[Videos below.]Heavy police presence and street closures surrounded the area outside the Young Israel of Midwood in Flatbush, Brooklyn, tonight, as demonstrators and police clashed outside a real estate event promoting property purchases in Israel.
Hundreds of people arrived on both sides of the issue, with pro-Palestinian activists protesting the sale of properties they claim are located on land taken from Palestinians, including homes in communities in Yehuda and Shomron.
Organizers of the protest said the gathering was intended to pressure city officials and challenge the legitimacy of such events taking place in New York.
“We’re here today to send a message to the city and to send a message to the organizers that these kinds of events cannot and will not stand in New York City,” Taher Dahleh, the organizer with the Palestinian Youth movement, said.
The event itself featured Israeli real estate listings and agents offering assistance to prospective buyers interested in purchasing homes and navigating the buying process in Israel.
Some protesters waved Hezbollah flags overhead and chanted, “Globalize the intifada.”
The anti-Semites chanted, “Brick by brick, wall by wall, Israel will fall,” “Baby killers,” and, “Death to the IDF.” They held orange banners that read, “Israel is killing children.
Those who came to support the event or oppose the protests argued that the pro-Hamas demonstrators were unfairly targeting a Jewish neighborhood and disrupting a community trying to go about daily life.
“There’s a synagogue here. This is clearly a [predominantly] Jewish neighborhood, and they deserve the right to worship in peace,” counterprotester Kasondra Watkins said.
The demonstrations unfolded as the New York City Council continues debating legislation related to protest “buffer zones.” Council members are currently considering whether to override Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s veto of a bill involving educational institutions.
Another measure creating buffer zones around houses of worship, however, was allowed to stand and was not vetoed by the mayor.
Local residents expressed concern that bringing the conflict into the center of Midwood has heightened anxiety and created tension in the neighborhood.
This is all so ridiculous. Where are the askonim? I get deaf at weddings. Why don’t they just put a few of those megawatt speakers on trucks and drown out the protesters. Make it so loud, so loud…incredibly loud. That will take care of the protesters.
Shtuyot. A couple immature kids on both sides trying to create something out of nothing. BH I was at my regular night learning program, and then Maariv. I missed this entire stupidity. Didn’t effect any of us in the chevra one bit. If I was there, I probably would of shoved one of those charlatans that were dressed up like a chassidic jew.
From the limited amount that I saw, I would tend to basically agree with the above. I came by the area maybe 7:20 PM and looked around for a while. PD had large separate zones, the anti-Israel protesters were kept like a block (a long avenue block) away from the Shul, at Ave. M. And it seemed like some pro-Israel chevra were at Avenue N, another long block away. Although there were other locations where both sides were closer, next to each other as well. And then later the agitators started marching around area for a while. PD presence was very large, helicopter flying around overhead for a long period too. After a while it came time for mincha and I went into a local Shul to connect to something higher.
Not sure why you’re downplaying a hate march through a quiet Jewish neighborhood. I’m proud of you that you were learning but saying this was not a big deal is putting your head in the sand.
This is all so ridiculous. Where are the askonim? I get deaf at weddings. Why don’t they just put a few of those megawatt speakers on trucks and drown out the protesters. Make it so loud, so loud…incredibly loud. That will take care of the protesters.
Askonim? If there is nothing in it for them, they don’t get involved. They are for the most part a self absorbed clique.
Shtuyot. A couple immature kids on both sides trying to create something out of nothing. BH I was at my regular night learning program, and then Maariv. I missed this entire stupidity. Didn’t effect any of us in the chevra one bit. If I was there, I probably would of shoved one of those charlatans that were dressed up like a chassidic jew.
100% correct , unbelievable night activity for NK , and some young yoizels- where is the chaos?
From the limited amount that I saw, I would tend to basically agree with the above. I came by the area maybe 7:20 PM and looked around for a while. PD had large separate zones, the anti-Israel protesters were kept like a block (a long avenue block) away from the Shul, at Ave. M. And it seemed like some pro-Israel chevra were at Avenue N, another long block away. Although there were other locations where both sides were closer, next to each other as well. And then later the agitators started marching around area for a while. PD presence was very large, helicopter flying around overhead for a long period too. After a while it came time for mincha and I went into a local Shul to connect to something higher.
Not sure why you’re downplaying a hate march through a quiet Jewish neighborhood. I’m proud of you that you were learning but saying this was not a big deal is putting your head in the sand.
You’re my “hero”
Those palestinian niturei karta nutjobs there is no place in h— hot enough for them!
B”H we dodged a bullet by not electing Heshy Tischler!
I’m always amazed how these agitators find out about every RE event. Are the NK nutjobs publicists for the paid agitators?