23 August 2006
Over a thousand people, many of them from the Mexican Jewish community, have held a rally in front of the Israeli embassy in Mexico City to show their support for peace in the Middle East and a resolution of the conflict between Israel and Lebanon. Many of the demonstrators were young people. Participants at the rally also demanded the strict implementation of UN resolution 1701, which calls for a ceasefire, the liberation of hijacked Israeli soldiers, the disarmament of Hezbollah and the stationing of official Lebanese troops in southern Lebanon. William Soto Santiago, director general of AMIsrael, told demonstrators that Israel had the right to defend itself when its existence is under threat. Referring to the three world religions Islam, Christianity and Judaism, he said that the "children of Abraham, who are brothers and sisters, need to live together in peace." Salomón Cassab, representing the Jewish Community of Mexico, underlined that Israel's borders had to be respected and that the Jewish state had the right to defend them against aggressions.
