Taking A Look Back At 2008 Around The World
Jan 9, 2009 12:10 am US/Eastern
Broward Palestine & Israel Rallies Get Heated
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ―
-
-
This man was protesting for the rights of Israel Thursday night. He held a sign, but some resulted to taunts and insults on both sides in Ft. Lauderdale.
Carey Codd/CBS
Hundreds of Pro-Israel and Pro-Palestinian supporters jammed a section of Broward Boulevard Thursday.
Each side hurled taunts, waved flags and shouted loudly in support of their positions on the escalating war in the Gaza Strip.
Ft. Lauderdale Police kept the peace by containing each group behind a barricade on either side of SE 3rd Avenue. However, that did not stop the barrage of words from each side.
The pro-Israel side yelled "terrorist" at the Muslims, while the pro-Palestinians countered with shouts of "Nazi."
Vocal members of each group made it clear why they came.
"I'm here to stand up and say enough is enough," said Pro-Israeli supporter Ed Napolitano. "I'm glad Israel is confronting these people."
But the pro-Palestinians said Israel is going too far in the war zone. Israel has been accused by some in the international community of killing civilians.
"Israel has done this to us for the past 62 years," said Pro-Palestinian supporter Adel Hamed, "so we came here to let the people know what's going on and ask them to stop the killing."
While others in the Muslim crowd denounced the level of force Israel is using in the war, the pro-Israel camp said the tactics are necessary when fighting an adversary like Hamas.
"Israel must be able to protect its citizens," said pro-Israel supporter Charles Lopiccolo, "and these people -- Hamas -- are hiding behind children and inviting death to them and that's pure evil."
The protest in Ft. Lauderdale lasted several hours and escalated in intensity as the night wore on. Our cameras captured children and adults spewing anger and hatred toward each other. We saw a child stick out her tongue at the Pro-Israel side and we saw a Jewish woman yelling at one Muslim to "get out of her country."
Each side blamed the other for starting the war and killing civilians.
Few could offer solutions to solving the crisis.
"Give the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip their rights," said pro-Palestinian supporter Sam Halum. "Open up the borders, let aid come in, medicines. There's a shortage of food. So there's ways to solve the problem."
But solutions were in short supply compared to the vitriol.
More protests are planned in Ft. Lauderdale. The Pro-Israel side plans rallies each of the next two Tuesdays outside the Federal Courthouse.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
2008 Celebrity Deaths
Click to enlarge
Ex-NFL QB Steve McNair, Woman Found Slain In Tenn. 11 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Reporting
