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| Protesters brave cold at Iranian embassy
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A crowd of more than 200 people braved freezing temperatures to attend a second protest outside the Iranian Embassy in Kensington, London Thursday evening - which followed the previous week’s Chanukah lighting ceremony at the embassy.
Organised by community individuals and the Zionist Federation, the protest was to highlight recent anti-Israel comments made by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Last month the Iranian President described the Holocaust as “a myth” and used as an excuse by Europeans to justify creating a Jewish state in the heart of the Islamic world
He suggested that Israel be moved to Europe, the United States, Canada or Alaska.
The United States, Israel and the European Commission, along with individual European countries, all condemned his remarks.
Ahmadinejad sparked widespread international condemnation in October when he called for Israel to be “wiped off the map.”
Cross-communal concern
At the protest was Conservative Member of Parliament Lee Scott, Rabbi Shisler from the New West End synagogue, Eric Moonman, president of the Zionist Federation and Jerry Lewis, vice-president of the Board of Deputies.
Alan Aziz, Director of the Zionist Organisation and one of the main organisers of the protest, said, “It is extremely alarming for a head of state and UN member to call for the destruction of a member state.”
Also present were large delegations from Christian groups, Anglicans for Israel and Christian Friends of Israel.
London Mayor Ken Livingstone was invited to attend the demonstration but declined the invitation saying it was “too short notice.”
Youth absent
Although the protest was well attended by members of the Federation of Zionist Youth group, organisers were concerned with the absence other youth organisations notably the Union of Jewish Students.
“Where are the UJS? This man has questioned our very existence, surely this must rouse Jewish students to do something,” said one of the organisers.
Simon McIlwaine, director of Anglicans for Israel, said, “Anglicans for Israel is honoured to support events such as this as we are very alarmed about the prospect of a nuclear Iran.”
He added, “This is a danger that Jews, Christians and democratic loving people ignore at their peril.”
During the protest Rabbi Shisler said prayers for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who at the time of the protest was in an induced coma after a stroke, brain haemorrhage and after many hours of surgery.
“When the Iranian President calls for the destruction of Israel, it emphasises the importance of Ariel Sharon’s security policies and what Israel is up against” said one protestor.
The Iranian Embassy was contacted for a response to the remarks made by President Ahmadinejad but declined to make a statement.
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