Feeling a little nervous - albeit having committed the morning into the hands of the '..Lord strong and mighty in battle' I headed for the above, taking place opposite Downing Street, where the Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, was due to meet with David Cameron.
Interspersed with the usual 'Free, free Palestine' the ZF's own Ida Symonds megaphoned us and the opposition with cries proclaiming Israel's allowing freedom of worship, women's and others' rights.
All the time there echoed the Irish jig tune for a pro-Israel Irish dancer, though as one of my colleagues remarked there should have been played Jewish music. This was complemented, however, by Jewish chants from the main pro- group.
'Free Palestine' flags and badges passed me: in response, eg, to my 'Palestine is free - for Jews, Christians and Muslims' the worst responses I received were expletives. A pro-Palestinian clergyman passed through us, the pro-group, not even answering my assertion that Jesus (Yeshua) shall be returning to Israel (in judgement not only for individuals but against nations who have come against Israel).
Later on I confonted four orthodox Jews who apparently stood for Judaism against Zionism: in response to my pointing out that, were it not for the State of Israel Orthodox Jews such as them could not have freedom to worship I received a looking-away - in shame?
The opposition could not answer questions about Syrian persecution of either its own - or the Palestinians.
Just earlier, when against all the police advice the opposition occupied the middle traffic island and the pavement close to Downing Street (and they're against Israeli 'occupation'?) and some of our number followed them, the mood turned a little ugly, near-violent confrontations took place and at least one 'opposition' member was taken away by the police. It all brought traffic to a standstill sometimes, if not a slow crawl. Needless to say had Netanyahu turned up the mood would have turned even uglier ..
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