Demonstrations Devolve into Violence Over Attacks on Gaza

The fighting in the Gaza strip has been stirring emotions all over the world. Images and videos of hurt or murdered innocents, the unending missile strikes, and the refusal by either side to back down has created an international incident. The people around the world are no longer willing to take the fighting happen and have begun rioting against it, but they have begun to go too far themselves.

In countries like Germany, Italy, and France waves of anti-Semitic rioting have been taken place over the last several days. Attacking Jewish couples, destroying store fronts and firebombing synagogues were some of the actions taken by rioters.

While they start innocently enough as pro-Palestinian marches and rallies they consistently dissolve into outrage and violence. On July 20th locals of the Sarcelles district, a predominately Jewish part of France nicknamed "little Jerusalem," reported hearing chants of "Gas the Jews" and "Kill the Jews."

In Germany pro-Palestinian demonstrations have crossed the lines of free speech and entered into territories of racism and xenophobia. One such march, held on Tuesday the 22nd, held in Berlin went from the Potsdamer Plaza to the Brandenburg Gate, chanting slogans of "Israel is murder" and "Israel bombs, Germany finances."

Members of Germany, Italy, and France's foreign ministries have banded together to denounce and try to repress the violence that has been occurring in their countries. In a joint statement made in Brussels the three foreign ministers; Frank Walter-Steinmeier, Federica Mogherini and Laurent Fabius, respectively, had this to said about the riots. "Anti-Semitic rhetoric and hostility against Jews, attacks on people of Jewish belief and synagogues have no place in our societies."

The three said that they do respect the people's right of free speech and to assemble. What they would not tolerate are anti-Semitic "acts and statements" taken while demonstrating. While these three officials have taken the noble stance to stem the levels of violence happening, some European officials have added gas to the fire.

One British member of parliament, David Ward, tweeted on Wednesday of his own stance on the actions taken in Gaza. "The big question is - if I lived in Gaza would I fire a rocket? - probably yes." Ward's tweet came back on him quickly as it was meet with scores of angry responses from the public and members of his own party.