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Hundreds protest against arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Australia

Xinhua, February 24, 2017 Adjust font size:

Hundreds of Pro-Palestine protesters marched in Sydney on Thursday evening to demonstrate against the historic four-day visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Today's rally is to show that people in Australia vehemently disagree with our government for inviting this war criminal into country, and we stand with the victims of Netanyahu, the Palestinians who have been under occupation for the last 60 years," One of the rally's organizers, Damian Ridgwell told Xinhua.

The heavy police presence of 80 officers kept the situation firmly under control with mounted horses, riot response teams and a surveillance helicopter. They described the demonstration as "peaceful."

Despite the aggressive chanting, the atmosphere was fairly cohesive with a number of families and children in attendance, and participation from the group Jews for Palestine.

Speakers at the rally focused their message on Netanyahu, but also took aim at Australia's leaders.

"The Australian government has a pretty appalling track record, every time the Israeli government carries out an atrocity against the Palestinian citizens, the Australian government is one of the most vocal in defense of Israel," Ridgwell said. Endit