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i-Israeli Protests Spread Across Middle East

(Newser) – Anti-Israel protesters gathered in the Arab world and beyond today to protest Israel’s bombing campaign against Gaza, the AP reports. At the largest protest, in Lebanon, tens of thousands of Hezbollah supporters listened as the group’s leader warned Israel of the futility of a ground invasion. "Israel's air force will fail to destroy the will of the fighters firing rockets," Hassan Nasrallah said by video link from an undisclosed location.

A crowd of 3,000 in Egypt rallied to criticize the government for closing its borders with Gaza, and called for military intervention. The leader of the Muslim Brotherhood told the crowd to declare their “anger through peaceful means.” Protests against the Israeli attacks sprung up from Iraq to Greece, while militant mullahs in Iran set up online registration for volunteers to take up arms against Israel.

• Will Israel Win Out, or Fire Up Its Enemies?

  13 hours, 56 minutes ago
  Invading the Gaza Strip may boost Israel's leverage, shoring up alliances and isolating Iran—but that's optimistic, writes Steven Lee Myers in the New York Times. President Mahmoud Abbas could be the one isolated—from his own people—as surviving Hamas leaders seethe and militants plot revenge across the Arab world. Even friendly Arab nations may back away from Israel as people rage over images of destruction.
  
  

• Egypt Cries 'Murder' Over Gaza Attacks

  Dec 27, 08 12:21 PM CST
  Egypt called Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip "murder" today as world leaders appealed for peace in the region, the AFP and Jerusalem Post report. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said he was "deeply alarmed" by the violence, and, like Russia and the European Union, called for a ceasefire. Egypt opened its border checkpoint to allow care for injured Gazans, whose numbers have topped 400.
  

• Gaza Fighting Kills at Least 23

  
  Three Israeli soldiers and at least 20 Palestinians were killed today as Israeli attacks rocked the Gaza Strip, the AP reports. Fadel Shana, a Reuters cameraman, was among the dead in fighting that undermined an Egyptian-negotiated peace effort and saw the highest death toll in a month.
  

• Islamic Groups Reject Truce in Egypt Peace Talks

  
  Egypt’s talks with Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, aimed at establishing a truce with Israel, ended unsuccessfully today, Reuters reports. The militant groups demanded Israel stop Gaza and West Bank raids, end its Gaza blockade, and reopen border-crossings. Hamas and Israel already appear to have instituted a de facto ceasefire, Reuters notes. Islamic Jihad continues to fire rockets into Israel.
  

• Gazans Form Chain at Border

  Feb 25, 08 11:22 AM CST
  Thousands of Palestinians joined hands today in an attempt to form a human chain across the Gaza Strip, AFP reports. They were protesting the Israeli blockade that has left the impoverished region perilously low on supplies. Israel massed forces along the border, including a rare artillery battery, and accused Hamas of “orchestrating a premeditated effort to put civilians on the front line.”
  

Tens of thousands of Lebanese Hezbollah supporters protest in the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, Lebanon. (AP Photo)

Palestinian and Lebanese protesters burn an Israeli flag attached to pictures of the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. (AP Photo)

Tens of thousands of Lebanese Hezbollah supporters protest in the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, Lebanon, Monday, Dec. 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah addresses crowds through a large screen during a protest in the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, Lebanon. (AP Photo)

A Palestinian protester waves a Palestinian flag near the Egyptian Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. (AP Photo)

Egyptian anti-riot police surround hundreds of Egyptian activists protesting in downtown Cairo. (AP Photo)

Hundreds of Egyptian activists protest in downtown Cairo, Egypt. (AP Pho

(News and photos from Al Aqsa, 5 Juanary 2009.