Singing and Dancing Counter Anti-Israel Protest
By Yiftach Levy
SAN DIEGO – An intense week of preparations involving scores of emails and phone calls all over San Diego County and beyond culminated in the gathering in Balboa Park of hundreds of pro-Israel activists – Israelis, Jews, and non-Jews alike. They came to sing, wave Israeli and American flags, and, of course, schmooze, all while countering the anti-Israel message of another group of demonstrators. The opposing rallies were both held to mark the two-year anniversary of Operation Cast Lead, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza in December 2008-January 2009.
Word of the anti-Israel rally first spread through the Israel advocacy community online in late December. Within days, the San Diego Israel Coalition, a fast-growing grassroots pro-Israel group of volunteers, put a plan of action in place. Led by Audrey Jacobs and Michael Lurie, SDIC reached out to numerous community leaders and lay people, ranging from officials of the ADL and Jewish Federation to passionate activists like J.J. Surbeck (head of TEAM, Training and Education About the Middle East). These efforts resulted in the turnout of some 400 people delivering a pro-Israel message on Sunday, according to the organizers (media reports, including this one from KGTV 10 News, had the number somewhat lower).
Across the fountain in the center of the park were a few dozen pro-Palestinian protesters, who marched away shortly after the pro-Israel rally began. They chanted and waved their signs at the passing traffic on Park Ave. for a while before returning to the fountain for a candlelight vigil, mirrored by the pro-Israel demonstrators.
The organizers of the pro-Israel rally expressed satisfaction at the success of the event, both in terms of turnout and logistical cooperation among co-sponsoring groups.
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Levy is a freelance writer based in San Diego