Counter rally stands tall in Buffalo

This article was printed in the Buffalo Jewish Review
June 15 2007 issue (page 3)

Buffalo is definitely not known for its high profile political struggles. This was left to cities such as Montreal, with Universities like Concordia and McGill starring on the news every once in a while due to an over heated struggle on campus. During last Sunday nevertheless, Buffalo came a little bit closer to being a much more politically charged city.

Different organizations organized a big protest marking ’40 years of occupation’ in Washington DC on June 10, that included Women in Black, International Solidarity Movement and many more. A forlorn picture arises when some of the leaders of the organizations supporting the protest are either Jewish or Israeli.

Here in Buffalo, the Western New York Peace Center decided to organize a local Anti-Israel, Anti-Occupation protest of its own.

Daphne Zilber, the Western New York Campus Coordinator for StandWithUs (an advocacy organization that promotes education and understanding that will bring a secure future for Israel and her neighbors) organized a counter rally for the same day, coinciding with the one held in DC on Sunday. The purpose of the counter rally was to show support for Israel and promote a true peace in the Middle East, the kind that will guarantee security in Israel for generations to come.

The moment the Pro-Israel demonstrators approached the sidewalk on Elmwood Avenue, along side the Anti-Israel protestors they got a ‘warm’ welcome in the shape of angry calls for them to leave. They were yelled at by one of the protestors that for them to be there is “an act of aggression”. The yelling was also accompanied by plenty of lovely swearwords and attempts to create a violent incident; “try to punch me, let’s see you punch me…” said an angry-peaceful protestor to a guy holding an Israeli flag with pride.

Despite the constant attempts to incite, the Pro-Israel demonstrators kept their calm and held Israeli flags and signs stating “Israel is on the map to stay”, “Hamas, change your racist Charter” etc. There were a few heated discussions here and there, but nothing too drastic occurred. About 15 Western New York Peace Center protestors attended the protest, versus over 40 Pro-Israel protestors.

Bystanders and drivers honked their horns to show support for the Pro-Israel demonstrators, including one mysterious car that drove by a few times while waving an Israeli flag out the window and a card board figure of President Bush.

Says Zilber, “Professor James Holston from the English Department at UB was holding a sign that stated ‘Israel Out Now’. Such a sign clearly says to people that Israel should be out of the Middle East, not just out of the disputed territories. This act of hatred and Anti-Semitism offends me very much as an eighth generation Israeli. It is like claiming that all of the problems in the Middle East will disappear as soon as Israel withdraws to the 67’ lines. All we need to do is to take a quick look at what’s going on in the Palestinian Authority these days in order to realize that this is not the case.”

Zilber was happy with the turn out of the counter rally. “It is important for people to realize that we will not be silent while there are organizations who are openly calling out for the destruction of the state of Israel.

But here in Buffalo last Sunday, StandWithUs stood up to say, “Yes, we’re standing with you”.

Pro-Israel Rally in Buffalo... It's about time! :)

This article is taken from the Buffalo News

Depth of Mideast emotions evident in confrontation of demonstrators

By Katie Reedy NEWS STAFF REPORTERUpdated: 06/11/07 6:41 AM

Tempers flared Sunday afternoon in Bidwell Park on Elmwood Avenue as pro-Palestinian activists rallied alongside pro-Israeli demonstrators on the 40th anniversary of the Six- Day War.
The rally, which began at noon, was organized by the Western New York Peace Center on the pro-Palestinian side, while the counterdemonstration was led by Stand With Us, a national Israeli advocacy organization.
At least 80 people attended the event, which drew about 15 more pro-Israeli activists than pro-Palestinians.
Joanna Drzewieniecki of the Western New York Peace Center said that her group takes the position that many actions by Israel against the Palestinians, such as building certain settlements, have been illegal.
“We’re protesting this occupation,” she said.
Drzewieniecki said her organization believes that current policies are linked to other sources of violence. “This is one of the most important causes of all the troubles in the Middle East,” she said.
Daphne Zilber, campus coordinator of Stand With Us, said she believes that the pro- Palestinian organizers were ignoring the violence that occurs against Israel.
“I think it’s important for people to be educated on the subject,” she said.
Zilber, who was born in Israel and now lives in Buffalo, said her experiences have shown her the importance of “reality rather than ideals.”
“I spent last summer in a bunker,” she said, explaining that she lived in a town near Lebanon during the fighting last year.
Demonstrators held flags, signs and banners on both sides of the street. While the rally was largely peaceful, several protesters, who stood intermingled, engaged in heated arguments.
Many other participants were also very vocal.
“It’s a genocide. . . . Israel has lost its moral compass,” said Irene Wolffson, 86, of Amherst.
“Israel has the right to possess the land that was given to them by the United Nations,” said Jamie Lynn, 24, of Buffalo.
“Arabs have rights in Israel; there are Arab representatives in the Knesset,” said Wendy Miller of Buffalo, supporting Stand With Us.
Othman Shibly of Williamsville, who attended the pro-Palestinian rally with his three children, called for a two-state solution.
“As we celebrate our own freedom on July Fourth, we should celebrate the freedom of others,” he said. “. . . We need to see a Palestinian state exist.”
His daughter, Thawab, 16, was dismayed by the divisions.
“I don’t like how everyone won’t talk to each other,” she said. “. . . Everyone is so polarized.”
The protest took place in conjunction with national and international rallies and demonstrations in commemoration of the Six-Day War. In Washington, D.C., the groups United for Peace and Justice and the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation staged a protest that was met by a counterdemonstration including groups such as Stand With Us.