Special report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts 

    LOS ANGELES, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- About 500 protestors and supporters of Israel's ongoing strikes in Gaza faced off on Tuesday near the Israeli Consulate in Beverly Hills, staking out their respective positions.

    Palestine and Israel supporters began to converge late in the afternoon on both sides of Wilshire Boulevard in the front of the consulate office, chanting slogans and waving signs opposing and supporting Israel's air strikes on the Hamas-controlled area.

    No arrests were reported in the largely peaceful demonstration, police said.

    Meanwhile, about 100 demonstrators gathered outside the Federal Building in west Los Angeles to protest against the U.S. government's positions on the Middle East crisis.

    Earlier in the day, Islamic community leaders in Los Angeles launched a 3-million-dollar fundraising drive to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinian victims, and lashed out at Israel for its military operations in Gaza.

    There are an estimated 650,000 Muslims living in Los Angeles and neighboring areas.