By Larry Barszewski, Sun Sentinel
7:55 p.m. EST, November 17, 2012
FORT LAUDERDALE—
About 150 supporters of Palestinians rallied across from the Federal Courthouse on Saturday to protest what they fear is an imminent Israeli invasion of Gaza. Across the divide of six-lane Broward Boulevard, a tiny pro-Israel contingent was on hand to counter the demonstration.
"If any other country in the world other than Israel did what they're doing in Gaza today, it would be called war crimes," said Anas Amireh of Coral Springs, a protest organizer with the PalestineRight to Return Coalition, also known as Al-Awda. "When you take it to the United Nations, the whole world stands with you and it's vetoed by the United States."
Related
Support for Palestine
Maps
299 E Broward Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, USA
The protesters also included representatives from theFlorida Atlantic University and Florida International University chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine, and even some members of Occupy Fort Lauderdale.
"I'd like to see an end to the occupation and the blockade," said Nadine Aly of Boca Raton, an FAU student originally from Egypt. "[Israelis] claim self-defense. You can't really claim self-defense when you're occupying the country to begin with."
Representatives from Shalom International heard about the planned protest and had about a half-dozen members show up for a counter-demonstration in support of Israel. The group holds a weekly Tuesday afternoon demonstration at the courthouse.