South Africa Police open fire on protestors outside Israeli embassy (1996)
(vid8.poal.co)https://vid8.poal.co/user/duncan_onzog/6HnFFVj?autoplay=off(3 May 1996) English/Nat
Police have opened fire on hundreds of South African Muslims demonstrating outside the Israeli embassy in Cape Town in protest at Israel's attacks on Lebanon.
A photographer was wounded in the conflict which escalated when police retaliated to Muslims throwing stones and burning the Israeli flag.
Hundreds of Muslims protesting against Israeli attacks on Lebanon clashed with police in Cape Town Friday.
They were marching to the Israeli embassy chanting "Death to Israel" on the way.
Their banners read "Stop Israeli terrorism" and other anti-Israel slogans.
The angry protesters are members of a group called "Lebanon Alert" - which was formed a week ago in response to the clashes in Lebanon.
The demonstrators want Israel to withdraw immediately from Lebanon.
Lebanon Alert is a coalition of organisations and individuals and has the support of the African National Congress.
Before the march, the protesters had handed over a memorandum to Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, demanding the Israeli pull out.
Achmat Cassiem, a member of Lebanon Alert, believes his movement has every right to be supported.
SOUNDBITE:
"Israel occupied the Golan Heights belonging to Syria. Israel occupied southern Lebanon in 1970, and they are still there."
SUPER CAPTION: Achmat Cassiem, Lebanon Alert
The demonstrators burned the Israeli flag as they made their way to the embassy.
Soon after, scuffles broke out between the police and protesters.
Riot police lined the streets and opened fire in retaliation.
A photographer was injured in the clashes.
He was caught between the police and protesters and suffered head injuries.
A similar march took place in Johannesburg.
There, supporters of Lebanon Alert marched to the city centre to hand over a memorandum to a representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
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