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A protest against Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip at the Erez border crossing on Saturday. (AP)
Last update - 07:31 27/01/2008
Umm al-Fahm turns out lights, Israelis rally against Gaza siege
By Jack Khoury and Mijal Grinberg, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Gaza Strip, Uri Avneri 

The Israeli-Arab town of Umm al-Fahm shut off its electricity for one hour on Saturday night in an intentional blackout, and a torch-lit march was held in solidarity with the residents of the Gaza Strip to protest an Israeli blockade of goods entering the coastal territory.

Earlier, more than 1,000 people in Israel demonstrated the sanctions on the Erez Crossing on the Gaza border. The demonstration was coordinated with the police, and organized by both Jewish and Arab groups, including Ta'ayush, the Coalition of Women for Peace, Gush Shalom, and the Balad and Hadash political parties. The protest was dubbed a "relief convoy" aimed to transfer food, blankets and other basic needs to Gaza.

Regarding the situation on the Gaza-Egypt border, which remains open after militants blew up the border fence last week, Leftist activist and former MK Uri Avneri told the rally that "three days ago, a wall here fell, like the Berlin Wall, like the separation wall and like all the walls and fences in this country will."
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"As Israelis, we came to transfer crucial supplies and to say - we are not partner to this crime, we are shamed of this siege. Our hearts are with our Palestinian brothers who are demonstrating on the other side. Our hearts are also with our brothers residing in Sderot. The Qassam threat must stop, but it won't stop through 'an eye for an eye,' but rather when we talk to Hamas," Avneri continued.

A demonstrator at a parallel rally on the Gaza side of the border fence, speaking to the Israeli protest through a cellular phone held to a loudspeaker, said that "together we must create a partnership and chase after peace in Gaza, Ramallah, Israel and Sderot... I feel honored to speak with you. Every drop of blood that spills in Israel or in Palestine is a blow to our humanity. Please send this message to the all of the people in Israel."


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      1.   Why the left has marginalized itself 21:33  |  Joe Sittizen 26/01/08
      2.   Stay, Let the Protests Grow 21:40  |  Mark of Lewiston 26/01/08
      3.   What percentage of the Israeli Jewish electorate 21:43  |  Yonatan 26/01/08
      4.   Pity they didn`t protest against the qassams 22:07  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 26/01/08
      5.   Complain to their Qassem firing brothers.Quiet about Qassems 22:10  |  PETER SM 26/01/08
      6.   arrest them all and force them into gaza 22:15  |  vik 26/01/08
      7.   3* Barkingyes, you`re right but.... 22:31  |  Nora 26/01/08
      8.   Let `em march toward Jordan or Gaza 22:50  |  Ron 26/01/08
      9.   liars 22:53  |  magic carpet 26/01/08
      10.   I would respect them if .... 23:06  |  David 26/01/08
      11.   Follow Daniel Barenboim 23:22  |  Gilad 26/01/08
      12.   David and protests against Kassams 00:20  |  hala 27/01/08
      13.   the spectacle of the loony left is another horror show 00:23  |  v hardman 27/01/08
      14.   Islamic Republic of Palestine await their brothers with passports 00:23  |  PETER SM 27/01/08
      15.   Avneri=Habash. Yes/No 00:31  |  Chris Roman 27/01/08
      16.   Israeli Policy 00:47  |  Paulo 27/01/08
      17.   Only One Hour? 00:54  |  Gina 27/01/08
      18.   More people power! Good for them! 00:54  |  Maureen Ann 27/01/08
      19.   #18 Maureen Ann - YOU could have been there to support 01:06  |  * BEN JABO 27/01/08
      20.   If they`re not happy, and they`re not 01:16  |  * BEN JABO 27/01/08
      21.   #12 Hala. Only 12 people died, but not for lack of intention 01:25  |  David 27/01/08
      22.   Only the self-hating leftist Israelis such as leftists and those 01:39  |  Marwan مروان خوري 27/01/08
      23.   I say those Israeli Arabs who do not feel that they are Israeli 01:41  |  Marwan مروان خوري 27/01/08
      24.   Umm al-Fahm with Anti Jewish State Israeli Left Are Domestic Enem 01:46  |  Joseph . E 27/01/08
      25.   Arabs of Israel Are Joining Terror PLO-PA Subversive Actions 01:59  |  Joseph . E 27/01/08
      26.   MAUREEN Without Qassem power there would be no need to march 02:00  |  PETER SM 27/01/08
      27.   1000...disgusting individuals 02:05  |  Jon 27/01/08
      28.   The Jihadists Alleged Refugees That Israel Allowed in the 50s 02:07  |  Joseph . E 27/01/08
      29.   Maureen Anne 02:07  |  bytheway 27/01/08
      30.   A Great Idea 03:33  |  BZ Sternberg 27/01/08
      31.   What about that brand new motorcycle on the crane? 03:45  |  Ariel 27/01/08
      32.   Peter SM what is your problem? You are in Australia aren`t you. 03:57  |  Joe 27/01/08
      33.   Umm al-Fahm turns out lights 04:44  |  David 27/01/08
      34.   #26 PeterSM. Israel`s eventual borders? 05:06  |  Maureen Ann 27/01/08
      35.   Avneri is Great 06:08  |  George Kaplan 27/01/08
      36.   Why the left never wins 06:10  |  B. 27/01/08
      37.   JOE "Real"Israelis do not like hourly bombardment of Sderot. 07:22  |  PETER SM 27/01/08
      38.   umm al fahm 07:57  |  mike 27/01/08
      39.   # 36 (B) - Spot On 08:45  |  Tod Zuckerman 27/01/08
      40.   #9 Liars 09:29  |  Steve 27/01/08
      41.   Ariel, TLV, IL 09:43  |  jack 27/01/08
      42.   Avneri: Your Proposed Dialogue With Hamas Will Be A Monologue! 10:09  |  Lavi 27/01/08
      43.   why don`t they protest in the same way against the kassam-fire? 10:32  |  saul a. readner 27/01/08
      44.   Avneri is correct 11:20  |  Marilyn 27/01/08
      45.   To Marwarn #22-23 You are completely right! 12:02  |  Ulf 27/01/08
      46.   #23 Marwan ,still crying like a baby over Qassams 12:28  |  Dutch 27/01/08
      47.   Margiewood 4 (get some perspective) 12:52  |  Guido 27/01/08
      48.   To the demonstrator in Gaza 13:09  |  Jim 27/01/08
      49.   #16 Paulo 13:27  |  Jim 27/01/08
      50.   Brings back memories 13:33  |  Jim 27/01/08
      51.   #16 Paulo 14:05  |  Jim 27/01/08
      52.   #20 Ben Jabo 14:15  |  Jim 27/01/08
      53.   #22 Marwan 14:28  |  Jim 27/01/08
      54.   Sick 14:32  |  Janice 27/01/08
      55.   #23 marwan 14:36  |  Jim 27/01/08
      56.   #30 BZ Steinberg 14:50  |  Jim 27/01/08
      57.   #36 B 15:05  |  Jim 27/01/08
      58.   # 43 saul a. reader 15:10  |  Jim 27/01/08
      59.   #54 Janice 15:23  |  Jim 27/01/08
      60.   To #46 Dutch braveness 16:22  |  Ulf 27/01/08
      61.   Read 17:41  |  Mich 27/01/08
      62.   #46 Dutch,Doris of Natick,8 Israeli deads is 8 too many!Go 19:02  |  Max Zinger P.Chimist 27/01/08
      63.   #46 Dutch,Doris of Natick,8 Israeli deads is 8 too many!Go 19:02  |  Max Zinger P.Chimist 27/01/08
      64.   46 Dutch 19:15  |  Doris Cadigan 27/01/08
      65.   Ulf #60 19:20  |  Knowitall 27/01/08
      66.   #9 You are right it didnt start with the Quassams 21:36  |  E 27/01/08
      67.   #31 Ariel for the same reason they carried huge carpets 21:44  |  E 27/01/08
      68.   #Jim and all his 12 posts 21:52  |  E 27/01/08
      69.   #61 Mich from South Carolina.USA 22:49  |  Jim 27/01/08
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