Several anti-violence demonstrations were being held throughout Israel on Saturday night, with Israelis crying out for justice in the wake of two shocking incidents of violence over the past few days.

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LGBTQ rights groups and youth activists were holding demonstrations in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa following the terror attack at the gay pride parade in the capital on Thursday, in which six people were wounded. Demonstrations were also being held in response to the Jewish terror attack late Thursday night that killed a Palestinian infant and critically wounded the other three members of his immediate family.

The Peace Now organization held a demonstration against the deadly arson attack at Tel Aviv's Rabin Square, in which opposition chief Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union), MK Amir Peretz (Zionist Union), and Meretz Chairwoman Zehava Galon participated.

Sign saying 'No more gratuitous hatred' at Rabin Square (Photo: Ido Erez)

"I have come here today, like you, with a heavy and pained heart," Herzog said at the rally. The Zionist Union chairman said he prayed for the wounded to recover. "Terrorists are terrorists, period. Whether Jewish terrorists or Muslim. The Jewish people are ashamed of the deeds committed by members of our people and we ask for forgiveness in Israel and in the world… At this difficult moment, I extend my hand to the Palestinian people and its leaders."

Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog at the rally in Rabin Square (Photo: Ido Erez)

"What we have seen in recent days, both the stabbing of the marchers at the pride parade and the arson terror attack in Duma, can be called by its name – it's Jewish terrorism, it's Jewish ISIS," said Galon.

Meretz leader Zehava Galon at the rally in Rabin Square (Photo: Ido Erez)

Nasser Dawabsheh, the brother of the infant's father, gave an emotional speech. "They burned a family that slept peacefully, that doesn’t' believe in violence," he said.

Nasser Dawabsheh speaking at the rally in Rabin Square (Photo: Ido Erez)

"Netanyahu extends his condolences, but we want security for Duma and for all the Palestinian villages. I want to ask Netanyahu one question: My mother asks – when is Sa'ad comng back? I say to Netanyahu – when is Sa'ad coming back? When is Riham coming back? When is Ahmad coming back? Why was Ali murdered? Eighteen months old, what did he do? What did he do to the IDF? What did he do to settlers? We ask that this be the end of our people's suffering. Before Ali there was also Mohammed Abu Khdeir, and now Ali, and we don't know who is next in line."

Thousands at Rabin Square (Photo: Becky Azran)

"Every morning I discover new horrors committed by vile people, and all in the name of God, in the name of their people, in the name of their country," said Peretz. "I saw that their people are not my people, their country is not my country, and their God is not my God." Peretz hinted that leaders on the right bear a certain responsibility for the violence: "That's how extremists interpret the call to bulldoze the Supreme Court; that's how nationalists interpret statements by ministers who undermine the rule of law."

After the speeches ended at Rabin Square, the demonstrators started marching towards the LGBT solidarity rally in Meir Park.

Protesters at Rabin Square (Photo: Ido Erez)

Thousands attended the rally in Meir Park in Tel Aviv in solidarity with the LGBT community, which also marks six years since the killing spree at the Barnoar community center.

Among those participating were Isaac Herzog and fellow Zionist Union MK Tzipi Livni, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, and former president Shimon Peres.

Protestors at Meir Park (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

"I cannot believe we have reached such an abyss," said Peres. "I took before this stage six years ago, mere days after the murders at Barnoar. I am finding it difficult to believe that we are standing on that same stage, once again before the same phenomenon. We have gathered this evening for a war of independence – Israel's independence from insanity and insane people. This is not a disagreement between right and left. This is a profound clash between those with a conscience and those who lack a conscience."

Former president Peres speaking at Meir Park in Tel Aviv (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

"It is appropriate on this evening to remove the masks," continued the former president. "Anyone who calls the pride parade a 'beast parade' should not be surprised when a knife is raised at a 16-year-old old girl. Anyone who incites against Israel's Arab citizens should not be surprised that churches and mosques are set on fire, and that ultimately a baby is burned alive in the middle of the night. We can compromise politically in a democratic country, but we must not compromise morally."

Protesters at Rabin Square (Photo: Ido Erez)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech in a prerecorded video, saying that the teen who was critically wounded at the pride parade is a student at the high school attended by himself and his children. "This was an attack on all of our children," said Netanyahu, "and two days ago, possessed by an insane and murderous zeal, a criminal came to murder her and others. And no less horrible – there are those who hope she dies. We reject this hatred out of hand. We will also do what is required to learn the lessons, but the most important lesson is acceptance of the other, even when he is not like you… What happened in Jerusalem goes against the spirit of our people."

Zionist Union Chairman Isaac Herzog also spoke to the crowd. "The gay community's struggle is among the most just, worthy, and right of all, because it is a struggle over fights for the human beings living in Israel," said Herzog. "Don't let murderers and lowly terrorists defeat you. We are with you, marching with you in this long journey to recognition, equality, and full rights."

Some 200 people gathered in Be'er Sheva as well for a protest rally.

Calls on Netanyahu to resign in Haifa

In Haifa, some 500 people were participating in a protest "against the crimes of the occupation" at Ben Gurion Boulvard.

Among the signs at the Haifa rally were: "Legislate against hate crimes," "State-funded terrorism," "Homophobia and racism is the same kind of violence." Some protesters arrived with Palestinian flags and signs calling: "End the occupation."

Protesters in Haifa (Photo: Avihu Shapira)

Protesters called out: "Bibi, resign, because our blood matters," "Gays and lesbians want to live in Haifa and the Krayot," "The homophobia begins in the government's halls."

Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav, who attended the rally, said: "I came to show my solidarity. Like everyone, I too was shocked by the attack. I believe in Haifa, there is tolerance for everyone and this kind of attack can't happen, but we need to uproot the hate all over the country."

Rabin Square on Saturday night (Photo: Ido Erez)

Jerusalem: 'Hate kills, love wins'

Thousands of people attended the LGBTQ solidarity rally Jerusalem's Zion Square under heightened security following the stabbing attack at the Jerusalem Pride Parade on Thursday.

"The flames are spreading in our land, flames of violence, flames of hatred, flames of false, distorted and twisted beliefs. Flames which permit the shedding of blood, in the name of the Torah, in the name of the law, in the name of morality, in the name of a love for the land of Israel," President Reuven Rivlin said at the rally.

"Citizens of Israel, a Jewish and democratic Israel, democratic and Jewish Israel, needs a wake-up call today. We will not be zealots. We will not be bullies. We will not become a state of anarchy," he added.

"On the eve of the 15th of the month of Av, the Jewish festival of love, six Israeli citizens were cruelly stabbed, in the heart of Jerusalem," the president said. "To my great horror and shame, the letting of blood, the path of hatred and murder, did not stop there. Over the course of the same night, Jewish terrorists burned down the house of the Dawabsheh family in the village of Duma, killing their baby son Ali."

Rivlin visiting the Dawabsheh family at Tel HaShomer (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

"On Friday, I visited the family in Tel Hashomer hospital, I visited, silently, ashamed, ridden with dread for the power of hatred. Ashamed that in a country which has known the murder of Shalhevet Pass, of the Fogel family, of Adele Biton, of Eyal, Gil-ad, Naftali and Muhammad Abu Khdeir, there are still those who do not hesitate to ignite the flames, to burn the flesh of a baby, to increase the hatred and terror," Rivlin went on to say.

"These flames, which are consuming all of us, cannot be extinguished with weak condemnations. These flames cannot be extinguished with solidarity rallies. Not even with this rally," he said. "These flames cannot be extinguished with posts on Facebook and statements in the media. These flames cannot be extinguished with repression, denial and disregard. Incitement, ridicule, frivolity, laxity and arrogance of the heart, cannot extinguish the fire, but only allow it to burn stronger, with fervor, to spread in all directions, and permeate all walks of life.

Protesters in Jerusalem (Photo: Roi Yanovsky)

"In order to put out the flames, we need be a much more determined and decisive. We must be thorough and clear; from the educational system, to those who enforce the law, through to the leadership of the people and the country. We must put out the flames, the incitement, before they destroy us all."

Among the protesters in attended were political activists from across the spectrum, including from Meretz, Zionist Union, Yesh Atid and the Likud.

Protesters waved signs saying "Homophobia and racism is the same kind of violence," "Hate kills," and "Love wins," and called out "stop condemning, start changing" and "The answer to Lehava - pride."







Jerusalem will also be the site of a rally by the Open House organization. Some of the wounded in Thursday's attack were members of the organization. The New Spirit organization will hold a rally in support of the LGBT community nearby.