GOP New York governor candidate attends Israeli real estate expo, as protesters rally outside

New York Jewish Week — The Republican candidate for governor of New York tells the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that he attended yesterday’s Israeli real estate expo in Midtown Manhattan to show that he was an Israel supporter and investor.

Bruce Blakeman, who has been endorsed by US President Donald Trump, was among the hundreds of people at the day-long event. In the evening, as has become routine at similar events in the five boroughs, scores of protesters gathered.

Asked if he was worried that the New Yorkers who accompanied him at the Jerusalem Real Estate Expo were fixing to leave for Israel, Blakeman answers cheekily: “Not when I’m governor.”

He adds, “They’ll have two places. They’ll want to live in both.”

Throughout the day, representatives from dozens of Israeli real estate companies handed out pamphlets and shared information about properties for sale. Some of the properties being shown were in Jewish neighborhoods in eastern Jerusalem, which many countries consider illegal.

Across the street, more than 100 demonstrators gathered to protest the event. They were organized by Pal-Awda, the same group that has led protests outside events facilitating immigration to Israel at various New York City synagogues. Thursday’s event was larger than similar events at synagogues, filling up a convention space in midtown Manhattan’s Hilton hotel and drawing several public figures.

Anti-Zionist group Jewish Voice for Peace denounced the event, which was organized by the Israeli Building Center and the municipality of Jerusalem. It said the municipality “is directly involved in imposing and administering discriminatory apartheid policies, and should not be hosted anywhere in the city.”