Inside the Ricoh Coliseum, it was a reception worthy of a rock star: lights, cameras, screaming and applause.

The honouree Sunday morning was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who made a pit stop in Toronto to speak to more than 7,000 supporters hours before the annual Walk with Israel parade.

While the crowds inside cheered, hundreds of protestors outside the Princes’ Gates at Exhbition Place voiced their concerns.

Netanyahu arrived in Canada on Sunday for a visit that includes a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa on Monday. This was the first time since 1978 an Israeli prime minister has spoken in Toronto. Netanyahu offered his gratitude toward the local Jewish community and the Canadian government for its unequivocal support of Israel.

“Our ties, the ties between Canada and Israel have never been stronger,” said Netanyahu, who was speaking from behind bulletproof glass. “This comes from the people and comes from the government.

“Prime Minister Harper has been an unwavering friend of Israel. He’s been a great champion of Israel’s right to defend himself. And he stands against all the efforts to delegitimize the Jewish state.”

Netanyahu also spoke about preventing Iran from acquiring “weapons of mass death,” ensuring a future Palestinian state is demilitarized and achieving a peace built around security.

Outside, more than 200 demonstrators stood behind a banner that read “War Criminals Not Welcome Here” and denounced Netanyahu’s visit. They accused him of breaking international law and denying Palestinians access to basic human rights, like clean water and medicine.

“We’re sending a message to Netanyahu. What you’re doing in Palestine is unacceptable and what’s happening to the Palestinian people is simply illegal,” said Rafeef Ziadah, an organizer with the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid.

The demonstrators were a smorgasbord of diversity, including everyone from Palestinian refugees to orthodox rabbis.

Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss accused Israel and its prime minister of hijacking the Jewish identity for a nationalistic cause.

“What’s being done in our name is murder and we can’t stand by silently. World, wake up,” he said as a crowd cheered behind him.

On the other side of Strachan Ave., about 100 supporters carried Israeli flags in a bid of support for Netanyahu.

Meir Weinstein, national director of the Jewish Defense League, said it is important for Canada to support Israel because it is “the beacon of democracy in the Middle East.”

“People on the other side of the street represent a view that would send us back to the dark ages,” he said.

The pro-Palestinian crowd dispersed around 11 a.m., before Netanyahu took the stage.

“We sent our message,” said Ziadah, “He’s not worth us getting heat stroke over.”

Security was tight around the building with more than a dozen police officers, some on horses, standing by the gates to the CNE grounds. Inside the hall, dozens of officers stood in front of the stage.

The supporters who wanted to get in to see Netanyahu speak underwent security checks and had to check all bags before entering the arena.

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The United Jewish Appeal’s walk is expected to raise $500,000, which will benefit the children of Bat Yam, a poor community in Israel.

In 2002, organizers had to cancel a Netanyahu speech at Montreal’s Concordia University after an angry reaction from students and activists.

Canada recently urged the resumption of Middle East peace talks and has called the expansion of Jewish settlements a barrier to peace.

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