Supporters of Israel are staying strong and showing love. That’s what a woman said yesterday at a pro-Israel rally in Broward County. Over a hundred people attended the rally in Hallandale Beach to call for long-lasting peace in the Middle East. City Commissioner Annabelle Lima Taub attended, and she told Local 10 News the goal was to send a message that we stand firmly with Israel’s right to defend itself.

At the same time there was an anti-Israel rally at Glades Road and 441 in West Boca Raton over the weekend and another pro-Palestinian rally at Misner Park in Boca on Friday.

Meanwhile, Senator Bernie Sanders who last week introduced a resolution to block a planned $735 million sale of precision-guided weapons to Israel now says the U.S. must support Israel’s Democratic interests while also providing needed aid to the Palestinian people.

Thursday he said, “At a moment when U.S.-made bombs are devastating Gaza, and killing women and children, we cannot simply let another huge arms sale go through without even a congressional debate.” He added, “I believe that the United States must help lead the way to a peaceful and prosperous future for both Israelis and Palestinians. We need to take a hard look at whether the sale of these weapons is actually helping do that, or whether it is simply fueling conflict.”

Now, Sanders says the U.S. must also stand up to Hamas, noting that they are a terrorist organization. The Vermont senator argued that America’s leadership role in the world is to bring people together and he said that’s what must be done in the Middle East.

In addition, Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to the Middle East this week in an effort to build on the tentative ceasefire that’s keeping the peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
He says he wants to see lasting peace in Israel, but cautions it will take time. America’s top diplomat says stability and security for Israelis and Palestinians are the keys to achieving peace.