Protest targets Netanyahu & blockade of Gaza

San Francisco — Several hundred people picketed in front of the Israeli Consulate here on July 6 to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting in Washington with President Barack Obama. Loud chants of “Long Live Palestine!” and “We don’t care what you say, Intifada all the way!” easily drowned out a small group of pro-Israel counterpickets across the street.

Several speakers at the rush hour rally demanded that the current Israeli blockade of Gaza be lifted completely and immediately.

Dr. Henry Clark, a leader of the West County Toxics Coalition based in Richmond, exposed the colonial role of Israel in the Middle East. “Israel stole the land from the Palestinian people,” Clark said. He looked across the street at the consulate and added, “You need to get out of occupied Palestine.”

Today’s protest, organized by the Answer Coalition and endorsed by a broad group of organizations, including the International Action Center, coincided with a number of demonstrations protesting Netanyahu’s visit, including one in Washington, D.C.