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| Militant/Seth Galinsky |
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NEW YORK — More than 800 people demonstrated here July 19 to protest Israel’s attack on Gaza. “We want Israel to stop the killing,” said Lena Hmidan, 27, who works as a receptionist and has family in the Palestinian West Bank. “They’re killing civilians and babies.” “Instead of attacking Gaza, Israel and Egypt should open the borders. Let people travel freely, get jobs,” said Maha Barakat, 35, of Palestinian descent. Protesters who spoke with the Militant held a wide range of views. “Israel has its own country,” said Tahira Lakhani, 27, who was born in Pakistan. “Palestinians should have their own country. It should be like India and Pakistan. They don’t always get along but they don’t fight like this.” “There should be just one state for Jews and Palestinians and democracy,” said Barbara Raza, 33. Her family is from India but moved to Palestine in the 1930s. “We have to speak out against the killing of innocent civilians on all sides. With the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe and other parts of the world today, Israelis need to realize they need close friends, not to create enemies.” |
| — SETH GALINSKY |