米首都でイスラエル支持デモ　数万人が参加

【ワシントンＡＦＰ＝時事】米首都ワシントンで１４日、イスラエルを支持し、反ユダヤ主義に抗議するデモが行われ、数万人が参加した。過去数週間、親パレスチナデモが米各地で開催されたことに対抗する形となった。（写真は、米首都ワシントンのナショナルモールで行われたイスラエルを支持するデモ）
　連邦議会議事堂近くの国立公園ナショナルモールには、イスラエルの国旗色の白や青の衣類を身に着けた人が続々と集結した。
　参加者の多くが、パレスチナ自治区ガザ地区を実効支配するイスラム組織ハマスに対し、１０月７日のイスラエルへの奇襲で拉致した人質の解放を求めるプラカードを掲げた。イスラエル当局はこの攻撃で１２００人以上が死亡したとしている。
　イスラエルによるガザ地区への報復攻撃は米国で激しい論争を引き起こした。ガザ当局によると数千人の子どもを含む１万１３００人以上が死亡した。
　ハマスが１０月７日に捕らえた人質２４０人のうちの１人とされるハーシュ・ゴールドバーグポリンさんの母親、レイチェルさんはデモ参加者に、家族は「心に重度のやけどを負った」と語った。
　「私たちの心は傷つき、悲嘆にくれている。なぜ世界は、約３０か国の２４０人が拉致されたままであることを許せるのか？」と訴えた。
　警察はデモに際し、会場周辺の道路を通行止めにするために除雪車を障害物の代わりに配置。装甲車両も配備されたほか、デモ参加者への手荷物検査も行われた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/11/15-15:32）

Tens of thousands packed a rally in Washington on Tuesday to support Israel and to condemn anti-Semitism in a riposte to weeks of largely pro-Palestinian demonstrations across a deeply divided United States.
With senior members of Congress addressing the event on the National Mall, near the Capitol, the crowd rapidly swelled with people wearing the white and blue colors of Israel.
Many were waving placards calling on Palestinian militant group Hamas to free hostages taken during their surprise October 7 attack on Israel, which authorities there say killed more than 1,200 people.
Israel's response -- weeks of relentless attacks on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, which officials there say have killed more than 11,300 people, thousands of them children -- has stirred fierce controversy in the United States.
Rachel Goldberg, the mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, one of the 240 people believed taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, told the crowd that the families have third degree burns on our souls.
Our hearts are bruised and seeping with misery. Why is the world accepting that 240 human beings from almost 30 countries have been stolen? she said.
Mark Moore, 48, a Christian pastor from Chicago, said he considers Israel the only bastion of freedom in the Middle East.
I'm praying for peace... secured through victory so it does not continue with this endless cycle of violence, he said.
- Heavy police presence -
The demonstration, dubbed the March for Israel, centered on combating anti-Semitism and calling for the release of the hostages, according to the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, one of the organizers.
Speaking by video link from Jerusalem, Israeli President Isaac Herzog told the crowd they were marching for the right of every Jew to live proudly and safely in Israel and the US and the world.
No one will break us, he said.
US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer -- a Democrat -- and House Speaker Mike Johnson -- a Republican -- also spoke, as well as family members of the hostages.
America feels your pain, Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the United States.
The demonstration comes after multiple large protests around the country -- and in cities around the world -- calling for a ceasefire and criticizing the Israeli military.
Security was tight, reflecting the wider tensions.
Police stationed snowplows as temporary roadblocks nearby and a military style armored vehicle was also deployed. Protesters' bags were searched before being allowed to enter the area.
In contrast to pro-Palestinian demonstrations from New York to Los Angeles that have focused on the suffering of civilians in Gaza, Tuesday's crowd turned its anger on Hamas.
Signs included Annihilate Hamas and From the river to the sea, we support democracy.
Rally goer Sergei Kravchic told AFP: We of course support Israel.... We're doing exactly what we have to do.
Kravchick, 64, said he was proud to see the large turnout.
Less than two weeks ago, a major pro-Palestinian demonstration took place in Washington, with a large crowd marching up to the fence around the White House, protesting against President Joe Biden's staunch support for Israeli military policies.