Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups clashed outside a Los Angeles synagogue on Sunday after a protest devolved into violence between the two on the streets outside the place of worship.
Video of the event quickly began circulating online. Footage from the scene shows a chaotic street brawl, with fists flying on both sides:
In response, political and religious leaders have condemned the chaotic violence and expressed concerns that the protest was an antisemitic attack on a house of worship.
Violence Erupts
The protest took place in Los Angeles’ Pico-Robertson neighborhood, which is predominantly Jewish.
With many members masked in keffiyehs, pro-Palestinian protesters could be heard outside the synagogue chanting “from the river to the sea” and “long live intifada.” Protesters allegedly blocked the entrance to the synagogue, prompting some pro-Israeli members to push back on them.
Los Angeles police were called to break up the protest, deploying some 60 officers to defuse the situation, eventually clearing the area. One man, a pro-Israeli counter-protester, was arrested for carrying what was described by police as a “sharp flag.”
Why They Were Protesting
The Pro-Palestinian groups originally gathered to protest an Israeli real estate event at the Adas Torah synagogue. The event was held by a group called "My Home in Israel Real Estate" that is promoting real estate investments in the West Bank to Jewish Americans. According to some source, they marketed this as an opportunity to purchase land in “all the best Anglo neighborhoods in Israel."
Pro-Palestinian activists called it a “blatant example of land theft.”
The Palestinian Youth Movement, which organized the protest, said the real estate group was promoting “settler expansion.”
Swift Condemnation
The protest drew widespread criticism from politicians and public figures across the country, with many calling it an antisemitic attack on a house of worship.
“Yesterday was abhorrent, and blocking access to a place of worship is absolutely unacceptable,” said Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass. “This violence was designed to stoke fear. It was designed to divide. But hear me loud and clear: It will fail.”
Others, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and President Joe Biden, similarly condemned the protest.
At least one commentator questioned the idea that it was a valid protest in the first place:
Accounts differ on whether it was protesters or counter-protesters who escalated the event into violence, but some say it was simply inevitable considering the emotionally charged nature of the event.
Critics are calling the violence a clear example of antisemitism – an attack on a house of worship and the safety and solidarity of Jewish people everywhere. And yet, the pro-Palestinian protesters insist their motives were not religious, and they were simply fighting back against an event selling land they believe is stolen.
In that context, do you think the protest was justified? Or is blocking access to a house of worship – no matter the reason – a line that shouldn't be crossed?
18 comments
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Russel A. Kester
No, the protests are not justified. The land in question is owned by a Palestinian who now lives in Jordan and is willingly selling the land. Per Wikipedia, 'Palestinian land laws dictate how Palestinians are to handle their ownership of land under the Palestinian National Authority—currently only in the West Bank (see governance of the Gaza Strip). Most notably, these laws prohibit Palestinians from selling any Palestinian-owned lands to "any man or judicial body corporation of Israeli citizenship, living in Israel or acting on its behalf".' Selling this land to Jews in America and Canada gets around this odious and anti-Semitic law put in place by the PLO. This law is as wrong as the contracts in American neighborhoods which stipulated that the homes could not be sold to blacks. Our courts rightly ruled those laws racist and unconstitutional. The law in the West Bank is just as morally reprehensible and wrong. It's racist, anti-Semitism at its worst. The land we now call the West Bank are the ancient lands of Judea and Sumeria and the Jews should have every right to repurchase this land from willing sellers. The laws forbidding the purchase of this land by Jews from willing sellers must be seen for the hatred by Islamists that it is and sounded rejected by the world community as immoral.
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ServantOfJudgement
Very interesting and fantastic comparison against our own historical mistakes.
It's a legal exchange, ya can't ask anything more other than civility.
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Russel A. Kester
Thank you, SOJ.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
someone doesn't like islam/muslims....amirite ;-)
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Russel A. Kester
LOL. I've known quite a few Muslims who were wonderful, loving people. And I dated a Muslim guy for awhile. It's Islam that concerns me. Yes both the Bible and the Koran each have violent passages wherein God commands that bad things be done. But today only Islamists are still doing those bad things. I'm going from memory so this won't be exact, but something like 1/3 of Muslims in the UK are on board with killing gays. Things like that get my attention. I watched a leading Muslim scholar say that Queers for Palestine should have no delusions, Islam will kill them because that is the command of Allah. And they won't feel bad about it either. Many of us in the West wrongly believed that those coming from Islamic nations are just like us and will integrate peacefully into Western Societies. It hasn't turned out that way. Study current events in the UK and Sweden or even other European nations that are saying clearly that its not working. We can pray that one day these concerns will pass and everyone will live peaceably together. But that day is not today.
My response was a little long to such a short question, but it's easy, especially here it seems, for one thoughts to be misunderstood and at times purposefully misconstrued. We must love everyone as a child of God. No exceptions. But we don't have to agree with everything they do.
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Colleen McAllister
This is such a horrible situation that is not easily resolved. I feel for both sides. I do want to make 2 points.
This was on a Sunday which is not the day of Worship for Jews.
Apparently the meeting taking place inside was centered on a real estate matter. (Not sure that should be taking place in a synagogue).
I understand that Palestinians need a homeland, but I also realize that the Jewish nation was promised that land by the God of the Old Testament.
Both sides need to compromise. Both sides need to give a little. And all others need to keep out of it.
There will never be peace in the middle east until Messiah comes back and takes over. Until then this misguided war will not do any good.
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He Who Breathes
And at the first point, your knowledge is shown as lacking. "This was on a Sunday which is not the day of Worship for Jews."
FYI, the Jews worship 3 times a day, every day.
Second point as well, a synagogue, is the focal point of the Jewish community, hence there are many meetings that occur there almost daily. There are study groups, youth groups, general meetings, charity drives... need I go on?
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Gary Young
Some of the greatest injuries to mankind have resulted from the desire to be part of something larger than ones self. This urge stems from a sense of individual insignificance, victim hood, desperation. Armies, Nationalism, Religion, wars and division, they all go "hand in hand".
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Russel A. Kester
Gary, that might be true. But it's also true that some of the greatest blessings have come from the desire to be part of something larger than onesself. Universities, churches, nations, civic clubs, charities, hospitals, universal K-12 education they all go hand in hand.
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Tareq Asfour
We are in times of great awakening as all prophecies are being fulfilled as the wars being waged in heavens and on the earth as good vs evil has begun as G’D children vs zionist forces
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Russel A. Kester
In other words good, God fearing 'Zionists' against evil Islamists. Could be.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
"...God fearing 'Zionists.. LOL so they're afraid of ghosts? SMFH god fearing...I mean, wtf
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Carol M. Anaski-Figurski
We can agree to disagree both have a right to exist in peaceful protest. Most often these organized protests require a permit. The permit should designate the space of protest. This could have been marked by cones, ropes, walls cement blocks whatever. There should never be a clash of two protests in permitted protest space. It was poorly organized. What does the policy say is is 6-8 feet apart in public protest? If the police show up to oversee the protest. They should have been able to protect both sides of the protest . Someone should have called the protest coordinator with these designated space problem etc. This clash could have been provented & those cones could have been place on the onset of seeing the situation. peacefully
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Nicholas J Page
Take your fight somewhere else Not in front of any religious building.
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Alexander Arends
Commenting on this here will only accellerate divisiveness
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James Mounts
But, it was a mostly peaceful protest.
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ServantOfJudgement
LOL, based on the medias standards, yep. Punchy but mostly peaceful.
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My ancestral land in Scotland is approximately 17000 acres of countryside, streams, rivers and lakes. Now owned by the elites after confiscation by England in the mid 1700s. Today used as a hunting grounds for the hoity toity that's got the coin. The borders are documented as are the borders of the Israelites ancestral land. There is absolutely zero chance I will ever live on my ancestral land without God's direct intervention. Any attempt to do so would result in imprisonment.
Why is it wrong for a people to return to their documented ancestral land if they desire it? If a native American were to purchase land that was once his ancestral land do we protest him? Do we punch him in the face because he wants to return home? God forbid.
Those violent protesters have a home here in the USA as I have a home in the USA. This is not their ancestral land nor is it mine yet we have a home here. Perhaps it's better said, I've made USA my home in my heart and the violent protesters have not but they live here. If they did they wouldn't attack Jews in front of their synagogue during a meeting about buying land in their ancestral home of Israel.
They should go to the Middle East wherever their home is and protest there, leave us peace lovers out of it. This is why none of the surrounding countries will not accept the refugees. They're boiling with violence, which appears to be their ancestral home in their heart.