Here is the Press Release from 5/13 announcing our rally:

On Thursday May 15, 2008 at 4:00 pm outside the Federal Building, there will be a counter-rally in response to the demonstration "Stand for Palestine, Speak out for Palestine" being held by the ME Peace Forum, Beit Hanina and Palestinian Community Club. The '"Stand for Palestine; Speak Out For Palestine" demonstration is an attempt to discredit and defame Israel and the United States through fallacies told of the 1948 War of Independence. This effort to portray Israel as an aggressor and violator of human rights is appalling as well as false.

The counter-rally is meant to reaffirm that the recent celebration of Israel's 60th anniversary is a time to applaud the only Democratic country in the Middle East. Israel remains isolated in the Middle East in its support and guaranties of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, voting rights, women's rights and homosexual rights to all her citizen's.

The counter-rally is being sponsored by the Betar Zionist Youth Movement and will be held at Federal Building plaza, 1240 E. Ninth Street ---- Cleveland 44199 at East 9TH and Lakeside.

Look for the American and Israeli flags...Let freedom ring.

The Betar counter-rally held in downtown Cleveland on May 15 opposing a demonstration called "Stand for Palestine, Speak out for Palestine" went better than planned. Our counter-rally had more people than the demonstration we were opposing. We waved flags, passed out fliers, and sang songs (Am Yisrael Chai, Hatikvah, The National Anthem...). We stood strong in the face of those who tried to discredit and delegitimise the Jewish claim to Israel.

A sad point which was noted by most of the people who attended our rally was that the majority of the people who were standing opposite us- speaking out hatefully against Israel- were Jews themselves. It is extremely sad and scary to see fellow Jews who have turned their backs completely on their people and homeland.

Nevertheless though, I was very proud to see all the Jews who turned out to stand tall and strong in the face of those who seek to destroy our homeland and ultimately our people.

They were pretty shocked to see us too! Way to go and TEL-CHAI BETARIM!

Click here to view coverage in the CJN