Israelis Demonstrate Against Terrorism and Arafat

Jerusalem----October 23.....After several years of being subjected to organized Arab terrorism, repeated calls of "restraint" by the United States and witnessing empty words and no action by PA / PLO Chairman Yassar Arafat, thousands of Israel's took to the streets in Jerusalem last night in protest.

Over 80,000 people created the largest rally since Ariel Sharon was elected prime minister eight months ago gathering under the slogan "Throw out Arafat and Fight Terror."

The rally, which was most likely seen by the US as an attempt to overthrow Arafat and thereby prompted more calls by the State Department for "restraint" and withdrawal from the West Bank, took the shape of a solidarity rally following the IDF's offensive in the West Bank to defend Israe'ls population against terrorists.
Israelis are still mourning the assassination of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi last week.

Many in the demonstration carried posters with pictures of Yassar Arafat and US "wanted dead or alive" terrorist Osama bin Laden, with the words: "The twins" written underneath.

New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani took part in the Jerusalem demonstration against terrorism with a telephone conference call to the rally's organizers.

"New York and Jerusalem are closer than ever before," the mayor said. "Both the US and Israel are seeking to defend and perpetuate the same values of democracy, freedom, respect for the law and human life."

Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert thanked Giuliani for the partnership and solidarity of his leadership and declared that both cities are "united in the front against terror."

Israeli Infrastructure Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the rally was called to "demonstrate against the largest terror organization in the world, the Palestinian Authority, and the biggest terrorist in the world, Yasser Arafat."

Comparisons between Arafat and bin Laden were repeatedly made during the rally. Signs reading: "Bush won't talk with terrorism, why should we?" and "Arafat invented hijacking" were in abundance.

"Just today, we read that US President George Bush signed an executive order calling for the liquidation of bin Laden. I call on you Mr. Prime Minister to do the same for Yasser Arafat," said Ma'aleh Adumim Mayor Benny Kashriel, the head of the Council of Settlements in Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip.