Public ire over Netanyahu’s London visit

LONDON: Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators clashed outside British Prime Minister David Cameron’s London residence on Wednesday ahead of a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Police officers separated the two groups and took away at least two protesters following minor scuffles and chanting by both sides, according to an AFP photographer.
Around 400 pro-Palestinian activists gathered outside Downing Street to protest the visit of Netanyahu, who arrives on Wednesday, but will not meet officially with Cameron until Thursday. “Arrest Netanyahu” and “war criminal” they chanted, some holding up posters calling for an end to the blockade on Gaza as well as images of the Israeli leader plastered with the words “child killer.”
Others waved flags, including at least two from Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement. Facing hem were around 100 pro-Israeli demonstrators, many waving the Israeli flag.
Police would not confirm how many protesters had been arrested.
More than 108,000 people have signed a petition urging the arrest of Netanyahu for war crimes, enough for the issue to be considered for debate in Britain’s Parliament.
Britain is pushing for a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and “will reinforce this message to Mr. Netanyahu during his visit,” according to an official response to the petition.