SAN FRANCISCO — Hundreds of people waving Israeli flags and releasing doves symbolizing peace rallied Monday at a downtown park. A few minutes earlier, at the Arab Cultural Center, people talked of their personal connection to Palestine.
Jewish groups and Palestinian-American organizations held events in San Francisco calling on residents to sign petitions, attend community gatherings or contact local legislators.
Both sides showed concern about the progress of Mideast talks at the emergency summit that opened Monday in Egypt.
About 1,200 people gathered for a rally at Justin Herman Plaza in the financial district, waving Israeli flags and signs supporting Israel. Community leaders were joined by the Consul General of Israel, Yossi Amrani, and Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA) in calling for an end to violence. They asked the crowd to support pro-Israel legislation.
"Mr. Arafat is trying to use again the same tactic of violence to deflect negotiations," said Rev. Bruce Bramlett of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in San Rafael. "We must be supportive of the negotiations of the most progressive government Israel has ever seen."
The event, which ended with the release of doves symbolizing peace, also was aimed at providing the community with an outlet for its sorrow, said Abby Michelson-Porth of the Jewish Community Relations Council.
At the Arab Cultural Center, Palestinian-American and Arab-American groups held a news conference criticizing the Clinton administration for bias toward Israel and calling the summit's goals limited and insulting to the Palestinian community.
"It is hard for the Palestinians to trust the Americans as an honest broker," said Samir Asad, former president of the Palestinian Congress in San Francisco.
Some speakers related their personal connections to Palestine.
"I grew up there so I know how it is to be followed by Israeli soldiers," said Asad, whose wife and daughter still live there. "And now it seems nothing has changed."
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