In the first significant anti-war with Iran protest held yet in Israel, 1,300 Israelis marched through central Tel Aviv on Saturday evening to voice their opposition to those calling for a strike on Iran. Titled “Israelis Against the War”, organizers said on the protest‘s Facebook page that “we will not agree to an irresponsible Israeli attack in Iran, leading to a war with an unknown end-date and casualty count…The billions that this war will cost will be paid by us – in health, education, housing – and in blood.”
Israel’s first large anti-war rally was inspired by a campaign launched last week by an Israeli couple looking to reach out to their Iranian counterparts. The protest against a strike on Iran began its march Saturday night (March, 24th) at Tel Aviv’s Habima Square, making its way to the city’s Meir Park. Participants, among them Hadash, Communist Party and Communist Youth activists, carrying several red flags and held signs with such captions as “No to War with Iran,” “Talks, not Bombs” and “Social justice does not equal war with Iran,” recalling the protests of summer 2011 which called for government resignation under the banner of social justice.
Protesters marching in Tel Aviv against an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear installations on March 24th, 2012 (Photo: Activestills)
“Together, we will inform Netanyahu and the world that there is no mandate to drive us into war with Iran,” said a spokesperson for Communist Youth prior to the event. Protesters wielded Hadash posters bearing the slogan “When the government is against the people, the people are against the government,” and called on the country’s leaders to resign. The demonstrators chanted slogans the likes of “In Tehran and in Krayot, children want to live,” and “The extreme Right in power is dangerous for Israel.”
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Saturday Israelis to protest against Iran attack amid growing web campaign
