The brother of Israeli Prime Mininster Ehud Olmert was in Southwest Florida this weekend. Yossi Olmert spoke Sunday in the Student Union Ballroom at Florida Gulf Coast University. He says his brother has the support of the majority of Israeli’s in the current armed conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“he’s a very strong person, a democratically elected leader – and he leads the state of Israel as far as I can judge from the facts that I have in my command – he enjoys the support of over 80 percent of the Israeli people as shown by public opinion polls and the steadfast resolute – always on the defense of the Jewish people.”

Yossi Olmert current lives in New York and lectures widely. His lecture at FGCU was sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Collier County.

Meanwhile members of the local Arab community and others rallied outside the Student Union at FGCU Sunday to show their support for Lebanese civilians One of the organizers is Fouad Jaber, an area resident and Lebanese citizen.

“We want to point out that Lebanese citizens are suffering from the Israeli bombing and our aim to get the world to see that and have a cease fire immediately and then whatever Israel wants can be negotiated but they have to stop and have a cease fire immediately, and that’s the aim of our rally.

Jaber is scientist with the University of Florida Research Center in Immokalee.