Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Monday joined leaders of the local Jewish community to express his support for Israel on its ongoing strikesin the Gaza Strip.
Villaraigosa, in a statement issued earlier in the day, said that "every country has a right to defend itself against attacks from a foreign enemy...and Israel cannot sit silently while innocent civilians are attacked."
The mayor, who had a trip to Israel last year, is expected to join Jacob Dayan, the consul-general of Israel in Los Angeles, at a news conference here Monday afternoon to discuss the situation in Gaza.
Villaraigosa also asked people to pray for peace in the statement.
"During this trying time in the Middle East, I hope all people -- regardless of race, religion or creed -- will join me in praying for peace, for an end to hostilities, and for a halt to violence on all sides," he said.
Counter demonstrations by pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups have been staged in Los Angels in the past few days to protest or support the Israeli military strikes in Gaza. More protests are expected later this week.
Source:Xinhua
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