Hamas Protestors

I’m used to being the Demonstrator, not the Demonstratee, but last night I was the latter as pro-Hamas demonstrators blocked our way onto a private street where Wendi and I wanted to attend a fundraiser for a candidate who supports Israel.  A major street was blocked.

 We tried to drive onto the street by gently nudging our way, but we were faced with people screaming and shouting at us.  Eventually, I safely got out of the group of about 50 protestors, who were not interested in discussing the situation and only wanted to shout slogans.  The police arrived, but said they did not have enough manpower to remove the protestors, so no arrests were made.

Finally, we were instructed by text to use a separate entrance to the area, which is normally closed.  Almost everyone made it to the event.  I responded by doubling my contribution.

I have mixed feelings about the demonstration.  I was furious that they blocked us and wouldn’t even engage in talk.  On the other hand, it was my initial firsthand experience of what many perceive as a change in attitude about Israel. 

To a diaspora Jew living in St. Louis, the Israeli response to the terror attack does seem like true overkill.  However, if one of my relatives had been captured, raped, or killed in the Hamas raid in October, I’d want to level Gaza.  Israel needs all the friends it can get.  Hamas may be winning, even though many Palestinians have been killed, because they are turning opinion against Israel and possibly affecting financial and military support.