Thousands demonstrate at pro-Israel rally near Iranian embassy in Rome - Haaretz

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		Protesters dancing among Israeli flags at a pro-Israel rally on Thursday night near the Iranian Embassy in Rome. (Reuters)




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Last update - 00:00 02/11/2005

Thousands demonstrate at pro-Israel rally near Iranian embassy in Rome

By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service

Italians of all political factions marched on Thursday with Israeli flags and torches towards Iran's embassy in Rome to protest against a statement made by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadenijad that "Israel should be wiped out of the map."

Italy's foreign minister said he would not participate in a pro-Israel rally in Rome on Thursday evening, despite a promise to Israel that he would do so, in order to avoid damaging Italian national interests.

The Italian defense minister also said he would not attend the rally, Israel Radio reported.

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Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini issued a statement a few hours before the torch-lit demonstration outside the Iranian embassy to protest remarks by the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that Israel should be "wiped off the map."

"My physical presence, as foreign minister, at this evening's rally could cause harmful consequences to our national interests and to the security of our fellow citizens from the Iranian side," Fini said.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi expressed support for Fini's decision not to attend the rally, news agencies reported Thursday night.

Fini had made a two-day official visit to the Palestinian territories and Israel earlier this week. During the visit, he had promised Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom that he would participate in the Rome rally.

As Iran worked behind the scenes to express displeasure over a planned pro-Israel rally scheduled to be held in Rome on Thursday, Italian politicians from the left and right have said they were to join the event.

The demonstration was called by Il Foglio, a small conservative newspaper close to Berlusconi, "to defend the right of Israel to exist."

The paper has said that more than 500 prominent Italians, including politicians from right and left, have backed the demonstration.

A wave of demonstrations in support of Israel swept across Europe Wednesday evening, with protestors gathering in front of Iranian embassies in a number of capitals.

Fini said Wednesday the international community had to maintain a "firm line" against Tehran, and said he had instructed Toscano to tell the Iranians why "there has been so much indignation and concern" about Ahmadinejad's remarks in Italy.

Fini said earlier he would attend Thursday's pro-Israel rally. He has converted his National Alliance Party from a neo-Fascist to mainstream conservative party, and condemned anti-Semitism during a visit to Israel.

"The problem of security doesn't only concern Israel, because if Tehran equips itself with a nuclear arsenal, the problem would concern the whole international community," he told reporters.

The pro-Israel rally has split the Italian left, and the Green Party organized a separate demonstration Wednesday against Ahmadinejad's remarks in front of the Iranian embassy. Their protest, however, which drew about 20 people, was also called to recognize the rights of Palestinians.

The protest has been preceded by a back and forth between Rome and Tehran over a call by Fini, during a visit to Jerusalem earlier this week, for Iran to be referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions on the issue of the Islamic Republic's nuclear aspirations

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1.	The Europeans at last begin to understand the danger presented to themselves by a nuclear Iran	12:59	\|	Shalom Freedman	03/11/05

2.	the europeans will never fight another war again	13:13	\|	fagin	03/11/05

3.	good	13:25	\|	Ernst	03/11/05

4.	The Latest Chique	13:37	\|	The "Canadian" Observer	03/11/05

5.	Watch out world.How can Russia be so stupid?	13:42	\|	Peter SM	03/11/05

6.	Who Cares?	13:44	\|	West Ham Utd	03/11/05

7.	Pro Israel demonstrations	13:46	\|	Nehama	03/11/05

8.	Hear the comments for what they are	13:46	\|	Delta	03/11/05

9.	Is there a change in the attitude toward Israel in Europe?	14:00	\|	Shlomo from Tel-Aviv	03/11/05

10.	Fagin?	14:11	\|	West Ham Utd	03/11/05

11.	Iran/Italy pro Israel demonstrations	14:17	\|	Mark Yaffe	03/11/05

12.	Europes reaction	14:31	\|	Jane	03/11/05

13.	West Ham	14:32	\|	Delta	03/11/05

14.	Europe	14:46	\|	Pt	03/11/05

15.	Iran	15:05	\|	PB	03/11/05

16.	Europe´s situation	15:10	\|	Tulip	03/11/05

17.	Iran comments	15:16	\|	Gp	03/11/05

18.	Big Deal	15:25	\|	Steven	03/11/05

19.	iran and the mad mullahs	15:26	\|	Daniel yefet	03/11/05

20.	#17 to GP	15:33	\|	Roger	03/11/05

21.	Gp -- Arab comments	15:58	\|	PB	03/11/05

22.	To #20	16:01	\|	Gp	03/11/05

23.	To #22	16:17	\|	Roger	03/11/05

24.	Iranian president has touched off a firestorm	16:23	\|	David James Vickery	03/11/05

25.	superficial opinions on Europe	16:26	\|	Ernst	03/11/05

26.	Iran and Al-Aksa #22	16:37	\|	Rustam	03/11/05

27.	europe has always backed israel	16:47	\|	nikos	03/11/05

28.	Sholomo	16:51	\|	Michael	03/11/05

29.	Tulip	17:03	\|	Gabe1	03/11/05

30.	For GP, Impact of nuclear blast.	17:05	\|	Jacob Blues	03/11/05

31.	Pro-Israel rallies in Europe	17:14	\|	vivelafrance	03/11/05

32.	How sweet it is	17:14	\|	Danite	03/11/05

33.	shlomo	17:23	\|	lovely	03/11/05

34.	Are the poor babies feelings hurt?	17:25	\|	Mark Lincoln	03/11/05

35.	Europe is finally Waking up...watch for the Dutch and..	17:25	\|	KJJ	03/11/05

36.	Ensuring Iran is Nuclear Free	17:47	\|	Miri	03/11/05

37.	Bravo, Italians	17:56	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	03/11/05

38.	About Europe	18:09	\|	Danite	03/11/05

39.	Pt: Europe	18:10	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	03/11/05

40.	KIM UP THE WALL	18:18	\|	FLOWER	03/11/05

41.	Tulip: Europe`s situation	18:21	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	03/11/05

42.	I agree Shalom Freedman	18:22	\|	Newt	03/11/05

43.	You`re wrong Fagin	18:23	\|	Newt	03/11/05

44.	GABE 1	18:24	\|	FLOWER	03/11/05

45.	David James Vickery ``It has already started in France.``	18:26	\|	KJJ	03/11/05

46.	Europe? - thats just a bunch of nonsense	18:27	\|	D	03/11/05

47.	Danite: About Europe	18:28	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	03/11/05

48.	Gabe1 re Tulip	18:30	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	03/11/05

49.	The world will not save us..in fact	18:34	\|	My name is nobody	03/11/05

50.	DANITE	18:38	\|	FLOWER	03/11/05

51.	Iran has Israel in the corner....	18:39	\|	My name is nobody	03/11/05

52.	observation	18:54	\|	ehitter	03/11/05

53.	Who is demonstrating ?	19:00	\|	Serge	03/11/05

54.	IGNORANCE SPEAKS VOLUMES	19:05	\|	Larry	03/11/05

55.	FLOWER	19:08	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	03/11/05

56.	My name is nobody	19:12	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	03/11/05

57.	Fini Will not attend pro-Israeli demonstration	19:21	\|	Marion Forster	03/11/05

58.	#49 my name is nobody...How ridiculous!	20:18	\|	Levy	03/11/05

59.	#51 yes	20:34	\|	Delta	03/11/05

60.	The Sleeper Awakens	20:34	\|	Jeff Northridge	03/11/05

61.	Lovely no	20:37	\|	Delta	03/11/05

62.	Islamic terrorism is a worldwide problem	20:40	\|	Delta	03/11/05

63.	the solution on russian hand just stop them	20:48	\|	e.m	03/11/05

64.	Just Like the Spaniards	20:51	\|	david	03/11/05

65.	to Jacob Blue and For GP, Impact of nuclear blast.	20:55	\|	Massoud	03/11/05

66.	Time is running out for the dirty mullahs	20:55	\|	Jendeh kosh	03/11/05

67.	Delta Re: terrorism	20:59	\|	Krish	03/11/05

68.	#54 Larry; indeed so, your ignorance speaks volumes	21:04	\|	Man deVoshkes	03/11/05

69.	Hello Kim	21:05	\|	Danite	03/11/05

70.	From every corner of every land	21:05	\|	Howard Wolle	03/11/05

71.	#57 Marion; Do you know how many pages holds the book of Italian War Heroes?	21:09	\|	Man deVoshkes	03/11/05

72.	A Shahid with his finger on the nuclear trigger.	21:10	\|	Peter S.M.	03/11/05

73.	KJJ Hello	21:11	\|	Danite	03/11/05

74.	An answer for Delta #62	21:12	\|	Marc	03/11/05

75.	Six million jews for 30 Million moslems	21:14	\|	Ben	03/11/05

76.	Iran in today`s NY Times	21:14	\|	Yaakov Sullivan	03/11/05

77.	Vickery.The world realises (late) that they also face an existential threat.	21:16	\|	Peter S.M.	03/11/05

78.	Kim re:Gabe1	21:21	\|	Krish	03/11/05

79.	Delta Re: terrorism	21:22	\|	Krish	03/11/05

80.	RE: #34 mark lincoln	21:23	\|	Jendeh kosh	03/11/05

81.	#62 Delta	21:23	\|	Man deVoshkes	03/11/05

82.	#66 Jendeh kosh	21:29	\|	Man deVoshkes	03/11/05

83.	Flower	21:30	\|	Danite	03/11/05

84.	Pro-Israel rallies	21:31	\|	TonyL	03/11/05

85.	West Ham Utd	21:38	\|	AK	03/11/05

86.	Israel and the world...	21:39	\|	Levy	03/11/05

87.	Marc from Lyons	21:39	\|	Krish	03/11/05

88.	david	21:40	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	03/11/05

89.	Re # 49 an 51 You are Absolutely Correct	21:42	\|	Max Zinger	03/11/05

90.	Danite	21:46	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	03/11/05

91.	Real Politik	21:49	\|	Mark Kato	03/11/05

92.	European pro-Israel rally it is meaningless	21:50	\|	AK	03/11/05

93.	Krish (in sheep`s clothing again ?)	21:54	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	03/11/05

94.	Krish (more)	21:56	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	03/11/05

95.	75.Ben	21:59	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	03/11/05

96.	Hello Kim	22:13	\|	Danite	03/11/05

97.	RE: #82	22:14	\|	jendeh kosh	03/11/05

98.	Iran	22:16	\|	At	03/11/05

99.	Hello Danite-regarding Europe and Israel	22:17	\|	Dorothy	03/11/05

100.	Krish	22:23	\|	Delta	03/11/05

101.	Maybe Europe Should Make Israel a Bood Offer	22:23	\|	Dorothy	03/11/05

102.	Levy	22:30	\|	Delta	03/11/05

103.	the europes has more interest in islamic countries then israel	22:33	\|	e,m	03/11/05

104.	#68 Man DeVoshkes	22:36	\|	Larry	03/11/05

105.	Italian FM says won`t attend pro-Israel protest outside Iranian embassy in Rome	22:37	\|	Massimo	03/11/05

106.	Danite Hello...afraid the 2 state solution has been morphed by..	22:39	\|	KJJ	03/11/05

107.	Dorothy and her Sweet Songs of Reason	22:39	\|	Danite	03/11/05

108.	Dorothy re Danite	22:39	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	03/11/05

109.	Delta:#100	22:40	\|	Krish	03/11/05

110.	Larry	22:42	\|	Connie	03/11/05

111.	Re: The Last Chique	22:44	\|	blue70	03/11/05

112.	Delta (one more thing)	22:45	\|	Krish	03/11/05

113.	IRAN AND A CONFEDERATION OF ISLAMIC COUNTRIES ARE DESTINED TO BE DESTROYED WHEN THEY ATTACK ISRAEL ??	22:51	\|	Bill.	03/11/05

114.	#91 Kato; What else is new you ask? I`ll tell you	22:52	\|	Man deVoshkes	03/11/05

115.	David James Vickery in 24	22:56	\|	Tulip	03/11/05

116.	Delta.....	22:56	\|	Levy	03/11/05

117.	Gabe1 on the muslims	22:57	\|	Tulip	03/11/05

118.	Jendeh Kosh # 66 Long Live Free Persia!	23:00	\|	Jeff Northridge	03/11/05

119.	Yaacov´s "semblance of rationality"	23:00	\|	Tulip	03/11/05

120.	Jendeh kosh	23:03	\|	Daniel Leopold	03/11/05

121.	Nikos	23:04	\|	blue70	03/11/05

122.	Italy backstabs Israel - Great "friend"	23:06	\|	disgusted	03/11/05

123.	DANITE	23:11	\|	FLOWER	03/11/05

124.	At: smuggling	23:14	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	03/11/05

125.	To Massoud	23:17	\|	Anoosh	03/11/05

126.	Kim (in sheep`s clothing? - paranoia again)	23:21	\|	Krish	03/11/05

127.	WHERE ARE YOU DUTCH,AZZAM AND REALISTIC	23:24	\|	Daniel Leopold	03/11/05

128.	Krish	23:25	\|	Delta	03/11/05

129.	Krish	23:26	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	03/11/05

130.	Kim:pals suffering	23:27	\|	Krish	03/11/05

131.	Apt question indeed Massoud	23:27	\|	Jacob Blues	03/11/05

132.	Kim re: #88	23:29	\|	david	03/11/05

133.	Impossible	23:29	\|	Mark Lincoln	03/11/05

134.	Krish	23:33	\|	Gabe1	03/11/05

135.	To the Iranian President	23:33	\|	Nat Weinstein	03/11/05

136.	Thanks Connie in your comment to Larry	23:34	\|	David James Vickery	03/11/05

137.	Massimo of Venezia; about ignorance and shallowness	23:34	\|	Man deVoshkes	03/11/05

138.	A case of Shoulda Coulda Woulda, Yaacov	23:36	\|	Jacob Blues	03/11/05

139.	To Man deVoshkes	23:36	\|	Mark Kato	03/11/05

140.	Tulip and cancer	23:38	\|	Krish	03/11/05

141.	Just remember the last show of support	23:38	\|	Jacob Blues	03/11/05

142.	Danite Re: Flower #83	23:50	\|	Gabe1	03/11/05

143.	Kim - re:Krish Delta	23:53	\|	Krish	03/11/05

144.	Dorothy#99	23:55	\|	Gabe1	03/11/05

145.	Iran vs Israel and US and UK and the world	23:59	\|	Tottenham Hotspur	03/11/05

146.	Delta #128	00:03	\|	Krish	04/11/05

147.	About Europe: to lovely and others	00:05	\|	Shlomo from Tel-Aviv	04/11/05

148.	Krish	00:10	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	04/11/05

149.	david	00:12	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	04/11/05

150.	Gabe1 : #134	00:16	\|	Krish	04/11/05

151.	3 State Solution	00:16	\|	Rick Gross	04/11/05

152.	#80 Jendeh kosh	00:19	\|	hala	04/11/05

153.	Very ironic	00:21	\|	D	04/11/05

154.	126 Krish	00:23	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	04/11/05

155.	Pro Israeli rally	00:28	\|	michael Cohen	04/11/05

156.	Tulip	00:30	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	04/11/05

157.	Palestinian solution	00:32	\|	Rick Gross	04/11/05

158.	Demonstration in Rome	00:41	\|	HKL	04/11/05

159.	Iranian Anger...Tough Luck	00:42	\|	Joe Levi	04/11/05

160.	To Kim Re:#78	01:14	\|	TonyL	04/11/05

161.	141 gabe to danite	01:18	\|	alan	04/11/05

162.	the left will get it late:the solution two state.israel and jordan	01:23	\|	e,m	04/11/05

163.	To Daniel Leopold #127	01:37	\|	TonyL	04/11/05

164.	Dear FLOWER: take of the blinkers	01:37	\|	David James Vickery	04/11/05

165.	Iran wants to hit europe more than it does Israel	01:41	\|	Dror	04/11/05

166.	#139 Kato; I`d say comprehending the written word is not your strongest treat	01:43	\|	Man deVoshkes	04/11/05

167.	Krish, the difference between christian and muslim crusade	01:44	\|	Tulip	04/11/05

168.	Anoosh	01:45	\|	Tulip	04/11/05

169.	Women, your "heil" is with Krish in 109	01:51	\|	Tulip	04/11/05

170.	Ending terrorism according to Krish	01:52	\|	Tulip	04/11/05

171.	Muslims not a problem in the USA, Krish?	01:54	\|	Tulip	04/11/05

172.	Rick Gross, how about...	01:58	\|	Tulip	04/11/05

173.	SHAME ON YOU, MR FINI	01:59	\|	Rai de la Nano	04/11/05

174.	it was a mass media event	02:07	\|	thecutter	04/11/05

175.	To Krish and its MAGICAL THINKING	02:39	\|	sumayah	04/11/05

176.	KJJ Hello	02:42	\|	Danite	04/11/05

177.	Mark kato #139	02:44	\|	Gabe1	04/11/05

178.	Alan	02:58	\|	Gabe1	04/11/05

179.	Roman Response	03:09	\|	Warren	04/11/05

180.	Krish # 146 Border Control	03:17	\|	Jeff Northridge	04/11/05

181.	Connie #110	03:20	\|	Larry	04/11/05

182.	Tulip, Yes	03:35	\|	Rick Gross	04/11/05

183.	Rick Gross # 151 The Three-State Solution	03:36	\|	Jeff Northridge	04/11/05

184.	#139 Iran was responsible for.....	03:39	\|	Max Zinger	04/11/05

185.	#145 Totenham Hotspur; Weapons to whom?	05:06	\|	AJ	04/11/05

186.	immigrants to europe	05:13	\|	zac	04/11/05

187.	Italian courage	05:18	\|	Mario Braccini	04/11/05

188.	Disgusting	05:31	\|	Mario Braccini	04/11/05

189.	Krish	05:34	\|	Delta	04/11/05

190.	Impotent Children	05:58	\|	Aaron	04/11/05

191.	RICK GROSS	06:04	\|	FLOWER	04/11/05

192.	Kim and her definition of "country"	06:08	\|	Krish	04/11/05

193.	Kim#154	06:22	\|	Krish	04/11/05

194.	Larry #181	06:34	\|	Larry	04/11/05

195.	Wow Tulip, you`ve outdone yourself	06:39	\|	Krish	04/11/05

196.	Thank you Alan	06:41	\|	Danite	04/11/05

197.	To #25	06:41	\|	Franco	04/11/05

198.	Jeff	06:45	\|	Krish	04/11/05

199.	Flower	06:45	\|	danite	04/11/05

200.	To #57	07:50	\|	Franco	04/11/05

201.	182 Rick Gross re Tulip	08:45	\|	Kim: UP THE WALL	04/11/05

202.	#71	09:29	\|	Chiara	04/11/05

203.	iran	09:47	\|	marc	04/11/05

204.	Man deVoshkes & Marion Forster	11:58	\|	Mario Zargani	04/11/05

205.	#99 Israel and EU	12:33	\|	GS	04/11/05

206.	World be warned!	13:13	\|	Before it`s too late	04/11/05

207.	Europeans are sometimes depicted in a misleading way	13:17	\|	Paolo	04/11/05

208.	pro Israel rally in Rome	13:52	\|	STEFANO ANGELI	04/11/05

209.	NO PRO ISRAELI RALLY CAN CHANGE REALITY	14:25	\|	MEOW~	04/11/05

210.	pro-Israel rally in Rome	14:33	\|	Mike	04/11/05

211.	Franco`s comment	14:58	\|	thecutter	04/11/05

212.	OH RUSTUM	15:02	\|	MEOW`	04/11/05

213.	#207 Paolo	16:20	\|	Yonatan	04/11/05

214.	Cowards in Rome!	16:39	\|	Brandon	04/11/05

215.	TO MARION TO MARION #57	17:05	\|	FRANCESCO	04/11/05

216.	PropIsrael rally	17:09	\|	Chuck Applebaum	04/11/05

217.	Europe in missile range	02:12	\|	Paolo	05/11/05

218.	to Krish, re response to Yoav Stern #67	20:12	\|	E. Ham	05/11/05

219.	Yaakov Sullivan- NY Times article	05:56	\|	Avrum	06/11/05

220.	Italian government non attendance at pro Israeli rally near Iranian Embassy	10:22	\|	Fayez Lababedi	06/11/05

221.	#192 Krish and ethnic cleansing	04:11	\|	hala	09/11/05

222.	Not ethnic cleansing	19:49	\|	Inge	09/11/05

223.	saving of lives	22:30	\|	Dhulkifl Zaman Khan	16/11/05

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