Anti-Israel rally in Surakarta

SURAKARTA: At least three hundred protesters from the Alliance of Anti-Zionists held a noisy anti-Israel protest here on Monday to condemn recent events in the West Bank.

The alliance, which groups several organizations, including the Surakarta branch of the Indonesian Muslim Students Association, the Muhammadiyah Youth Association and Laskar Jundullah, urged the United Nations to take stern measures against Israel.

They burned an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, as well as the flags of the UN and the United States in front of the Surakarta municipality building.

"The United Nations and Americans make such a big fuss over the Atambua incident but they do nothing to Israel over the killing of Palestinians," a protester shouted.

The protest ended peacefully after several hours. (44/edt)