LOS ANGELES, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Monday joined leaders of the local Jewish community to express his support for Israel on its ongoing strikesin the Gaza Strip.

    Villaraigosa, in a statement issued earlier in the day, said that "every country has a right to defend itself against attacks from a foreign enemy...and Israel cannot sit silently while innocent civilians are attacked."

    The mayor, who had a trip to Israel last year, is expected to join Jacob Dayan, the consul-general of Israel in Los Angeles, at a news conference here Monday afternoon to discuss the situation in Gaza.

    Villaraigosa also asked people to pray for peace in the statement.

    "During this trying time in the Middle East, I hope all people -- regardless of race, religion or creed -- will join me in praying for peace, for an end to hostilities, and for a halt to violence on all sides," he said.

    Counter demonstrations by pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups have been staged in Los Angels in the past few days to protest or support the Israeli military strikes in Gaza. More protests are expected later this week.