Share
Email
PrintPro-Israel demonstrators counter Islamist march in Berlin
BERLIN (JTA) -- Berlin's annual anti-Israel Islamist march, the Al Quds Day demonstration, drew pro-Israel counter-protesters to the streets of former West Berlin.
The approximately 600 Islamist demonstrators during Saturday's march chanted slogans calling Israel a terrorist state and calling for its dissolution. They and the some 300 pro-Israel protesters were kept well apart from each other, police spokesman Michael Gassen told JTA. There were no arrests.
Levi Salomon, the Berlin Jewish Community's representative in charge of fighting anti-Semitism, told JTA that he was saddened by the many children among the anti-Israel marchers.
"The indoctrination of the children is a central problem," he said.
Pro-Israel demonstrators came from across the mainstream political spectrum and included local Iranian pro-democracy activists, Salomon added.
Al Quds Day, a protest against Israel's existence, was established in 1979 by Iran's Islamic revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini. His followers have marked the day in cities around the world with large Muslim populations on the first Saturday after Ramadan. Berlin's annual demonstration has attracted 300 to 1,000 Islamists. Men and women march separately.
Don't miss out! Get the JTA Daily Briefing delivered FREE to your inbox!
Click to login and write a letter to the editor.
This article was made possible by the support of readers like you. Donate to JTA now.
Featured Content
Need to know? Get JTA's free e-newsletters!
- Turkish lawyer: Israel offered to pay Marmara victims $6 million
- Egypt holds first round of voting in presidential election
- Police: Man in custody implicated himself in disappearance of Etan Patz
- Romney to meet with Jewish donors
- Senate hikes funding for nonprofits’ security, emergency food aid
- OU welcomes Romney’s school choice proposal
- House letter urging Iran diplomacy garners 71 signatures
- White House sets May 30 for Jewish Heritage Month
