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Tuesday, April 16, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Wolfowitz booed at pro-Israel rally

Official says Palestinians also victims

WASHINGTON -- A Bush administration official was interrupted and booed Monday when he told thousands of people gathered at the Capitol for a pro-Israel rally that Palestinians as well as Israelis have been victims of Mideast violence.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz was drowned out by chants of "no more Arafat" and booed as he told the crowd that "innocent Palestinians are suffering and dying as well. It is critical that we recognize and acknowledge that fact."

Wolfowitz, the second-ranked official at the Pentagon, was one of dozens of speakers at what sponsors said was the largest pro-Israel rally ever staged in this country.

Most of the speakers conveyed a strongly pro-Israel message.

Senate Majority Whip Harry Reid, D-Nev., drew applause at the rally when he expressed unqualified support for Israel.

"I'm here today to say loudly and proudly, America stands with Israel," said Reid, whose wife, Landra, is Jewish. "I stand with Israel."

The senator compared the reaction of the United States to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to Israel's more recent actions in defending its security.

"All Americans obtained an understanding of evil and terror that we had not seen before (Sept. 11)," Reid said. "Israelis, though, have suffered such violence since the state of Israel was born more than 50 years ago."

"We can't expect Israel to stand idle while its citizens are being slaughtered."

The United States is obligated to ensure the continuance of the Jewish state, Reid said, because Israel is a democracy and friend and partner.

"Never again will the world fail to see or hear or speak or act when the Jewish people are being persecuted and murdered," Reid said.

Wolfowitz, too, voiced strong support for Israel's fight against terrorism. He said President Bush was horrified by the carnage in Israel and had asked Wolfowitz to represent him and stress that "terrorism must end. Hatred of Israel must end."

But many at the rally showed little sympathy with Wolfowitz's further message that the majority of Palestinians also want an end to violence and that "hard decisions must be made by both sides to achieve a lasting peace." He was forced to stop speaking several times to wait for the crowd to quiet down.

Stephens Washington Bureau writer Tony Batt contributed to this report.