Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli
demonstrators clashed outside British Prime Minister David Cameron’s London
residence today ahead of a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Police officers separated the two
groups into pens and took away at least two protesters following scuffles and
chanting by both sides, according to an AFP photographer.
At around midday a number of
demonstrators made their way out of both pens and onto Whitehall, briefly
blocking the road,” police said in a statement.
A small number of protestors were
arrested for a variety of offences including obstruction, assault and criminal
damage to a motor vehicle,” it added.
Around 400 pro-Palestinian activists
gathered outside Downing Street to protest the visit of Netanyahu, who arrives
today, but will not meet officially with Cameron until tomorrow.
The protester chanted “Arrest
Netanyahu” and “war criminal”, some holding up posters calling for an end to
the blockade on Gaza as well as images of the Israeli leader plastered with the
words “child killer”.
Others waved flags, including at
least two from Lebanon’s Shiite movement, Hezbollah.
Facing them were around 100
pro-Israeli demonstrators, many waving the Israeli flag.
More than 108,000 people have signed
a petition urging the arrest of Netanyahu for war crimes, enough for the issue
to be considered for debate in Britain’s parliament.
Israel’s embassy in London called
the latest petition a “meaningless publicity stunt”.
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