Houston protesters face off over Mideast conflict

Pro-Palestinian supporters rally at the corner of Westheimer and Post Oak on Friday. Pro-Palestinian supporters rally at the corner of Westheimer and Post Oak on Friday. Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close Houston protesters face off over Mideast conflict 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

Westheimer was the dividing line Friday as the Palestinian-Israel conflict played out in feuding but peaceful demonstrations on a busy Houston intersection near the Galleria usually populated with shoppers.

In the pro-Palestine rally, about 2,000 people seen lining both sides of Post Oak had the largest and loudest presence with chant leaders on bullhorns proclaiming: "Free, free Palestine, occupation is a crime."

Hundreds of demonstrators on the other side, closer to the Galleria, waved blue and white Israeli flags and were flanked by a large banner that declared: "We fight Islamic terror."

Mariam Mirza, 33, who was born in India, brought her two small children to the Palestinian side of the gathering.

"We stand up for the oppressed people of Palestine. I am here for them, representing them," she said. "The recent news that's been going on - the killing in Gaza - I think it's affected more of the people now. And with the social media, people are more aware of it."

The gatherings lasted about three hours - at the height of rush hour - then dwindled, but still remained strong as both sides demonstrated their passions.

Houston Police Department officers erected barricades and controlled foot traffic to avoid face-to-face encounters. HPD spokesman John Cannon said the agency doesn't make official crowd estimates.

Day of fasting

The demonstrations occurred on Quds Day, which coincides with the last Friday of Ramadan, a month of fasting observed by Muslims worldwide.

Many on the pro-Palestinian side had been abstaining all day from food and drink. Some stood for hours in the heat offering water to others, but without consuming any themselves. At least one man with a spray bottle spritzed women and children with water to offer a little relief.

On the pro-Israel side, the music, chants and speeches were periodically upstaged by the shofar, a ram's horn with a distinct sound used in Jewish religious services.

Many of the Israel supporters also waved U.S. flags, a sight that was not common on the Palestinian side.

"They have been mocking us and calling to free Gaza. … This is a political celebration, that other side," said Orit Pennington, pointing across the street. The 48-year-old was born and raised in Israel and owns a Houston software company. "They took a day and they made it into something different and we just wanted to show that there are people who stand united with Israel … in a nonviolent, very peaceful way."

Traffic moved more slowly than usual during Friday afternoon rush hour as drivers encountered heavy congestion. Some drove slowly to take in the spectacle, while others blew their vehicle horns and waved to indicate support for one side or the other.

Dozens of Houston police, on foot, motorcycles and horseback, provided security and traffic direction.

The pro-Palestine rally marked the Day of Quds, a time to express solidarity with the Palestinian people. People across the Muslim world also are holding rallies.

Also called the International Al-Quds Day, protests were planned in cities across the globe including more than a dozen in the U.S. in places such as Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Detroit and Cleveland.

'Being humanitarian'

The annual event was initiated 35 years ago by Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini to show support for the Palestinian cause for freedom and oppose Israel's control of Jerusalem.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas reignited on July 8. Since then, there has been a human toll of more than 800 Palestinians and three dozen Israelis.

"The civilian casualties have just been too high" in Gaza, said Arsal Khan, 27, a computer programmer who called the Houston Quds rally the largest he's seen in recent years. "This isn't about eradication. This isn't about wiping anybody off the map. This isn't even Muslim versus Jew. This is about being humanitarian."

Leon Podolner, a 30-year-old Houston locksmith whose parents live in Israel, led chants at the counter-demonstration on loudspeakers for three hours. He called the pro-Israel event a "support rally" for that nation and the Israel Defense Forces.

"We're here to support Israel, because we're far away, and to bless them and to show them that we love them and they have support in Houston, Texas," Podolner said.