Pro-Palestine group stages protest outside New York real estate event

Protesters Gather Outside New York Synagogue to Demonstrate Against Israeli Real Estate Event

A group of approximately 100 protesters gathered outside a New York synagogue on Tuesday evening, demonstrating against an Israeli real estate event featuring properties for sale in the occupied West Bank. The protest was organized by Pal-Awda NY and marked the second time this year that pro-Palestinian demonstrators have taken to the streets to voice their opposition.

Counterprotesters were also present at the scene, leading to scuffles between the opposing groups. Additionally, protesters attempted to bypass security barriers and move closer to the synagogue, resulting in clashes with police.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the real estate event, stating that some of the properties being marketed were “illegal under international law” and “deeply tied to the ongoing displacement of Palestinians.” A spokesperson for Mamdani confirmed that the city council has passed legislation requiring police to publish plans establishing buffer zones during protests outside places of worship.

The event in question is part of a larger real estate expo held in the United States and Canada, aimed at helping foreign buyers purchase property in Israel and relocate there. The expo’s website referenced several settlements in the West Bank, including Gush Etzion, Kfar Eldad, and Karnei Shomron.

Activists have long argued that Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are built on land that is not their own, and that the sale of properties in these areas can be discriminatory. In 2024, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee lodged a complaint with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Justice against the expo organizers, alleging that they were running afoul of US domestic law.

The event has sparked controversy, with some critics accusing the organizers of religiously screening attendees. However, there were no specific public allegations of such screenings by the organizers of this particular event.

Source: Al Jazeera