it boilds down to this..

the whole world wants me dead since the egyptian times..daily rocket and suicide bombing attacks..every leader AND LIBERAL SLACKER uses me as an excuse for thier incompetence

what do i have to loose..GO FOR IT AND END THIS GAME..it is written by GOD anyways..

lets play..END OF DAYS..

[lordsuntzu]

Ya know, pretty damned soon Israel and North Korea will realize they have a lot in common -- the top pariahs in a world that doesn`t need either of them.


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Posted by Evian_Ycnan at 03:36 PM : Dec 29, 2008
+ report abuse


*********
WOW!!!! i am suprised you did nto add this country to your list

[lordsuntzu]

2012..

LETS END THIS THEATER and lets do it how we always had done things for eons..

THE STRONG SURVIVE AND THE WEAK IS CONQUERED..

[seetheway]

The news media jumps all over the new about Israel attacking Hamas. Where were they while Hamas has been pounding Israel? We know what side the media is on...send them over there to live!!

[cjcrochet]

In Hebrew and Arabic, it''s "Al ayin, bel ayin, Al sen, bel sen."...in English, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. For too long, both sides have lived by the words, not the one both claim as ancestor. They have a common root they claim as "religion", and both worship the words, not the god or the idealogy.

Isreal is so set one paying back the eye and the tooth, and ignores WHY the Palestinians are pushed to the limit. They are living in a space the size of Washington DC- and crammed in like sardines. They are too many, with too few jobs, too little space, too much anger, too much poverty, too little dignity and too few to care about their plight. If the Isrealis were true to their proclaimed faith, they''d see about treating the CAUSE of the pain they inflicted in 1948 instead of paying back. Stop worshipping the words, "an eye for an eye", and look to being peace makers.

[tbbaot]

Why didn''t the ''world react'' during the past three years that Hamas was rocketing Israel? Israel needs to gut Hamas like a fish this time.

[mainecoast25]

Clearly violence is not the answer - however, there are posters on here (slinginrich for example), who are promoting slander, insults againsts groups and individuals and throwing out racial and ethnic slurs. (that''s putting it mildly)

This website forum should be shut down because the rules of engagement are being violated by those who choose to be disgusting in their comments of hatred and bigotry. Hatred and bigotry and the propogation of lies about America and our congressional leadership are disgusting. To be an American is to be a blessed on so many levels.

To abuse freedom of speech with disgusting, abhorrent, vile, vulgar, hateful, bigotry is unacceptable and in direct violation of the rules of engagement of participating in a website forum. Not to mention a whole host of other things.

CBSNEWS Forum Moderators, CBSNEWS Bureau, CBSNEWS Executives and staff personnal - please remove the posts by those who abuse this forum and are violating the rules of engagement.

[egee33]

The world (notably the Arab world) was silent as Israel had to face day after day of Hamas missiles targeted at innocent civilians. Now Hamas must face the consequences of its brutal terrorism, and for the world to blame Israel for this well-deserved crackdown is farcical hypocrisy.

[lordsuntzu]

The news media jumps all over the new about Israel attacking Hamas. Where were they while Hamas has been pounding Israel? We know what side the media is on...send them over there to live!!

Posted by SeeTheWay at 04:47 PM : Dec 29, 2008
+ report abuse

******

BECAUSE BOTTOMLINE THE MEDIA AND THE LIBERAL MASSES DOES NOT REALLY CARE ABOUT ANYTHING BUT FOR ANYTHING THAT IS HIP AT THE MOMENT

[shirajordan]

Ask yourself- what would you do if your life was constantly under threat? Look at the map. Maybe that will help you grasp our geographic situation. The purpose of the Israeli army is to defend. Not attack.
So next time you think about how miserable and poor the Palestinians are, and how powerful and evil the Israelis are- think again. (Written by a left-wing Israeli who thinks terror should not win anywhere in the world)

[shirajordan]

To all the people who sleep safely in their beds at night and have the audacity to criticize the Israeli government, this is for you:
None of you spoke in the past 8 years when rockets and bombs fell in southern Israeli cities, causing death and damage without any provocation on our part.
What you need to understand are two things-
First of all, there is no functioning government in Gaza. The Hamas took over (in a military coup!) and they are running the show. The Hamas, in case you didn''t know, is a terror organization. Just like Al-kaida and Hezbollah. Israel is dealing with terror organizations all through its borders. Not with governments. And not with civilians. We have nothing against the Palestinians. Only the terrorists.
The second thing you need to know is that the Hamas is a very cynical organization which uses innocent women and children to fight Israel. They launch their missals from civilian''s houses, not from open fields or military camps, and when the Israeli army wants to destroy those missals launchers- sometimes innocent people die.
They stash weapons; bombs etc. in hospitals, mosques, civil houses and schools exactly for this reason- they know that the Israeli army will not bomb those places. Over the years, they have dig tunnels between Egypt and Gaza to smuggle everything, including weapons which is being used against us.

[factsearcher]

Hamas has been warned since the truce was agreed:

Do not keep shooting at us or we''ll attack!
Do not keep shooting at us or we''ll attack!
Do not keep shooting at us or well attack!
Do not keep shooting at us or we''ll attack!

We will open the Gaza humanitarian aid but do not keep shooting or we''ll attack!

Ok, you were warned!
Then, why are you so shocked????
No brainer!