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Israeli Right-Wingers Call for War Against Palestinians
Tens of thousands of Israeli right-wingers held demonstrations Wednesday night in Zion Square in Jerusalem, calling for a war against the Palestinians.
The demonstrators also urged Prime Minister Ehud Barak to let the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to "do what it wants" to suppress Palestinian protestors.
The demonstrations were believed to respond to a powerful car bombing Wednesday evening in Israel's northern city of Hadera, which killed at least two Israelis and wounded over 50 others.
Speaking at the gathering, Israeli opposition Likud Party leader Ariel Sharon claimed that Israel "is facing a war waged against it by the Palestinians."
"The government must initiate military actions against the Palestinians, not just responds, and this is the only way that can end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Sharon said.
"The inane Oslo agreement does not exist anymore ... (Palestinian leader Yasser) Arafat is not a partner ... Arafat is the enemy," the hawkish politician said.
This was the first large demonstration held by Israel's right- wingers since the outbreak of the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict nearly eight weeks ago.
The conflict, which has no sign of ending till now, was triggered by Sharon's provocative visit to an Islamic holy site in East Jerusalem on September 28.
Over 250 people, the vast majority of them Palestinians, have been killed in the violence so far and thousands more injured.
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