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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usatoday/20020416/ts_usatoday/4029793http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usatoday/20020416/ts_usatoday/4029793
Thousands rally in Washington to show support for Israel
Tue Apr 16, 6:39 AM ET
William M. Welch USA TODAY
WASHINGTON -- Thousands of people demonstrated support for Israel and condemned Palestinian terrorism Monday at a rally outside the U.S. Capitol. They booed a Bush administration official who lamented the violence that has claimed lives on both sides of the Middle East conflict.
Paul Wolfowitz, deputy Defense secretary and President Bush (news - web sites)'s representative to the pro-Israel event, was booed after telling the crowd that ''innocent Palestinians are suffering and dying as well'' as Israelis in the region's bloody turmoil.
''We deplore the deliberate killing of innocents. And I believe in my heart that the majority of Palestinians do so as well,'' Wolfowitz said, prompting the angry crowd reaction. The deputy Defense secretary was forced to stop speaking several times.
The rally was hailed by leaders of U.S. Jewish organizations as the largest pro-Israel gathering ever in the USA. They said it was put together in only a few days as a response to Mideast violence. More than 1,200 busloads of supporters from more than 15 states and Canada were brought in.
The event also was intended to pressure the administration to stand firm in support of Israel. It was held as sentiment builds worldwide against Israel's military incursion into the West Bank.
Under a bright sun and with temperatures rising into the 80s, demonstrators filled the west lawn of the Capitol. They carried signs reading ''Don't Pressure Israel'' and ''Stop the Terror.'' From the podium on the Capitol's West Front hung a sign saying, ''We Stand with Israel.''
Wolfowitz also voiced strong support for Israel, in keeping with the rally's theme.
''President Bush wants you to know that he stands in solidarity with you,'' he said.
Most speakers saw no ambiguity in the conflict. Former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (news - web sites), who has lobbied for his country on Capitol Hill, condemned Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (news - web sites) as ''the quintessential terrorist.''
''Both his means and goals are illegitimate,'' Netanyahu said.
He compared Arafat to Osama bin Laden (news - web sites), the suspected mastermind of the terrorist attacks Sept. 11 in New York and Washington.
''Nothing more than Osama bin Laden with good PR,'' Netanyahu said. ''Arafat does not want peace.''
The rally's speakers reflected the broad ideological and political coalition of support that Israel continues to enjoy in the USA, and particularly in Washington. Congressional leaders and others from both parties, more accustomed to acrimony than agreement, voiced support for Israel:
* Republicans included New York Gov. George Pataki, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas. ''America must stand solidly beside Israel in our common fight with terrorism,'' Armey said. ''A deliberate attack on innocent civilians is terrorism.''
* Democrats included House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt of Missouri, Senate Majority Whip Harry Reid of Nevada and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (news - web sites) of New York. ''We must reaffirm our commitment to Israel's security and right to self-defense,'' Reid said.
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, though also condemning violence against Israel, was one of the few speakers who took a more diplomatic approach. With Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) shuttling around the Middle East, Sweeney applauded the administration's recent efforts to find a political settlement. ''We hope it is not too late,'' he said.
''We call for all parties to make respect for life and rights and dignity for all people the cornerstones of peace,'' Sweeney said.
Janet Parshall, a national Christian radio talk-show host and spokeswoman for the conservative Family Research Council, ridiculed calls for Israel to give up occupied land in exchange for peace.
''It means giving away Israel one piece at a time,'' she said. ''We will never give up the Golan. We will never divide Jerusalem. . . . We will never vacillate in our support of Israel.''
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