- Activists gather in Manhattan to demonstrate against event for immigration to Israel, chanting to ‘globalize the intifada’ and accosting Jews
NEW YORK CITY — Anti-Zionist protesters chanted for an intifada and heckled Jews at a demonstration outside a prominent New York City synagogue on Wednesday night.
The demonstrators gathered outside the Park East Synagogue in Manhattan to protest against an event held by Nefesh B’nefesh, an organization that helps Jews immigrate to Israel.
Around 200 demonstrators chanted “Death to the IDF,” “We don’t want no Zionists here,” and, “Resistance you make us proud, take another settler out.”
“From New York to Gaza, globalize the intifada,” they chanted, to the beat of a drum.
A protest leader told the crowd, “It is our duty to make them think twice before holding these events. We need to make them scared. We need to make them scared. We need to make them scared.”
A smaller crowd of Jewish counter-protesters gathered on the sidewalk opposite the anti-Zionist demonstrators, separated by police and metal barricades, with the synagogue entrance in between.
The two groups shouted curses at each other and flashed bright flashlights in each other’s faces.
The Jewish group blew horns and whistles and shouted, “You’re cowards,” “Fuck Palestine,” and, “You’re protesting at a synagogue.”
The anti-Zionist group also berated the police officers at the scene.
The two groups were largely kept separate by police, but some shouting and shoving matches broke out on the sidelines.
A man in a kippah cursed at a protester, who shouted at him, “You’re part of a death cult.” Another woman shouted, “Fucking Jewish pricks,” while others called the Jewish demonstrators “rapists,” “racists,” and “pedophiles.”
Inside the synagogue, the event carried on, with Nefesh B’nefesh staffers welcoming attendees at a table near the front door.
BY: The Times Union – TOI
