Confrontations near the Synagogue
Jews and Israelis living in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood of Los Angeles, one of the city's most Jewish areas, expressed outrage on Monday, following violence that erupted during an anti-Israel protest there.
Heated verbal confrontations quickly escalated into physical altercations, with several scuffles breaking out throughout the neighborhood. Video footage from the scene showed punches being thrown, and some individuals using protest sign handles as weapons.
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Violent clashes between opponents and supporters of Israel in L.A.
(Photo: David Swanson / AFP)
"One person just boom, straight to my nose, and I fell to the floor. I got hit many times on my head. I got kicked over here," said Naftoli Sherman, a supporter of Israel.
"It was extremely frightening," said Liat Meroz, a resident of the area. "Our neighborhood is usually very peaceful. On a daily basis, you see Jews walking to and from the synagogue, all the stores here are Jewish, and it feels like someone has invaded your home, our most private place."
The chaos in Pico-Robertson broke out after several dozen pro-Palestinian activists arrived to protest a conference where apartments were being offered for sale to Israelis and American Jews. Leading up to the conference, held at the Adas Torah synagogue, a social media call urged Israel opponents to come to the site under the banner "Our land is not for sale." The shared post claimed the conference's goal was "to continue conquering Palestine" and that "racist settlers are not welcome in Los Angeles."
3 View gallery
Violent clashes between opponents and supporters of Israel in L.A.
(Photo: David Swanson / AFP)
U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the violence in a post on X. "I’m appalled by the scenes outside of Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles, he said. "Intimidating Jewish congregants is dangerous, unconscionable, antisemitic, and un-American. Americans have a right to peaceful protest. But blocking access to a house of worship – and engaging in violence – is never acceptable.
Businessman Noam Niv, who was present, recounted that the clash erupted after it was discovered that a Jewish teenager had been attacked and taken to the hospital with a broken nose. "You can't come to the most Jewish area in Los Angeles and provoke," he said. "The pro-Palestinian activists blocked the entrance to the synagogue, holding signs like 'Nazi Israel.' It was the same types of people we usually see at these protests: Palestinians, Arabs, extreme progressive left-wingers, and college students who have no connection to the conflict but seize every opportunity to join a protest."
Liat Meroz said she had gone shopping without knowing about the conference or the protest, before arriving at the scene: "These protesters are a very violent mob with no respect for the police. They operate under the assumption that nothing will be done to them, and indeed, even if there are arrests, they are released immediately, without any demand for bail."
In videos posted on social media, exchanges of blows were seen between the protesters, and some pro-Palestinian activists were seen wielding clubs. There were many police officers in the area, but it seemed a long time passed before they received orders to separate the protesters, some of whom were knocking each other to the ground. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass addressed the incident, stating, "I want to make it clear that Los Angeles will not be a place where antisemitism and violence are allowed. Those responsible for these acts will be found and held accountable."
'I realized how lenient they are toward pro-Palestinians'
Daniel Samuel, who regularly prays at the synagogue, is not convinced that Bass's words will prevent pro-Palestinian protesters from continuing to riot. According to him, as long as the Los Angeles Police Department and the district attorney do not arrest the activists attacking Jews and bring them to trial, there will be no deterrence. "I realized during the protests at UCLA how lenient they are toward pro-Palestinian protesters. For months, Jewish students were subjected to verbal and physical harassment, but no one was arrested, and they allowed the protesters to set up tents, vandalize buildings, and abuse Jews." He stated that he does not blame the police, as they receive orders from above not to intervene.
Many Jewish residents agree with Samuel. "The Los Angeles Police Department does not make arrests because District Attorney George Gascón is not interested in prosecuting them," said Natalie Ben-Shimon. "Even if an arrest is made, the suspect is released without bail and will not stand trial; at most, they will receive a light reprimand. It feels like Jewish lives don't matter."
In an interview with Ynet, Gideon Katz, one of the organizers of the real estate conference, said that this is not the first time a protest has been held outside the hall where he holds a conference. "Since March, this has happened every time we hold a real estate conference. Last Thursday, the police blocked the road for two hours and did not allow people who wanted to attend the conference to enter the area. There were also protests in New York, New Jersey, and Montreal, but there the police did not allow the protesters to get close. Here, on the other hand, they were right outside the hall, and I don't understand why."
Despite the protesters' efforts to prevent the conference and threaten attendees not to enter, more than 350 people made their way inside. Most of the conference participants were American Jews, and Katz believes the rise in antisemitism and events like these actually make many of them want to leave the US and move to Israel.
Response from officials
California Governor Gavin Newsom posted on X: "The violent clashes outside the Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles are appalling. There is no excuse for targeting a house of worship. Such antisemitic hatred has no place in California."
President Joe Biden also addressed the events in Los Angeles, tweeting: "I’m appalled by the scenes outside of Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles. Intimidating Jewish congregants is dangerous, unconscionable, antisemitic, and un-American. Americans have a right to peaceful protest. But blocking access to a house of worship – and engaging in violence – is never acceptable."
First published: 12:41, 06.25.24