When even Israelis condemn Tel Aviv

Senior Knesset members have taken a stand against the Israeli ground offensive into Gaza as the death toll in the strip nears 500.

Israeli political figures such as Knesset members Dov Khenin and Ahmad Tibi joined thousands of demonstrators in Tel Aviv to condemn Tel Aviv for its launch of Operation Cast Lead on the Gaza Strip. So far Israeli forces have killed 470 Gazans and wounded 2750 others in the operation.

"I came here to demonstrate along with thousands of citizens in Tel Aviv and all across the country... calling to stop this war, which is a disaster. It hasn't solved the security problems in the south, and nothing good will come out of it," Khenin told Ynet.

The demonstrators chanted "Defense Minister Barak, how many children have you murdered today?" They carried flags that read "Stop the fire" and "Children in Gaza and Sderot wish to live". Other banners read "Jews and Arabs refuse to be enemies!" and "You want to stop Hamas? Give Gaza hope, not war!"

The rally, organized by such groups as Gush Shalom, the Hadash party and the Coalition of Women for Peace, has been described as the biggest Israel has seen in recent years.
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The protests mark the beginning of a deep running rift in the Israeli Knesset before the Israeli elections take place on February 10.

According to a recent opinion poll, 46 percent of Israelis oppose the unrelenting attacks on the coastal silver. "We have experience from the last war, in Lebanon, and this time the public outcry is much quicker and much bigger," said veteran Gush Shalom campaigner Uri Avnery at the rally. "It is a cynical war, for political reasons and people are very much aware of that". "There are people who think differently", said 24-year-old Tel Aviv resident Iya Michlin. "It is important that the world, and especially the Arab world, sees that".