Atlas Shrugs

HAPPY NEW YEAR! AN ATLAS MWAH!, AN ATLAS SONG, AN ATLAS DANCE AND SOME ATLAS ART~

WINE, WOMEN, SONG: No New Years is complete without  huminah, huminah -- making whoopie

ART: Belvedere in Vienna to Show Masterpieces from the Belvedere: Lovis Corinth in 2009

Click below for Panaramic 360 degree views - use your mouse to drag and click the pictures WILD

Times Square New Year 2003	Times Square New Year 2003	Times Square New Year 2003
Times Square New Year 2003	Times Square New Year 2003	Times Square New Year 2003
Photographer ©

ATLAS ON THE RADIO: JOYCE KAUFMAN

I will be going live at 2:34 pm Eastern on Joyce Kaufman's Florida radio show - I will be joined by Tom Trento (da best!) as well, to discuss the Muslim riots rally in Fort Lauderdale and across the nation.

WFTL - LIVE ON THE AIR - Joyce Kaufman

Joyce and Alan West at yesterday's rally.

DEATH TO THE JUICE

It wasn't an illiterate Muslim. It's an oldie but a goodie - (hat tip daas)

MUSLIM WEBSITES CALL TO ATTACK AMERICAN INTERESTS

Islamist Websites Call to Attack American, Israeli Interests MEMRI

In response to the Gaza offensive, Islamist websites have posted many messages calling to attack Israeli and American interests worldwide. A member of the Shumukh Al-Islam forum, for example, called to attack American and Israeli embassies around the world, and asked for information about these embassies - especially in Europe, Asia and Arab countries - and for pictures of them. Fellow members explained how to find the embassies using Google Earth, and posted links to websites of U.S. embassies, among them the one in Maskat, Oman. A member of the Islamist forum Al-Fallujah urged Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb to attack the Israeli embassy in Mauritania and the Israeli representations in Morocco and Tunisia.

Website of the U.S. embassy in Oman (one of the links supplied on Shumukh Al-Islam)
Posted at: December 29, 2008

Belgium: Muslim riots, Jewish neighborhood sealed

Europe is back to its old self again -- over at Jihadwatch. (Israel Radio is reporting that a 'Palestinian' opened fire on a group of Israelis in a mall just outside of Copenhagen.)

Eurabians inspired by the Messiah

"How do you protest violence [allegedly] against a civilian population? Attack a civilian population, of course."

More jihad and Jew-hatred in Europe. "Antwerp: Arab riots, Jewish neighborhood sealed," from Islam In Europe, December 31 (thanks to Rudi):

How do you protest violence against a civilian population? Attack a civilian population, of course. These riots were expected, given the massive incitement that accompanied the organization of the demonstrations.

NETHERLANDS BIGGEST LEFT WING GROUP: "calling for the end of the failed model of Dutch tolerance"

WOW. It must really be horrible if the leftards are crying uncle. Wilders is vindicated (at the very least).

From the left, a call to end the current Dutch notion of tolerance International Herald Tribune (hat tip Atlas readers)

AMSTERDAM: Two years ago, the Dutch could quietly congratulate themselves on having brought what seemed to be a fair measure of consensus and reason to the meanest intersection in their national political life: the one where integration of Muslim immigrants crossed Dutch identity.

In the run-up to choosing a new government in 2006, just 24 percent of the voters considered the issue important, and only 4 percent regarded it as the election's central theme.

What a turnabout, it seemed - and whatever the reason (spent passions, optimism, resignation?), it was a soothing respite for a country whose history of tolerance was the first in 21st-century Europe to clash with the on-street realities of its growing Muslim population.

Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, the Netherlands had lived through something akin to a populist revolt against accommodating Islamic immigrants led by Pim Fortuyn, who was later murdered; the assassination of the filmmaker Theo Van Gogh, accused of blasphemy by a homegrown Muslim killer; and the bitter departure from the Netherlands of Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somali woman who became a member of Parliament before being marked for death for her criticism of radical Islam.

Now something fairly remarkable is happening again.

Today in Europe Russia aside, Georgia chief is pressed at homeAs German neighborhood changes, raunchy shadow lingersCzech Republic faces challenges with EU presidencyTwo weeks ago, the country's biggest left-wing political grouping, the Labor Party, which has responsibility for integration as a member of the coalition government led by the Christian Democrats, issued a position paper calling for the end of the failed model of Dutch "tolerance."

It came at the same time Nicolas Sarkozy was making a case in France for greater opportunities for minorities that also contained an admission that the French notion of equality "doesn't work anymore."

But there was a difference. If judged on the standard scale of caution in dealing with cultural clashes and Muslims' obligations to their new homes in Europe, the language of the Dutch position paper and Lilianne Ploumen, Labor's chairperson, was  exceptional.

The paper said: "The mistake we can never repeat is stifling criticism of cultures and religions for reasons of tolerance."

Government and politicians had too long failed to acknowledge the feelings of "loss and estrangement" felt by Dutch society facing parallel communities that disregard its language, laws and customs.

Newcomers, according to Ploumen, must avoid "self-designated victimization."

She asserted, "the grip of the homeland has to disappear" for these immigrants who, news reports indicate, also retain their original nationality at a rate of about 80 percent once becoming Dutch citizens.

Instead of reflexively offering tolerance with the expectation that things would work out in the long run, she said, the government strategy should be "bringing our values into confrontation with people who think otherwise."

There was more: punishment for trouble-making young people has to become so effective such that when they emerge from jail they are not automatically big shots, Ploumen said.

For Ploumen, talking to the local media, "The street is mine, too. I don't want to walk away if they're standing in my path.

"Without a strategy to deal with these issues, all discussion about creating opportunities and acceptance of diversity will be blocked by suspicion and negative experience."

And that comes from the heart of the traditional, democratic European left, where placing the onus of compatibility on immigrants never found such comfort before.

MUSLIMS GONE WILD: STORM BRITISH COMPOUND IRAN

The West can avoid reality, but they cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality. Obambi, insert spine, you are going to need it.

Hundreds of Iranians storm British compound in Tehran over Gaza ... Times Online (hat tip Joel)

Hundreds of Iranian radicals stormed the British compound in Tehran last night, replacing the Union flag with a Palestinian one in protest against Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

British officials will be assessing whether the security breach, unprecedented in recent years, was an isolated incident or presages further violent demonstrations.

A hardline Iranian news agency said that protests against Britain and Egypt, whose embassy was also targeted, would continue.

Hardline Iranian students have often staged noisy protests outside the British embassy in Tehran, hurling stones and petrol bombs at the building, but Tuesday night’s incident was the first time in decades that they have breached diplomatic territory.

OT related: Iran Activating Its Proxies OLIVIER GUITTA,  Middle East Times

UPDATE: After attacking the British Mission, they proceeded to attack another "Zionist" target, the nearest western retail chain, Benetton.
Am sent the link and said, "At least Tehran has no Bloomingdales or Florsheims, no Harry Rosen, A.Gold &Sons or even Neiman Marcus. The closest shmata store they found was Italian Benetton.

Jokes aside, this shows that when they say "Zionist" they can mean pretty much anybody, Jew, gentile, whatever."

ATTACK ON JEWS: MUSLIMS OPEN FIRE IN COPENHAGEN, INJURE TWO AP MAKES NO MENTION OF ISRAEL/"PALI" CONNECTION

Every Jew needs to be armed.

UPDATE: 2 Jews wounded in Denmark shooting. Two Jews were wounded when they were shot by a group of Muslim men in a mall in Odense, Denmark on Wednesday afternoon. (more here)

The Israelis were selling Dead Sea cosmetics at a stand in the mall - a job many young Israelis pursue, usually following military service, in order to save money for their future and to continue their travels.

A group of men with Middle Eastern-looking features approached them and an altercation developed. A man in the group then brandished a weapon and fired at the Israelis.

One of them was hit in the hand and the other in the leg. Their wounds were not life-threatening. The man hit in the arm had his bone broken by the bullet near the elbow, his employer in Denmark told Channel 2 on the phone. The man was speaking just as his employee was getting into surgery at a Danish hospital.

The public's assistance was requested in capturing the shooter, who was probably a Palestinian, police said. His getaway car was already found but he had fled on foot.

UPDATE: The jihad loving AP neglects to mention any Jewish/Israel/Palestinian reference in their news article, Gunmen wounds 2 in mall shooting in Denmark - that is how aligned with the enemy they are.

Israel Radio is reporting that a 'Palestinian' opened fire on a group of Israelis in a mall just outside of Copenhagen. More details to follow. (source Israel Matzav) hat tip Kathy

FLORIDASTAN: ISLAMIC ANTI JEW, PRO-HAMAS RALLY - THE HATRED OF THE GOOD

Federal building Broward Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Muslims rally against the Jewish state.

It was pandemonium. Muslims dress in full jihad garb juiced with .... hate.It looked like Halloween in Gaza. Throngs of young Muslims drunk with ..... hate. It was madness in America. You had to see it to believe it (watch video for the feel)

Across the street was an anemic counter protest. Where were the Jewish kids? NOWHERE. Jewish leadership and the diaspora have failed miserably in the education of our youth. The entire Muslim rally was young, wild -- frenetic. Itchy fingers on hair triggers.

Jewish lay leadership should be thrown out on the dhimmi asses. They have failed an entire generation of slackers.

"Israel is a terrorist state!" Screaming, yelling, very ugly .... police were not prepared. At one point the Muslims broke out crossed the street and confronted the 18 Jewish and Israel lovers across the street (watch the video, I caught part of it).

Someone tell this asshat that Israel has been sending truckloads of humanitarian aid into Gazastan.
The keffiyeh is their signature - the new swastika.

\

The media eats this garbage up

Generations of hate

The opposite side of the street (west) was cleared when a bag/backpack was left in front of the office building - Police shooed me away saying - "stay away from there!  that could be a bomb!" Below you can see the yellow tape ....

The women all covered up

The scene - check out Tm Trento bottom left (he was covert too)

The good guys across the street (south) - small but strong!

From Alex in Israel: (hat tip Richard Baehr)

....our Defence Dept who said they have access to telephone nos. in Gaza and beginning two days ago began calling the Arab population of Gaza in areas where the Israel Air Force was going to bomb and left messages in Arabic telling them to get out, since their gov't, led by Hamas, had placed strategic weapons and ammunition in their area and Israel was forced to destroy it to protect it's citizens.

First, let me say that the idea of placing ammunition and weapons among it's citizenry is a violation of human rights and the UN. This is something the Arab gov'ts have been doing in just about every war with Israel. Hamas is among the most uncaring and even among it's citizenry that supports them they have used their homes and living space to store ammunition and weapons. Hezbullah in Lebanon did the same thing.

The other point I want to make is that we have been extremely careful to avoid civilian casualties and when was the last time in the history of warfare that any gov't called it's enemy populations and told them to get out since their areas were targeted and tried to protect civilians. To my knowledge this is a first.

I don't think you'll see this story in the popular western press. But it did happen and is happening here. On two different occasions in the past two days  I personally heard on radio that our gov't thru the ministry made more than 90,000 telephone calls per day to Gaza residents warning them that their specific area was targeted.

Please let your friends and neighbors know about this action that does show we care, and don't let the local media cry about the poor civilians who are being massacred when their own Hamas gov't cares less about them than their mortal enemies.

Great Americans, Joyce Kaufman (Florida Talk radio host and Alan West - the man in 2010)

Baruch Hashem!

UPDATE: Tom Trento just sent me his video - it's unbelievable  --view here.

"nuke Israel" "go to hell" "go back in the oven" "you need a big oven"

You remember Tom, he did the Great Reverse Schlep with me.

AN UNINDICTED CO-CONSPIRATOR'S NEW YEAR

Any Atlas readers in the DC nabe who can attend - please email me your observations. These vampires won't stop. They must be shoved back down their spider hole.

Action: Join White House Vigil for Gaza on Dec. 31
New Year’s Eve event seeks Mideast peace, justice in 2009

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 12/30/08) - On Wednesday, December 31, American Muslims and other people of conscience will gather outside the White House in Washington, D.C., for a “New Year’s Eve Candlelight Vigil for Gaza.” The vigil is sponsored by the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT), a coalition of 12 major Islamic organizations.

Vigil participants will call on public officials to help stop Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, restore the cease-fire and promote peace with justice in the Middle East during the coming year.

Please forward this alert to your friends and family and ask them to join the vigil.

WHAT: New Year’s Eve Candlelight Vigil for Gaza Outside the White House
WHEN: Wednesday, December 31, 2008, 7-8 p.m. (Please dress warmly and arrive by 6:45 p.m.)
WHERE: Outside the White House (N.E. corner of Lafayette Park), 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C.
CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726

Richard Falk, [notorious Jew hater] the UN special rapporteur for human rights in the Palestinian territories, told the BBC: "Israel is committing a shocking series of atrocities by using modern weaponry against a defenseless population - attacking a population that has been enduring a severe blockade for many months.”

ROUND-UP: UGLY PRO-HAMAS, ANTI-JEWISH RALLIES ACROSS AMERICA

Deeply grateful and proud of Atlas readers who made it their business to attend these god awful, evil rallies against Israel, the Jews, America .............. everything that is right with this sick world. I am proud to be in your good company and held in your regard, in this I am blessed.

MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA: Atlas reader Darrin

LOS ANGELES: Atlas reader Da wolf reports:

There were more of them than us and a few incidents where if the LAPD had not been there, it could have become ugly. The rhetoric of 'Fakenstinians' is typically ugly. They were screaming for 'Jews and Christians to get out of Palestine', and one Pali man in his 60s told my friend 'Hitler Should Have Finished off the Job'. ( I won't tell you what she told him, but he was in shock). So many LAPD were there, including the riot police. It's says a lot about who they are when most of the cops and riot people were posted on 'their' side. Also, as the Pali's rode by in their cars, they shouted 'Fuck You, Fuck you Jews' (which shows their limited intelligence). Of course we were also called 'pigs', 'dogs' accused of 'Genocide' (very rich coming from them). They are just looking for a violent fight and confrontation. Someone on our side had to call the police to come and protect us as they tried to come over to our side and start something. Amazing, that we as Jews are facing such vile hate in L.A. in America. Wish I had a camcorder. Glad we went. Next time we need to be larger and louder

Los Angeles photo

TAMPA FLORIDA: Atlas reader Karen:

Thanks for the info on the planned CAIR rallies.  I attended the one in Tampa, Fl this evening.  

For 2 hours today, I experienced a little bit of what it is like to be Israel, surrounded by a mob who hates you.   

Arriving at the site, and surveying the lay of the land, I decided to stand with two fellows wrapped in the Jewish flag, across the street from about 200 "anti Israel" protesters. That was it, me the two jewish guys and one muslim on one side of the street and a whole sea of Palestinian flags, megaphones and mania on the other side. I am a Christian, and was warmly welcomed by my new Jewish friends, and coldly received by the lone "anti Israel" protester on our side of Dale Mabry highway.

This guy really wanted to argue with me, which I refused to do, and I finally shut him up when I asked him if he had been out protesting the death of thousands of Americans on 9/12 or was he dancing in the streets? He muttered something about "you must pay, America must pay and the Jews must pay" and ambled away.

Their side send several instigators to "our side" to try to intimidate us. A few young men even came and swiped one of the Jewish flags right out of the guys hands. He bravely went across the street to retrieve it, God bless him, and finally a cop got it for him.

I guess standing on the street and holding a sign wasn't enough "action" for these folks, so a whole "contingent" of young men and women marched across the street towards us. Three teenage girls came and stood right in front of me, to block my sign - I just stepped back and held it higher. We were quickly surrounded by this mob of protesters "for peace" - yelling and chanting at us, and telling us we were "outnumbered" and to go home. That's when it occurred to me that this is EXACTLY what Israel is like - surrounded by a mob of people so hyped up on emotion and inaction and frustration, that they have to find someone to blame, to target, to hate. This mob decided to hate us. This mob, holding up signs that said "honk for peace", could not stand the fact that 3 people stood across the street from them and disagreed with them.

I heard one of the "leaders" attempt to calm this mob down and move them back over to their side of the street to no avail - the young men, and girls were determined to scare us away. They ignored the leader, and even said

"This is American and it's a free country, I can stand wherever I want to". Imagine that! One teenage girl ripped a protester sign out of his hands, two others screamed in an older lady's face, all the while the entire crowed of them swarming in and around us, chanting, pounding their fist in the air and spewing hatred.

It wasn't until Tampa's finest (most in plain clothes) showed their badges that the crowd began to make their way back across the street. It wasn't until a SHOW OF FORCE other than their own leader, who tried in vain to calm them, broke up this mob. I would venture to say that if the police weren't there, we would have all been seriously beaten by this gang of "honk if you love peace" protesters.

I don't know why I was compelled to go today, it was something that I could not not do. Perhaps God wanted me to see what His children are suffering with. To have so many hate you for simply being you, for being faithful, and for standing for God.

I was told point blank, that I must "pay", that America must "pay" and that the Jews must "pay" by one of these "honk if you love peace" protesters. I am reminded, that I am always forgiven even when I didn't do anything wrong.

San Francisco, Calif, Israeli Consulate:  Atlas reader Jeremayakovka

TransAmerica building, SF's signature skyscraper, w/ Hamas flag held aloft in front

The answer my friend is blowing in the shofar

Very few surprises at tonight's ANSWER-sponsored demonstration outside San Francisco's Israeli consulate. The public needs to know, however, real details about the event that the mainstream media (despite their several network trucks, light poles, and cameramen) may ignore.

The Numbers Game: Pro-Israel activists, no matter how principled and committed, were heavily outnumbered by pro-Pali activists by about 4 (or 5) to 1. The Pali-crowd owned one side of the street, while the side with Israelis was about evenly divided among partisans. The radical left-wing site Indybay claimed that thousands turned out for Palestine – that's bunk – there were hundreds, maybe 500, and maybe 100 for Israel.

The Logistics Game: Pro-Pali people had mounted speakers, bullhorns, professionally printed banners and signs (I ended up standing next to the guy who'd printed the signs – the ABC News affiliate filmed us talking to each other), flags (including a Pali flag with the al-Aqsa mosque printed on its white field) and even war drums. Pro-Israeli people had pre-printed signs, many big Israeli flags, and a shofar – all good, but the Palis had the bigger and more portentous act.

The Propaganda Game: The Palis employed all too common slander and very calculated sloganeering to manipulate their several cases. This is key: they were present not merely to protest the Israeli campaign in Gaza, but to present a public face for "FREE PALESTINE!", for "The Right of Return", to "Free The Jena 6" (which some signs described as a "Legal Lynching"). Important to note is the Palis' sense of inevitability: "VICTORY IS OURS!" This includes their case against the US as well as against Israel. One common sign urged to "Stop the US-Israeli Genocide."

Solidarity vs. Solitary: If non-Jews came out to show solidarity with the Jewish State, they didn't show their colors, but non-Palis visibly stepped up to the plate for their pet cause. An average-looking American carried a Hamas flag on a tall pole (he has no direct ties with Hamas – I asked him); an Episcopalian contingent draped a large banner over the police barricade; so did ANSWER. The latter two were on the Pali-owned side, which suggests pre-event planning. An hour into the rally, an aggressive spokeswoman took the bullhorn for the Pali side: she was Asian-American looking and kicked off her remarks with a shrill "Brothers and sisters!" This is par for the course in San Francisco, but anyone who considers himself pro-Israel should note that, by appearances, not one non-Jewish individual or organization dared share sidewalk space with Jews. How existential.

Small world: At one point I found myself alongside Osha Neumann. Osha's a longtime Berkeley radical lawyer, a self-described artist, and a veteran of the 60s anarchist groupuscule, The Motherfuckers. He's also author of the recently-published Up Against the Wall, Motherf**ker, a memoir of going from liberal Jewish kid with a graduate degree from Yale to the more daring fringes of American radicalism. in the book he renounces nothing, but he does admit some of the more bizarre and dangerous elements of modern American radicalism (e.g., willingly submitting to totalitarian organizational structures, submitting oneself to "criticism" in order to become a better radical, etc.).

Most of the Israel activists were young, under 30 & teens.

WASHINGTON DC: STATE DEPARTMENT: John L was there and posted all of his reportage here:

We were ringed by police, but we were on State Department property in downtown DC, not everyone there was protesting. I saw at least one panhandler fleecing the crowd.

And it was several hundred people






At five o’clock some of them prayed, but certainly a small portion of them. I guess that’s as deep as most of them took those shouts of “God is great” I heard.

The most important thing is to listen to the rhetoric and lies in the videos. Notice there are very few Palestinians, very few Arabs speaking. The Arab Community, like IVAW, like every other group of “victims” are being used by the anti-war community to work us all up into a lather. But you can see that for yourself.

TACOMA WASHINGTON:  Atlas reader Janey Barnhart

Just got home from standing as the lonely voice for Israel at the demonstration in Tacoma WA. We are terribly civil here in the Pacific NW, so it was me and my large Israeli flag in uneventful, solitary solidarity with 25-ish 'anti-violence' folks. Just doin' my part as a Christian to support Israel's right to defend itself against slaughter. Thanks for letting us know about these events

DEARBORN, MICHIGAN: Rick reports:

Well, we had a pro-Palestinian/anti-Zionist demonstration here in Dearborn this afternoon.  This happens every once in a while whenever somebody other than Israel gets bombed.

     It was quite well attended by Palestinian supporters (who in Dearborn are chiefly Lebanese).

     So I made my presence known on the other side of the street.  Which was not easy, since I was the only one over on that side.    

I have to ask, where were my brothers and sisters who believe in the peace that the gospel of Christ brings?  Where were my friends who support Israel's right to exist?

     We cannot and must not be afraid to bring truth to the forefront.

NEW YORK NY: Pamela covered it beautifully (more coverage here):

To see all the pictures click picture

We had a COUNTER at this one . Stand With Israel did a great job!

UPDATE More reportage thoughts from San Francisco. Atlas reader Peter

Just wanted to add my take on the confronting of  savages in S.F. If it was pandemonium elsewhere it was absolute anarchy and  mob rule in S.F. The last such rally I attended the police managed to separate the two sides. Yesterday, they just swarmed over to our side, the inept police just standing idly by. Outraged,  I asked several police why they are allowing it, and they replied that I'm obviously not a native San Franciscan, where everything goes and nothing can be.prevented.  It was revolting to watch some of these barbarians intimidate some of the frail, elderly Pro-Israeli supporters. I almost got into a fight coming to the defense of one such lady. When I suggested  rearranging the cowardly Pali's face, he made as though he was calling to the police. My wife eventually  convinced me to leave as I was becoming more and more agitated  and couldn't contain myself any longer. Being 6' 2" and 210, I'm no pushover, but suffering from chronic sciatica due to a  back condition, I didn't want to chance   being attacked by a wave  of hyenas. Walking back to Market the main thoroughfare in S.F to catch a bus home, my wife noticed throngs of savages making there way up Market towards us. I noticed the presence of S.F Commandos and thought they were there to prevent the Pali's from disrupting the rush hour traffic.and otherwise causing mayhem throughout the city.  Apparently they were there to contain any possible violence. I again approached several officers asking how they could permit this clearly illegal march to take place. They replied they were inept  to do anything as the head dhimmi at City Hall, Gavin Newsome had given them free reign. Unbelievable...So basically an entire city was held hostage to a band of thugs, because the powers that be were intimidated into acquiescence. As it goes in S.F. so it goes the world over. Very scary shit, when even my habitually indifferent scientist-academic wife, finally admitted that my forebodings as to Stealth Jihad are in fact very real. Anyhow next time I'll be better prepared with my sign which would read, " Anti-Israel Jew Hating is none other than " The Swollen Envy of Pygmy Minds" ( Mark Twain). I think this curt saying says all that needs to be said.

UPDATE: Albuquerque Anti/Pro Israel Rallies

Noticeable at these anti-Israel protests as compared with protests of earlier years was the vocal presence of local Arabs from Israel, the many kefiyehs and Palestinian flags, and the rowdiness of the young people and young adults. Evidently they feel more confident now than in previous years, or have moved out from under the council of prudence. Perhaps conditions are such that they are moving into phase II or III of a plan. The honking of passers-by to show support was much more frequent than in earlier years, and many of the drivers were Muslim, but more weren’t.

Anti-Israel sentiment is growing in Albuquerque in main part because it is growing throughout the world and the US, and has become socially acceptable. To most of the public, anti-Israel and anti-Jewish are synonyms. The bigotry has also been growing in part because the local “pro-Palestinian” groups have been active for years, patiently and successfully working to produce this sentiment in schools, the university, the media, local government and the public at large. Indeed, some synagogues and Jewish leaders have promoted this movement.

[...]

At the evening protest, two passers-by joined me with my lone pro-Israel sign, and we held up an Israeli flag and took the harrassment of the Arab young people together, which made us stronger, even later, when there were only two women. None of us knew each other, but the two supporters were both Messianic. Coincidence? To us, Messianics seem strange, but many have courage and conviction in this matter, that others lack.

Because I was the only Jew with a Pro-Israel sign at the anti-Israel protests, I got my picture taken and got interviewed three times. I doubt my statements were aired. My statements that Israel is right to attack Gaza, and if the Arabs of Gaza are suffering, they brought it on themselves by electing and supporting genocidal terrorist leaders, is socially unacceptable in polite gentile society. Indeed, it is unacceptable in polite Jewish society, but it is true.

At these protests I saw a stridency and rowdiness in the Arabs who showed up, that was not apparent in earlier protests. I saw that the majority of passers-by were either active supporters of their view, or non-committal. While we pep-rallied privately in the the JCC, with security, the public was turned a shade more against us, and we had no effective response.

UPDATE: ATLANTA, GEORGIA  Orit reports:

Re: Atlanta Pro-Hamas Rally 12/30/08 (Israeli Consulate) Part 1

There were about 250 people.

Here are some notes though:

Chants:

no justice, no peace
long live palestine
US out of the middle east
Free, free palestine
1-2-3-4 we don't want this racist war, 5-6-7-8 israel is a terror state
occupation is a crime, israel out of palestine
gaza is under attack. what are we going to do? fight back!
what do we want? Justice. When do we want it now? Now.
allah akbar
US, israel you can't hide, we charge you with genocide
not a penny, not a dime, israel out of palestine
Hitler, Olmert all the same, all they have is different names
they kill, they lie, but palestine will never die
free, free palestine, long live palestine


Signs:

gaza solidarity
stop Israeli terrorism
sympathize with gaza t-hirt (in hebrew and english)
stop war on iran
gaza you are not alone
stop the massacre in gaza
stop US, israeli war crimes
I am not a terrorist (held by little girl)
honk for gaza (MARTA -- Atlanta public bus honked)
zionism equals (sign) racism

The protest was arranged by the Atlanta International Center. They had a permit from 4-5:30pm to demonstrate in front of the Israeli consulate which is in midtown Atlanta. Car traffic was heavy the entire time, and there was a constant flow of people into the demonstration. Women were coming with their young children in strollers and older people wrapped in kefiyahs came and set up chairs.

Representatives from CAIR were there as well as the student movements of Students for Justice in Palestine at Georgia Tech and Emory Advocates for Justice in Palestine. At 5:30pm they made an announcement that they must leave the premises, so they marched into the street -- walking in the opposite flow of traffic -- shutting down the street entirely and establishing themselves about 1/4 mile away.   

There were about 4 cops from the Atlanta police department ensuring people's safety: staying on the sidewalks and crossing the street. About a block away there were about a dozen police on motorcycles. The cops I talked to said they were there in case there was a counter protest. As I found out afterwards, there were also undercover, plain-clothes police officers around the entire time.

Local media were there as well and there was at least one local channel (NBC affiliate) which interviewed people for their 6pm broadcast.

I have no idea why there was no counter protest planned. I only found out about it through the Muslim Student Association at Georgia Tech the night before, so there's was no time to arrange anything.

There was a big press conference earlier in the day with the ambassador and the incident involving Cynthia McKinney. But, as far as I know, no one commented on the pro-hamas rally specifically.

UPDATE:BOSTON, MASS: BENJAMIN was out covering the action in Massachusets here - Park Plaza

BROOKLINE MASS: Benjamin has a great post here:

UPDATE: BERLIN, Germany - Gudren has this

Videos der “Gaza-Soli-Demo” in BerlinPosted 9 videos about 2000 Hamas activists in Berlin, December 29, 2008: "Israel Murderer of Women", "Israel Murderer of Children", "Zionists Faschists", nobody, no policeman no politician said anything against ist. More demos to come all around Germany, Hamburg p.e., on January 2, 2009.