Greeks protest Israeli PM's Visit - Banners read "Freedom for Palestine"

Athens holds demo against Israeli PM:
Tue, 17 Aug 2010 02:26:07 GMT

"Hundreds of people have taken to the streets in the Greek capital to protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit.

Protesters held two separate rallies in central Athens to protest Israel's attack on the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla as well as Israeli policies in the Middle East.

Protesters held up banners reading 'Freedom to Palestine' and 'neither earth nor water to the murderers of nations.'

The Israeli military attacked the Freedom Flotilla in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea on May 31, killing nine Turkish citizens on board the Turkish-flagged M.V. Mavi Marmara and injuring about 50 other people who were part of the team on the six-ship convoy.

Israel also arrested and later released nearly 700 activists from 42 countries who were on board the ships of the flotilla, which was attempting to break the siege of Gaza in order to deliver 10,000 tons of humanitarian assistance to the long-suffering people of the territory.

Dozens of riot police surrounded the Israeli Embassy as protesters marched past the area.

Netanyahu is the first Israeli premier to visit Greece. His visit comes a month after Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou visited Israel.

The two leaders discussed the Middle East conflict as well as bilateral cooperation.

Greece has sought to play an active role in Middle East negotiations and Papandreou pledged that Greece would help to restart the stalled Middle East peace talks.

But the Palestinian Authority (PA) has repeatedly said it would only join talks of any kind after Tel Aviv ends its expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank and agrees to a full withdrawal to the borders of 1967.

However, Netanyahu has rejected any preconditions and asked acting PA chief Mahmoud Abbas to come to the negotiating table 'right now.'

Hundreds Protest against Netanyahi Visit To Athens.:

"otraverdad | August 16, 2010



- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog