War in north: Support in New York, condemnation in Berlin

Thousands of people demonstrated in support of Israel in front of the UN headquarters in New York Monday.

Among the speakers at the demonstration were Senator Hillary Clinton and Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Gillerman.

Arye Mekel, Consul General of Israel in New York, said some Muslims also confirmed their participation in the rally, adding that there is a ‘deep sense of understanding’ among Jews that the events along Israel’s northern border pose a real threat.

The United Jewish Communities (UJC) has allocated some USD 2 million for summer camps for northern Israel children and for the treatment of trauma victims.

Other Jewish organizations have also announced that they would provide financial assistance for Israelis hurt by rocket fire in the north and south.

A delegation of The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations is expected to meet this week with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and visit the Qassam-stricken towns of Sderot and Ashkelon, as well as northern communities being targeted by Hizbullah.

Meanwhile, more than 2000 people have joined pro-Israel rallies in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.

The rallies were billed to support the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit, who was taken captive by Palestinians in Gaza three weeks ago.

More than 1000 people signed a petition in Melbourne, said Zionist Federation of Australia president Philip Chester.

'Israel wants peace'

“If a thousands rockets were launch into cities and suburbs in Australia, how would the Australian Government react,” he told media after the event.

In Sydney, a giant 10-metre blue ribbon was signed by more than 800 people.

In Canberra last Friday, about 40 members of Hineni Zionist youth movement demonstrated outside the Syrian Embassy in protest at Palestinian and Hezbollah terrorists.

Among the slogans on posters they displayed were “Israel wants peace” and “HypocriSyria”.

However, more than 1,000 Lebanese and Palestinians staged an anti-Israeli protest at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate on Monday, police said.

A Reuters witness said demonstrators were chanting "death to Israel" and "death to Zionists", while some carried placards bearing the image of Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Police said around 1,200 people took part in the protest at the German capital's famous landmark, not far from a major memorial to the millions of Jews killed in the Holocaust.

News agencies contributed to the report