Oslo, Caracas rocked by Gaza rallies

[Scurrilous]

In Norway police subdue violent clashes after pro-Palestinian protestors burn Israeli flag, while in Venezuela protestors cheer expulsion of Israeli ambassador by throwing shoes at embassy

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3653198,00.html

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"Norwegian police on Thursday were forced to use tear gas in order to subdue violent protests against the IDF operation in Gaza, Germany's DPA news agency reported.

Meanwhile in Venezuela protestors sprayed graffiti and hurled shoes at the Israeli embassy, backing President Hugo Chavez's decision to expel the Israeli ambassador.

Hundreds of people, including members of parliament, participated in a pro-Israel rally while a pro-Palestinian rally was staged just across the street. Siv Jensen, leader of Norway's Progressive Party, said that although war is awful, Israel is "employing its right to defend itself."

During Jensen's speech pro-Palestinian protestors burned an Israeli flag, and after the speech clashes broke out between the demonstrators. Some threw firecrackers at police forces, who retaliated with tear gas. Some anti-Israel protestors also threw eggs and bottles, according to local reports.

Later demonstrations in other Norwegian cities memorialized the victims of the Middle East conflicts, and called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The rallies received the support of numerous human rights organizations, including Amnesty International.

In Caracas demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and chanted "Gaza, hold on! The world is rising up!" Journalists estimated the crowd at about 1,000.

Some threw shoes and firecrackers at an outer wall, while others spray-painted "Israel Get Out" and "Long live a free Palestine."

[Scurrilous]

1. Insults fly during Fort Lauderdale protests over Gaza conflict

Supporters of both sides in the Gaza conflict had some heated exchanges in downtown Fort Lauderdale. But there were no reports of physical confrontations.

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"The boiling debate over the conflict in the Gaza Strip returned to the streets of Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, but this time both sides hurled insults at each other from a safe distance.

Caught off-guard by the scope and ferocity of a rally Dec. 30 -- in which pro-Palestinian protesters got into the faces of Israel supporters -- Fort Lauderdale police worked Thursday to ensure the same didn't happen again.

Police locked down the 100 block of Southeast Third Avenue. Camouflaged agents kept watch from a perch above. Even Mayor Jim Naugle was on hand.

"We received information ahead of time regarding the event, and we planned accordingly," said Sgt. Frank Sousa, a police spokesman.

The effort paid off.

While vitriolic, Thursday's afternoon's pro-Israel demonstration and pro-Palestinian counter-rally were peaceful. There were no fights and no arrests, Sousa said.

Why? Mainly because the two sides were kept apart by metal barricades. Those voicing support of Israel were corraled behind a gate adjacent to the federal courthouse at Third Avenue and Broward Boulevard. Backers of the Palestinians were kept along the east side of Third Avenue, next to the First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale.

Police may have kept the two groups apart, but they didn't stop them from spewing insults at each other.

"Terrorists!" the Israel backers screamed. "Don't make me take off my shoe,'' one man added, joking about the Iraqi journalist who recently hurled two shoes at President George W. Bush.

"Baby killers!" the Palestinian supporters responded before breaking into chants of "Nazis! Nazis!"

The rally began at 5 p.m. -- the height of rush hour and in time to appear on the evening news. A steady stream of cars passed, with some people honking, others waving and still others flipping the middle finger."

http://www.miamiherald.com/467/story/844755.html