When even "Israelis" condemn Tel Aviv

‘Israeli' residents protesting against the Tel Aviv war on Gaza amid worldwide protests
Several Knesset members have taken a stand against the ‘Israeli' offensive on the Gaza Strip as the death toll in the sliver nears 500.

'Israeli' political figures such as Knesset members Dov Khenin and Ahmad Tibi joined thousands of demonstrators in Tel Aviv late Saturday to condemn Tel Aviv for its launch of Operation Cast Lead on Gaza.

So far ‘Israeli' forces have killed 480 Gazans and wounded 2750 others in the operation, a large number of whom are civilians.

"I came here to demonstrate along with thousands of citizens in Tel Aviv and all across the country... calling to stop this war, which is a disaster. It hasn't solved the security problems in the south, and nothing good will come out of it," Khenin told Ynet.

The demonstrators chanted "Defense Minister Barak, how many children have you murdered today?" They carried flags that read "Stop the fire" and "Children in Gaza and Sderot wish to live."

Other banners read "Jews and Arabs refuse to be enemies!" and "You want to stop Hamas? Give Gaza hope, not war!"

The rally, organized by such groups as Gush Shalom, the Hadash party and the Coalition of Women for Peace, has been described as the biggest ‘Israel' has seen in recent years.

"This is indeed the biggest demonstration we have seen over the past decade," said Balad chairperson Jamal Zahalka, who attended the rally.

Lawmaker Wassil Taha also commented on the issue, saying that the rally "is one of the greatest demonstrations we have seen because it affects each and every family. People seek to express their pain by showing solidarity with the members of our nation."

'Israeli' tanks and troops swept across the border into Gaza on Saturday night, opening a ground war in the territory after ‘Israeli' aircraft pounded the impoverished strip for over a week.

While ‘Israel' says the operation is aimed at stopping rocket attacks on its communities, Hamas asserts that its attacks are carried out in retaliation for the ‘Israeli' pressure and blocked imposed on the strip -- home to 1.5 million Palestinians.

Hamas began launching rocket attacks against ‘Israel' after Tel Aviv violated a six-month ceasefire with the Palestinian movement.

Khenin urged the ‘Israeli' government to agree to a ceasefire and put a stop to violence and the spilling of "unnecessary blood".

'Israel' has rejected world pleas for a ceasefire and has asserted that the ground invasion of Gaza could take "many long days."

"This won't be a school outing. We are talking about many long days," said chief military spokesman Brigadier Avi Benayahu.

Knesset member, Ahmad Tibi, also condemned the ‘Israeli' raids on Gaza and urged the ‘Israeli government to cease the violence and start diplomatic negotiations on a truce.

The protests mark the beginning of a deep running rift in the 'Israeli' Knesset before the 'Israeli' elections take place on February 10.

According to a recent opinion poll, 46 percent of ‘Israelis' oppose the unrelenting attacks on the coastal silver.

"We have experience from the last war, in Lebanon, and this time the public outcry is much quicker and much bigger," veteran Gush Shalom campaigner Uri Avnery said at the rally. "It is a cynical war, for political reasons and people are very much aware of that."

"There are people who think differently," said 24-year-old Tel Aviv resident Iya Michlin. "It is important that the world, and especially the Arab world, sees that."