Protest Against Istrael continues in Auckland

Demonstrators outraged by the Gaza Strip conflict threw shoes and burned Israeli and United States flags in Auckland today in line with GAZA conflict.

The 1000-strong march in Auckland this afternoon followed a similar-sized demonstration in Wellington last week and other protests around the world.

Israel's offensive in Gaza, which Israel has said is designed to stop Hamas rocket fire into Israel , has killed 800 people in three weeks and sparked widespread anger across the Middle East.

Protestors marched from Aotea Square at midday to the US Embassy, where they threw about 100 shoes at the building, considered a grave insult by Arabs.

"It was directed against the main financer and sponsor of the Israeli state, the United States," said Mr. Lee Waddingham, spokesman for Global Peace and Justice Auckland, one of the protest organisers.

The march then returned to Aotea Square for speeches. Israeli and US flags were also burnt during the protest, he said.

The 1000-strong demonstration was well-behaved, police said.

There was significant participation by Palestinian and Arab people, and some Jewish support, as well as by Green Party MPs, unions and some religious groups, Mr Lee Waddingham said.

The protest was condemned by a new pro-Israel advocacy group, Kiwi Friends of Israel , which said the event had been "hijacked by extremists."

In a statement, spokesman Mr.Lee Waddingham called some of the chants and slogans "hate speech" and said such "extremism" undermined rational debate.

source: nzpa