1-31-08, 10:16 am

In a protest organized by a coalition of left-wing movements, over 1,000 people from Israel demonstrated at the Erez border crossing on Saturday in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the residents of Sderot, under the slogan: 'Stop the siege on Gaza: A demonstration for Gaza and for Sderot.' While the organizers originally intended to hold the two demonstrations side by side, in Israel and in Palestine, on both sides of the security fence, this was prohibited by the Israeli army.

The Israeli convoy was carrying food supplies purchased privately by participants, which they intended to transfer into Gaza in the coming days in coordination with authorities.

'Civilians on both sides are victims of the conflict and we deplore any action against [them],' said to the demonstrators the leading member of the Communist Party of Israel, Issam Makhoul, one of the organizers. 'We call for an immediate ceasefire between Hamas and the Israeli government, which was proposed by Hamas several times, and we call for an immediate cease of Israeli incursions and Palestinian shootings' said Makhoul.

A convoy of about 100 private cars and 25 buses arrived at the crossing in the late morning hours and demonstrators chanted slogans against Israel's siege of the Gaza Strip as well as in solidarity with the people of Sderot. A large number of army and police forces were present at the scene to maintain order, but the demonstration reportedly proceeded without incident. A demonstration under the same slogan was being held by Gazans inside the Strip. Speaking by phone to the demonstrators in Israel, Dr. Iyad al-Sarraj, head of the Palestinian Society for Psychological Research said: 'We are joining hands today in the pursuit of peace, justice and security for all – security for Palestine, security for Israel, security for Gaza and security for Sderot.'

From Communist Party of Israel