Protest ends at Israeli consulate
January 07, 2009
TORONTO
Eight women protesting Israel’s military action in the Gaza Strip were arrested after occupying the Israeli Consulate in Toronto Wednesday, police said.
“Eight women were arrested for breach of the peace and released,” said Const. Tony Vella. “They were removed from the building and released with no charges.”
Vella said the women occupied the consulate for several hours Wednesday, but were not violent.
“The call came across as several unwanted guests,” he said.
He said a number of police officers monitored the situation at the consulate on the seventh floor of a commercial building at 180 Bloor St. West in Toronto.
In a news release, the group said the action was “in protest against the ongoing Israeli assault on the people of Gaza. The group is carrying out this occupation in solidarity with the 1.5 million people of Gaza and to ensure that Jewish voices against the massacre in Gaza are being heard.”
Violence broke out in Gaza almost two weeks ago and has killed more than 600 people.
The news release said the group is demanding Israel end “its military assault and lift the 18-month siege on the Gaza Strip to allow humanitarian aid into the territory.”
A spokesman at the Israeli Consulate in Toronto said he could not provide any further information about the occupation.
The protesters said they want to “send a clear statement that many Jewish-Canadians, do not support Israel’s violence and apartheid policies.”
Jewish Women Occupy Israeli Consulate in Toronto
January 7, 2009
Toronto,
A diverse group of Jewish Canadian women are currently occupying the Israeli consulate at 180 Bloor Street West in Toronto. This action is in protest against the ongoing Israeli assault on the people of Gaza.
The group is carrying out this occupation in solidarity with the 1.5 million people of Gaza and to ensure that Jewish voices against the massacre in Gaza are being heard. They are demanding that Israel end its military assault and lift the 18-month siege on the Gaza Strip to allow humanitarian aid into the territory.
Israel has been carrying out a full-scale military assault on the Gaza Strip since December 27, 2008. At least 660 people have been killed and 3000 injured in the air strikes and in the ground invasion that began on January 3, 2009. Israel has ignored international calls for a ceasefire and is refusing to allow food, adequate medical supplies and other necessities of life into the Gaza Strip.
Protesters are outraged at Israel’s latest assault on the Palestinian people and by the Canadian government’s refusal to condemn these massacres. They are deeply concerned that Canadians are hearing the views of pro-Israel groups who are being represented as the only voice of Jewish Canadians. The protesters have occupied the consulate to send a clear statement that many Jewish-Canadians do not support Israel’s violence and apartheid policies. They are joining with people of conscience all across the world who are demanding an end to Israeli aggression and justice for the Palestinian people.
The group includes: Judy Rebick, professor; Judith Deutsch, psychoanalyst and president of Science for Peace; B.H. Yael, filmmaker; Smadar Carmon, a Canadian Israeli peace activist and others.
Kudos to the Ladies.
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