As the horror unfolds in Israel and Gaza, tensions rise, with pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protests popping up throughout Southern California.
KNX reporter Emily Valdez was among a sea of blue and white flags outside the federal building on Wilshire in West L.A. Tuesday, where a crowd of protesters showed their support for Israel.
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She spoke with Rabbi David Baron of Temple of the Arts in Beverly Hills, who shared his feelings about the events set in motion Saturday after Hamas attacked the Nova Music Festival, killing and abducting hundreds of civilians.
"We're all heartbroken because you see the images of babies being executed and children being dragged from their homes and from their parent's arms into tunnels where they're going to be held as human shields and hostages, and we don't know what their fate is and it just destroys you.," said the Rabbi.
There was also a protest at Cal State Long Beach in support of the Palestinians, where one protestor said, "Hamas is an eventual result of long, decades-long, systemic oppression and policies put into place that Palestine feels absolutely powerless to combat."
While the speaker said those protesting in favor of Palestine do not condone terrorism or "Jew-hatred," he and others believe there is an extreme lack of support for the Palestinian people.
Amid skirmishes between pro-Palestinian groups and those supporting Israel in other places like New York City, LAPD says it's gearing up for the possibility that future demonstrations in L.A. could get larger and potentially violent.
Former L.A. city council member and LAPD reserve officer Joe Buscaino tells KNX News, "In this time where a lot of emotions are flaring in our city, it's incumbent upon the entire city, its people to look out for each other, support the police officers and hope and pray that nothing happens here."
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