Anti-Israel and anti-USA groups organized a demonstration in Brussels today. It was advertised as a "Rassemblement contre l'agression sioniste au Liban et à Gaza", "gathering against the Zionist aggression in Lebanon and in Gaza". (No word about Hezbollah violating the internationally recognized border between Lebanon and Israel.) About 3,000 to 5,000 Arabs, muslims and leftist Europeans walked from Boulevard du Roi Albert II to Place de l'Albertine chanting (and carrying) anti-Israel and anti-US slogans. The crowd waved not only Lebanese flags but also Hezbollah and Iranian ones (along with a sign "Iran fait vite"), among others. Actually, you would think it was a pro-Hezbollah party, as the crowd chanted "Vive Hezbollah, vive Hamas!" together with "Allahu akbar".

I hoped that there would be some counter-demonstration somewhere along the route but there was none. On the contrary, just before the end, an ultraorthodox Jew (a rabbi; I didn't catch his name) appeared in front of the microphone. In his speech, he basically called for destruction of Israel and creation of a "Palestinian state within the borders of historic Palestine", he proclaimed a support to Hezbollah and repeated several times "the Jews are not Zionists, the Zionists are not Jews". (By the way, he was wearing a sign with the same words around his neck. It was somehow very ominous.) I guess he didn't see this sign: "Jews: killing in your name?" It's distressing to see a Jew being so keen on supporting his enemies.

I also saw an attempt to burn the Israeli flag while the crowd cheered. It was unsuccessful since the two youngsters in kafiyeh could not start the fire. So they and others tore the flag up instead, stepping on it and cleaning their shoes with the pieces.

The final speeches were particularly vitriolic. Apart from the usual "Israel is the real danger in the Middle East" and equating Israel and the USA with fascism, there were also accusations of Israel using "weapons of mass destruction" that are "prohibited by international community". The speakers constantly stressed that the Lebanese have a right to "resistance". Of course, nobody mentioned there was no need to resist to anything since there were no Israeli soldiers in Lebanon until the Israeli government had to (finally) react to Hezballah launching rockets into Israeli cities and a flagrant violation of the recognized border by Hezbollah few weeks ago when they kidnapped and killed Israeli soldiers.

I wonder when there will be a pro-Israel demonstration in Brussels. (Well, I can dream, can't I?)

You can see more pictures in this gallery.