Trouble in the East

Protest in Toronto


Counter-protest in Toronto


Protest in Montreal


Protest in Ottawa


300 killed in Gaza, 8 in Colombo, Pakistani troops massed on the Indian border ... there's been nothing but bad news between Christmas and the New Year.

Check out live ground reports at the Aljazeera English site or videos or Haaretz. Why the Gaza bombings? The Israelis blame the Qassam rockets fired at their homes from secret underground silos embedded in residential areas near the border (see their video).



Nevertheless, the question of proportionate military counter-strikes and the threat of a ground invasion looms:



This afternoon outside the Israeli Consulate, Canadians made their views known. According to the Canadian Press, "Demonstrations were held in several cities across Canada on Sunday as pro-Palestinian protesters denounced the attacks. The largest was in Toronto, where about 800 protesters outside the Israeli consulate screamed at a few dozen Israel supporters." The following organisations demanded Canadian condemnation of the Israeli killing of the Palestinian people:

• Canadian Arab Federation
• Palestine House
• Women in Solidarity with Palestine (WSP)
• Islamic Society of York Region
• Not In Our Name (NION): Jewish Voices Opposing Zionism
• Somali Canadian Diaspora Alliance
• Muslim Association of Hamilton
• International Jewish anti-Zionist Network – Toronto
• Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid
• Niagara Palestinian Association
• Al-Huda Lebanese Muslim Society
• Hamilton Coalition Against the War
• Palestinian Association of Hamilton
• No War - Paix
  

The Toronto rally is covered on the CTV website.

Images from elsewhere:


Sri Lankan soldier at site of suicide blast where eight were killed



Awful VBIED bomb in Khost, Afghanistan, killing two Canadians and 14 children on the way to collect their exam results and graduation certificates

Revenge suicide attack on Pakistani village, over 30 killed


Aftermath in Mosul


Aftermath in Fallujah

In Fallujah and Mosul, Iraq, suicide car and bicycle bombers kill at least five, apparently at anti-Israel protests

Why? I can't figure this one out.