The day after a large pro-Palestinian demonstration in Paris, thousands turned out for a pro-Israel demonstration. Ynet News reports:

Several thousand demonstrators waved Israeli flags and sang Hebrew hymns in Paris Sunday to show support for Israel in its military offensive in Gaza, a day after a huge pro-Palestinian rally.

Warmly dressed to brave seasonably cold weather, about 12,000 demonstrators gathered on a street not far from the Israeli embassy, according to organizers, the CRIF, an umbrella group of French Jewish organizations.

Police said 4,000 people turned up for the demonstration held on a side street after city authorities barred them from massing directly in front of the embassy.

In Paris, where organisers claimed 25,000 turned out for a march led by Communist and left-wing politicians, the crowd chanted "We are all Palestinians" and "Israel killers." Many sported traditional Palestinian scarves.

As the protesters dispersed, between 200 and 300 tried to make their way toward the Israeli embassy near the Champs Elysees but were blocked by police barricades. Several cars were set alight as well as Israeli flags, an AFP correspondent reported.