About two dozen people held signs and candles Tuesday night in downtown Tacoma, protesting Israel’s airstrikes in Gaza.

Sally McClintock joined the vigil in front of the U.S. District Courthouse on Pacific Avenue because she believes Israel is punishing the Palestinians.

“I need to do something for all the anger and sadness I have for the bombing of the people in Gaza,” said McClintock as two Buddhists drummed nearby.

Retired schoolteacher Nancy Farrell, a member of People for Peace, Justice and Healing in Tacoma, organized the candlelight vigil so Israel will “stop the violence and resume negotiations.”

She said Israel is entitled to defend itself against Hamas rocket fire, “but not in this exaggerated way.” Farrell criticized Israel for its blockade of Gaza and called the Israeli bombings “a massacre.”

Matthew Weinstein had his hands full clutching a candle, flashlight and a sign protesting U.S. military aid to Israel.

“I’m frightened by Israel’s overreaction, not that Hamas is innocent,” said Weinstein, a Jew who works in Tacoma and attends a congregation in the Seattle area. “One rocket does not equal carpet-bombing.”

Several other local Jews interviewed earlier Tuesday supported Israel’s right to defend itself from the rocket fire of Hamas militants.

Tuesday night, down the row of signs that included “Violence Begets Violence” and “Israel Stop Violence Now,” Janey Barnhart held a lone Israeli flag and cast a dissenting voice.

“I’m here standing for the Israeli people’s right to defend themselves,” said Barnhart, a Christian who has visited Israel.

Nancy Taylor turned out to support Gaza and the Palestinians, but also added her discouragement. “I’m really, really tired of this conflict,” said Taylor, of Tacoma. “It just never seems to get any better.”

Earlier Tuesday, Temple Beth El member Jack Warnick said Israel’s air attacks are necessary “to secure the well-being of Israel’s citizens.”

Hamas must accept Israel’s right to exist or “suffer the consequences,” said Warnick, a former Tacoma City Council member.

“Destruction of Israel is part of their charter,” Warnick said. To those who criticize Israel for countering with a stronger, disproportionate attack, Warnick asked, “What is proportional in war?”

“The Jews just want to be left alone and have their own country,” Warnick said. “They won’t let them.”

Rabbi Bruce Kadden said members of Temple Beth El, a Reform congregation in Tacoma of 310 families, support Israel’s right to defend itself. He welcomed a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas if they can reach such an agreement.

“For most Jews, the ideal hope is there will be a peaceful settlement with the Palestinians,” Kadden said. “But this conflict makes it more difficult to see a path to peace.”

Rabbi Zalman Heber, director of the Chabad Jewish Center of Pierce County, said Israel is doing what any other sovereign state under attack from a neighboring state would do: defending itself with any means possible.

After the Gaza Strip “was handed over to them on a silver platter,” Hamas later fired upon Israel, said Heber, who leads an Orthodox group that is part of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.

“There’s no other response but to shock them until they stop,” Heber said. “This whole thing could stop in one minute if they stopped sending in rockets.”

Steve Maynard: 253-597-8647