Thousands are rallying in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, calling for coexistence between Jews and Arabs.
The demonstration on Saturday night was one of several held across Israel to call for peace between Israelis and Palestinians in the wake of 11 days of fighting in Gaza that ended with a cease-fire early on Friday.
Demonstrators marched through the city and later gathered in the central Habima Square to hear from politicians and artists.
Ayman Odeh, the leader of the main Arab party in parliament said: “There are two peoples here. Both deserve the right to self-determination”.
Israeli author David Grossman told AFP, “the battle today is not between Arabs and Jews, but between those on both sides who strive to live in peace and in a fair partnership, and those on both sides who are fed by hatred and violence".
UNSC calls for aid for Palestine
The UN Security Council is welcoming the cease-fire between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers and calls for full adherence to the cessation of hostilities.
The statement further said it was urgent to restore calm and “reiterated the importance of achieving a comprehensive peace based on the vision of a region where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace with secure and recognised borders”.
The council recognised “the important role” in achieving the cease-fire played by Egypt as well as other regional countries, the UN, the Quartet of Mideast mediators — the UN, US, European Union and Russia — and other international players.
