Calgary Palestinian and Jewish groups face off for Al-Quds day

Ancient tensions were on display in Calgary, as Palestinian and Israeli groups faced off in front of City Hall for Al-Quds day on Saturday. 

The day — a time to protest the oppression of Palestinians, or to condemn Israel and the Jewish people, depending on your view — is usually observed on the last Friday of Ramadan, but was pushed back due to Canada Day celebrations.

"We wanted to celebrate Canada," said Riyaz Khawaja, one of the Al-Quds Committee organizers on why the event took place a day late.

"This is to show our solidarity towards the Palestinian oppressed, as well as the oppressed around the globe," he said.

'We are against the Zionism' 

The small group stood with placards while speakers took to the bullhorn, as chants of "No justice, no peace" and "Hey, hey, ho, ho, the occupation must go" rang out.

Khawaja said the Palestinians, and those who support them, want peace and that this is not about hatred for the Jewish people, although Al-Quds days has been marred by anti-Jewish statements since it was initiated by Iran in 1979. 

"We are trying to get the message out, and I will say it clearly and loudly, we are not here against the Jews because they are our brothers in faith, but we are against the Zionism, we are against the oppressive people," he said. 

On the other side of the street, at a counter-protest organized by the Jewish Defence League, protesters waved Canadian and Israeli flags with signs that read "Canadian law, not sharia law" and "Democracy, not terrorism."

Khawaja calls the JDL an extremist organization. The FBI has labelled the U.S. wing of the JDL as a right-wing terrorist group.

'We want to live in peace'

Sharon Gulko, who said she was a spokesperson for JDL in Calgary, said her group was there to promote peace and to counter the lies of the other side. 

"They say it's Israel that oppresses the Palestinians, but in fact it's the reverse," she said in French, while speaking with Radio-Canada. "It's not the Israelis that kill little kids, women. We want to live in peace, that's all."

Gulko made it clear she supports the rights of Jewish people to live in their ancestral homeland, but that it's open to people of all religions. 

"We want to live in peace, but the others have just one reason for being, and their reason for being is death to Jews, Palestine without Jews. We say no, we have room for all — Jews, Christians, Muslims, no matter who," she said.

Beyond Palestine

Khawaja said he'd like to see the Canadian government more involved in resolving the conflict in Israel, citing the country's traditionally strong international support for human rights.

He said Al-Quds isn't exclusively about Palestinians, but also those oppressed by terrorists, exemplified by recent attacks in Bangladesh and ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Syria.

Gulko, for her part, said her organization isn't going anywhere. 

"We don't incite, we're not going to start anything, but we are going to defend ourselves. We are going to say never again. Never again are we going to stand silently by while they kill our people," she said. 

The gathering on Saturday was much smaller — and calmer — than previous protests where Palestinian and Israeli supporters clashed. 

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