Two sides of the deadly Mideast conflict

The Middle East crisis has stirred interest and passions around the globe, at times boiling over into violence.

Yesterday thousands of people rallied on the United States Capitol grounds to support Israel and declare its offensive against Palestinian militants equivalent to the US war on terrorism.

The rally, being held as US Secretary of State Colin Powell struggles for a ceasefire to the spiralling Mideast violence, was the latest in a series held across the nation by both sides in the conflict.

In Rome, thousands of Italian demonstrators holding aloft blue and white Israeli flags, marched through the heart of the city in support of the Jewish state's battle against Palestinian militants. Rome is home to the oldest Jewish community in Europe.

In Berlin, the scene of a large protest against Israel on Sunday, a Jewish mother and her adult daughter were punched in the face by two unknown attackers yesterday and needed hospital treatment. Police described it as an anti-Semitic attack.

Recent attacks in Europe have sparked fears that tension in the Middle East will trigger a wave of violence against Jewish cemeteries, synagogues and institutions outside Israel.

Sunday's incident followed attacks on a synagogue and a Jewish soccer team in Paris.

Israel's Ambassador to France has also received a threatening letter containing a bullet. Elie Barnavi told Europe 1 radio he had received a letter containing a bullet for a Magnum calibre .44 revolver but that he would not tighten personal security as a result.

Police sources say they are counting 10 to 12 anti-Semitic attacks in France daily.

- REUTERS

Feature: Middle East

Map

History of conflict

UN: Information on the Question of Palestine

Israel's Permanent Mission to the UN

Palestine's Permanent Observer Mission to the UN

Middle East Daily

Arabic News

Arabic Media Internet Network

Jerusalem Post

Haaretz Daily

US Department of State - Middle East Peace Process