Thousands rally against Israel

UK: Demonstrators in Washington marched under Palestinian flags and tens of thousands rallied in cities across Europe and the Middle East on Saturday to protest against Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

Clashes with police broke out at some rallies in Europe. Danish police said they arrested 75 people at a demonstration in Copenhagen after activists smashed car windows, threw eggs at buses and attacked a McDonalds outlet.

In Washington, several thousand demonstrators gathered in a park opposite the White House to protest the Bush administration’s backing for Israel.

About 30,000 took to the streets of Paris, many demonstrators wearing Palestinian keffiyah headscarves and chanting “we are all Palestinians”, “Israel murderer” and “peace”. Some threw stones at police and burnt Israeli flags.

More than 40,000 people protested against the Gaza assault in towns across Germany, while demonstrators at the Israeli embassy in Dublin threw shoes and carried a mock coffin, covered with pictures of wounded or dead Palestinian children.

Thousands of Lebanese Shi’ites who turned out for the Muslim Ashura festival in the southern Lebanese town of Nabatiyeh also protested against the Israeli offensive, carrying Hezbollah and Palestinian flags.

In Athens, hundreds of riot police carrying plastic shields watched as about 2,000 demonstrators marched to the Israeli embassy, fearing a revival of violent street protests which rocked the city last month.

Thousands marched in Sweden’s biggest cities, burning Israeli flags and setting off fireworks.

Protesters gathered in several Italian cities, some shouting “Free Palestine, Gaza will win” while others burnt an Israeli flag. Protests in Poland were largely peaceful.

London, Sunday, REUTERS