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Jan 6, 2009 11:46 pm US/Eastern
Jews, Muslims Discuss Animosity In S. Fla.
NORTH MIAMI BEACH (CBS4) ―
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An LAPD officer stops a man carrying American and Israeli flag along Wilshire Boulevard. Since attacks erupted in Gaza protests have been held throughout the U.S.
CBS
A Jewish group and a Muslim group joined forces in North Miami Beach Tuesday night, sharing the same goal: To stop the violence between their people in Gaza and on the streets of South Florida.
The passionate and violent struggles between Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East spilled over to South Florida during a violent protest outside the Israeli Consulate on Sunday. Sofian Zakkout organized the Muslim side of this protest. He says it was meant to be peaceful but he couldn't control the rage on either side.
"All of a sudden it's become more tension," said Zakkout.
He was born in Gaza and has dedicated much of his life to supporting Muslims here in South Florida, but he is also reaching out to Jews. He worries Israel's invasion of Gaza and the local rage that has boiled over is destroying bridges between the two groups that took years to build.
"It's a shame a few people are trying to import the hate from that area," said Zakkout. "They are trying to bring the hate to our country here and inflame the Jewish and Muslim here."
Longtime Jewish community activist Jack Lieberman has worked with Zakkout for years and is equally disturbed by the obvious hatred between these two protesting groups.
"Some of the Jews that were out there on Sunday were expressing some really ugly sentiments that run against the whole Jewish tradition," said Lieberman. "It was on both sides, and it was a disgrace," said Lieberman.
That's why Lieberman and Zakkout called this meeting of Jewish and Muslim organizers to denounce the violence in Gaza and in South Florida, and to seek out new ways to work together.
"All of the leaders of the communities should speak out against this kind of violence and racist actions."
Those who attended the meeting formed a committee that promised to hold more meetings to keep the peace, and next week they plan to hold a rally together, instead of screaming at each other from across the street.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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