Two rallies linked to the Middle East conflict took place late Thursday in Lausanne: a silent march in support of Israel and a pro-Palestinian counter-demonstration. The latter resulted in clashes with police.
Around 6 p.m., several hundred pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in Place de la Riponne. “The idea is to occupy public space to show our discontent and denounce the actions of the State of Israel,” said a student on the scene.
The situation became tense after the protesters left the Place de la Riponne, where they had arranged to meet, to head to Ouchy. The demonstrators were blocked by police, who used tear gas and a water canister.
Calm seemed to have returned around 7:30 p.m., but several hundred people were still marching peacefully across the Chauderon Bridge at 8 p.m. toward Ouchy. The demonstration ended around 9 p.m.
More than 2000 people in Riponne
While the march in support of Israel was authorized by the city, the counter-demonstration organized simultaneously by pro-Palestinian activists was not. According to the latter, the fight against anti-Semitism is simply an excuse to defend “a genocidal political project in Gaza.” They believe the authorities are guilty of having authorized this rally.
This counter-demonstration brought together more than 2,000 people, according to a Keystone-ATS count. Waving numerous Palestinian flags, those present loudly chanted their support for the Palestinian people and shouted slogans hostile to “Zionists.”
According to the organizers, including the Lausanne-Palestine collective, the rally aimed to “unite against the presence of genocidaires, Zionists, and fascists.” They described the pro-Israeli march as a “march of sympathy with the colonial state.”
“Against anti-Semitism”
Initially scheduled for Place St-Laurent, the pro-Israeli demonstration finally started in Ouchy around 6:30 p.m. to avoid clashing with the pro-Palestinian counter-demonstration. Participants marched peacefully within a restricted area, accompanied by music but without chanting slogans. The march brought together more than 200 people, under heavy police protection, according to journalists on the scene.
The protesters, carrying Israeli and Swiss flags, remained in the Old Port area. Their demands included defending the “right to exist of the State of Israel” and the “protection of its borders and citizens,” as well as opposing “anti-Semitism and all forms of anti-Jewish discrimination.” Criticism of Israel is “legitimate,” but must be “founded,” according to the protesters, who do not recognize the genocide in the Gaza Strip.
At the end of the rally, around 7:30 p.m., organizers spoke out, calling for the release of the hostages still being held in Gaza. A few pro-Palestinian activists were able to reach Ouchy, but police kept them away from the pro-Israel march.
