Today France witnessed what was certainly the largest demonstration in its history for Palestine and certainly one of the largest demonstrations held on any issue in Paris for several years.

Tens of thousands of activists marched through Paris and Rome in protests demanding Israel stop its offensive in the West Bank and expressing solidarity with the Palestinians.

No one today knew how to determine exact numbers. If for no other reason, but that the beginning and end of the march were so far separated that you'd have to be in an airplane to get any sort of overall view. For those who know Paris, suffice to say that when one arrived at the starting point at Denfert Rocherau, that enormous square was literally jampacked with people (streets and sidewalks) to the point where people in the metro and surrounding streets could not physically enter

"Our guess was minimum 50 000 and possibly much more. Even the media, who systematically minimize numbers for Palestinian demonstrations reported on the evening news "over 30 000."

"The demo ended at the 'place de Bastille'. Numbers were such that no way could everyone fit into the huge roundabout there (streets and sidewalks again). We had to wait our turn while the first lot listened to speeches then left to make space for others. When we finally got in, people covered the Bastille - including the enormous stairs leading to the Opera's higher levels and right up to the middle of the 'Liberty' monument in the middle of the 'place'. Palestinian flags flew from there as we listened to speeches in our turn. "

"Sharon Assassin" and "Arabs, Jews together against Sharon," they chanted in the protest organized by dozens of pro-Palestinian, anti-racist and Political groups.