PROTESTS:SCUFFLES BROKE out in front of the Israeli embassy in Dublin yesterday as gardaí prevented pro-Palestinian protesters from breaking through a security cordon to where a crowd had gathered for a prayer rally in support of Israel.
Gardaí had earlier kept the two groups apart as they held separate demonstrations outside the Dáil.
More than 100 people attended the prayer rally organised by a group calling itself Irish Christian Friends of Israel. Waving Israeli flags and singing hymns, the participants said they supported Israel's right to defend itself and they accused the Irish Government of being one-sided in its approach to the current violence in Gaza.
A demonstration organised by the Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) and a number of pro-Palestinian groups drew a larger crowd of protesters who waved Palestinian flags and shouted slogans including "All of us Gaza" and "Free, free Palestine".
Richard Boyd Barrett of the IAWM criticised the pro-Israel rally. "It beggars belief that anyone could organise a protest supporting Israel's criminal and murderous action in Gaza," he said. "The Israeli assault on Gaza has claimed over 800 lives, including about 250 children. How could anybody support such carnage?"
Some of those taking part in the counter-demonstration yelled pro-Hamas slogans in addition to the Muslim exclamation "Allahu Akbar ".
Several protests related to the violence in the Middle East were held around the country at the weekend. On Saturday more than 1,000 protesters gathered in Dublin to hear politicians, trade union leaders and Palestinian representatives call for the Government to expel Israeli ambassador Zion Evrony as a sign of Ireland's opposition tothe offensive.
Among the banners and placards were several Palestinian flags, the Pakistani flag and a green flag similar to that of Saudi Arabia with the shahada, the Muslim declaration of faith, written in Arabic script but without the sword that features on the Saudi national flag.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams told the rally it was "shameful and wrong" that "tens of thousands of Palestinians have been incarcerated and ill treated in the worst conditions imaginable" in Gaza.
The international community must "recognise the mandate Hamas has, and open dialogue with them," he added.
Fianna Fáil TD Chris Andrews, Independent senator Ivana Bacik, and Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald also participated.
In Belfast more than 5,000 people rallied in front of City Hall on Saturday to protest against Israel's offensive.
The DUP sharply criticised the protest which was organised by the Northern committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
Protesters were addressed by John Corey of Ictu and by representatives of the four main Christian churches, Muslim representatives, peace activists and others.
DUP Assembly member Nelson McCausland said the protest was: "'anti-Israel and pro-Hamas".
In Cork, protesters bearing placards, posters and banners gathered at Daunt Square on Saturday. The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign in Cork has described the Israeli military action as "pre-meditated murder, not a response to Hamas's rocket attacks as Israel's supporters claim".- (additional reporting Dan Keenan and Olivia Kelleher)