On Sunday (16.7.06), the fifth day of the war, the largest demonstration yet against it took place in Tel-Aviv. More than 600 people came to protest against the war, which is still very popular amongst most Israelis.

Among the demonstrators were veterans, whose hair has turned white since they first demonstrated against wars, side by side with youngsters, who have started to be active not long ago. Many of the soldiers who have refused to serve in the occupied territories were also there. Together with Gush Shalom, members of all the consistent peace organizations took part, including Yesh Gvul, Anarchists Against Walls, Ta'ayush, Women's Coalition for Peace, Courage to Refuse, Hadash, Balad, The Committee Against House Demolitions and The Center for Alternative Information. They shouted in unison: "Return to the Negotiation Table!", "All the Ministers are War Criminals!", "We shall Neither Kill Nor Die for the Settlements!" and more.

The demonstrators marched through the streets of Tel-Aviv until they were stopped by the riot police. Some of the demonstrators broke out and continued their protest in the neighboring streets, but there was no violence from either side.

"That's exactly how it happened after Ariel Sharon's invasion of Lebanon," an old-timer reminisced, "On the first day of the war we were a hundred, after a week we were a thousand, after three weeks we were 10 thousands and after two months, following the Sabra and Shatila massacre, we were 400 thousand."

Video from the demo (Hebrew):

"Social TV"

"Walla"