As the Democrats and religious leaders, one after the other, lined up once more to defend Israel, the cries beyond the City Hall gates threatened to drown them out.

“End the occupation now! Free, free Palestine!”

Dozens of protesters strained to interrupt officials like Congressmen Charlie Rangel, Jerry Nadler and the host of big-name Democrats who rallied for Israel on the steps of City Hall today as violence in the region fails to abate. Israel and Gaza, the Palestinian enclave, have traded rocket fire for a week, spurring the numerous pro-Israel politicians in New York to pile into City Hall to assert that Israel is on the right side of the conflict.