Bay Area jewish groups protest Israel aggression against Lebanon and Palestine

17 arrested

By Angela Hokanson, Bay City News Service

July 17, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - Seventeen people protesting Israel's ongoing military action in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip were arrested today in front of the offices of the Consulate General of Israel in San Francisco, according to San Francisco police.

The arrests, for blocking traffic, were made after a group of people linked arms and sat down in the street in front of the consulate, at 456 Montgomery St.

The group was blocking Montgomery Street between California and Sacramento streets, according to Samantha Liapes, who took part in the demonstrations today.

The demonstration was organized by three groups - Jewish Voice for Peace, Jews for a Free Palestine and Break the Silence - who sought "to show that Bay Area Jews largely do not support Israel's current collective punishment tactics" against Palestinians and Lebanese, said Liapes, who is Jewish and a member of Break the Silence.

About 300 people participated in the demonstration, according to Liapes.

Police began making arrests at about 12:45 p.m. and finished at about 1:30 p.m., she said.

Traffic violations such as impeding the flow of traffic are misdemeanor charges and the people arrested will be cited and released, according to police.

Israeli Deputy Consul General Omer Caspi said that the demonstrators "chose the wrong address" for their event, and that they should be protesting in front of the Lebanese or Palestinian government offices in Washington, D.C.

Caspi said the Lebanese and Palestinian governments are responsible for the current violence in the region because they allow Hezbollah and Hamas, which Israel considers terrorist organizations, to operate within their borders.

The groups that organized today's protest do not have concrete plans to demonstrate again, but Liapes said she would not be surprised if additional protests were organized if Israel maintains its current military activities.

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