Police Intervene in Israel Protest

Approximately one thousand demonstrators attempting to march from Taksim carrying flaring torches were stopped at a police barricade at Odakule where a half hour negotiation to be given passage to the European Union (EU) Information Center was turned down.

Informed they were not allowed to proceed to the EU building to read out a statement the protestors were cautioned that their demonstration was outlawed. With the arrival of reinforcement the police then proceeded to disperse the demonstration using pepper gas and tear gas, with protestors resisting using pennants and stones.

A group challenged by a police armored vehicle blocked the Tarlabasi boulevard in Sishane to traffic briefly while another group left behind the police blockade started to march towards Taksim Square. Police officers were seen to attack both groups and beat up demonstrators they caught before confiscating their flags and pennants.

Various slogans were heard throughout the demonstration directed not only against Israel but the United States and her allies. "Imperialism will be defeated, resisting people will win ", "Murderer USA Get out of the Middle East ", "We won't become Israel's soldiers", "The Lebanese people are not alone", "Everywhere is Palestine we are all Palestinians", "Blockade Zionism not the people", "Imperialists, collaborators, don't forget the 6th fleet" were some of these.

The organizations that took part in the action were identified as:

Kaldirac, Halkevleri, Alinteri, Socialist Democracy Party (SDP), Association of Solidarity with Palestinian People, Peoples' Liberation Party, Workers Movement Party (EHP), International League for Peoples Struggle, Independent Revolutionary Class Platform, Divrigi Culture Association, Coordination for No to Occupation in Iraq and the Socialist Solidarity Platform (SODAP). (EZO/TK/II/YE)