Jewish women freed after protest at Israeli consulate

Jewish women freed after protest at Israeli consulate
by Emily Mathieu, from the Toronto Star, January 7, 2008. (Thanks to EB for the link.)

Eight Jewish Canadian women who were arrested while holding a protest inside the Israeli consulate have been released.

The RCMP arrested and handcuffed the women, who were staging a sit-in protest against the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza inside the consulate at 180 Bloor St. W. The women were held briefly inside a paddy wagon, but were not charged and were released.

Included in the group were Israeli peace activists, filmmakers, the president of Science for Peace and a variety of students.

"Israel purports to represent all Jews worldwide and these atrocities are not being committed in our name," said spokesperson and filmmaker Cathy Gulkin, standing outside of the consulate.

Gulkin said the women entered the secure consulate on the seventh floor of the building two by two around 10 a.m.

She said the point of the protest was to draw attention to the fact that not all members of Toronto's Jewish community support the agenda of the Israeli government.

"There are Jews that do not follow the Israeli line and are sickened by what is happening in Gaza."

Outside of the consulate a group of more than thirty supporters carried signs saying "People of Gaza you are not alone" and "Toronto Coalition to stop the war."

They shouted slogans "No justice, no peace," "Jewish women not in our name" and "Stop the violence."