"We bombed Dresden for less"

This evening, London's Jews staged a solidarity demonstration on Kensington High Street, a stone's throw away from the Israeli embassy, to show their support for Israel as violence in Gaza reaches its 12th day.

The demonstration was due to be held outside the embassy itself, but perhaps for fears of repeat events of last weeks protests, when mere sight of the embassy led to violent eruptions and subsequent arrests, the protest was moved to the High Street.


On the far side was team Israel, brandishing their blue and white flags and posters reading 'Hamastan, soon Londonistan' and '6500 rockets, we bombed Dresden for less'. Between the two sat three silver police vans, no doubt containing anti-explosive devices, the standard barriers and then team Palestinine, hurrah; '1,2,3,4 (I forget), 5, 6, 7, 8, Israel is a terrorist state', and so on, and so on.

Here are a few observation I made in the brief period I attended.

• Whilst walking past the rally, a bespectacled, middle aged man ran past the Palestinian supporters shouting 'scum, scum, scum'. He was promptly stopped by police. A wise move on their part; who wants a would-be Maccabee running round Kensington High street.
• A young woman, holding an Israeli flag, was targeted as she walked past the Palestinian supporters on the opposite side of the road. 'Jew, Jew, Jew', they called out. I'm not sure why, as this was quite obvious, and she did not need to be told.
• "Look at them, they behave like monkeys. Now I'm not calling them animals, but, you know...." Spoken by a young Jewish man of the Palestinian supporters.
• I heard later from some of my Jewish friends that they were advised by police to avoid nearby tube stations as young men were waiting to attack them.
  

Had I been able to stay longer, I'm sure I would have heard many more situations similar to the above. Racism, middle-class hooliganism.....in Britain?! nooo.....