7 November 2006
The most eloquent expression to the feelings of the hundreds of demonstrators was given by a middle-aged woman, who held in her hands the national flag with a large stain of blood.
The demonstration was organized spontaneously, only a few hours after it became known that the Israeli artillery had caused a horrible massacre at Bet-Hanoun in the Gaza Strip. The "Peace Now" movement was the first to take the initiative, and was immediately joined by Gush Shalom, the Women's Coalition for Peace, Anarchists for Peace and the Meretz and Hadash parties. The protest took place in front of the Ministry of Defense in Tel-Aviv.
"No error and no mistake / This occupation kills!" the protesters shouted, and, alluding to the International Criminal Court, "Dan Halutz, beware, beware / We shall see you in the Hague!", Artillery and Qassams / The occupation is bad for everybody!", "Killing children is a war crime!" and more.
"We reject with disgust the stuttering apologies of the government and the army," Gush Shalom spokesman Adam Keller declared, "This massacre was an inevitable result of the irresponsible frenzy of the army, which is completely backed by the government, including all its members."
"It is not at all self-evident that this massacre was caused by a mistake, Uri Avnery added, "It is quite possible that the intention was to teach the Palestinian a lesson, after the Israeli army failed to stop the Qassams from Gaza in spite of the operation in which 55 Palestinians, including many women and children, were killed."
