On Wednesday night, a large group of anti-Israel protesters descended on a well-known New York City synagogue, chanting phrases like “Globalize the Intifada” and calling for the “Resistance” to “eliminate new settlers.”
As reported by the Times of Israel, around 200 demonstrators gathered outside Manhattan’s Park East Synagogue, heckling Jews attending a Nefesh Benefesh event. This organization assists Jews in their immigration to Israel.
One protest leader asserted, “It is our duty to make them think twice before holding such events.”
The crowd emphatically repeated, “We need to scare them. We need to scare them. We need to scare them.”
To the beat of drums, they chanted: “From New York to Gaza, globalize the intifada.”
In a video from the scene, the group called out, “Resist and make us proud. Get rid of another settler.”
A small contingent of Jewish counter-protesters stood in front of the synagogue, shouting back, “You are cowards,” and criticizing them for protesting at a synagogue.
Footage shows NYPD officers separating the two groups with metal barricades, though no arrests were reported.
The protest was organized by the anti-Israel activist group Pal Awda, which labeled the event a “no settlers on stolen land” demonstration aimed at canceling a settler recruitment fair.
Despite the protests, Nefesh Benefesh continued their event inside the synagogue, where they welcomed attendees at a table near the main entrance, according to The Times of Israel.
The organization helps facilitate immigration from North America to Israel without directing migrants to controversial settlements.
Park East Synagogue has been established since 1890 and has been under the guidance of Senior Rabbi Arthur Schneier, who is a 95-year-old Holocaust survivor, for the past 50 years.
The newspaper sought comments from the synagogue regarding the protests.
