Violent clashes erupt between pro- and anti-Israel protesters outside LA synagogue
At least one arrested, others detained after pro-Palestinian protesters apparently tried to prevent people entering Jewish house of worship to attend Israeli real estate event
Violent clashes broke out Sunday between pro- and anti-Israel demonstrators in Los Angeles after the latter held a protest outside the Adas Torah synagogue, where an Israeli real estate fair was being held.
According to the LA Times, one person was arrested for allegedly carrying a “spiked flag.”
CBS News reported that police officers with weapons drawn detained two people who were shouting at protesters from a car. Officers were seen taking a toddler from the vehicle.
According to reports, pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protesters attempted to block the entrance to the synagogue on Pico Boulevard, where an event on real estate investment in Israel was being held.
In video on social media, at least one of the anti-Israel protesters can be heard chanting “There is only one solution, intifada revolution.”
Images on social media appeared to show an individual with their face covered with a keffiyeh, using what was said to be bear spray on the pro-Israel supporters.
Things escalating quickly, updating as quickly as possible. Another large violent event happens as several police officers go into the crowd. LAPD and Magen Am and a few protesters chasing one pro-Palestinian demonstrator. Another scuffle occurs nearby.
Pico-Robertson, LA, CA pic.twitter.com/eRBGmqIwl5
— acatwithnews (@ACatWithNews) June 23, 2024
“Doesn’t belong here,” Rabbi Hertzel Illulian told CBS when asked about the violence. “I don’t think the Jewish [sic] would go in front of a mosque or the Christian people would go in front of a mosque to do such a thing, nobody would accept this, but here, when it comes to Jews and Israel everything is kosher, everything is okay.”
Video showed police and others attempting to intervene between the sides, before declaring it an unlawful assembly.
Police in riot gear eventually cleared the area in front of the synagogue, though scuffles continued to break out in the surrounding area.
There were no formal reports of injuries; however, at least one individual was seen with a bloodied face.
Demonstrations against Israel, along with instances of antisemitism, have skyrocketed in the US since Hamas-led terrorists rampaged through southern Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages in a devastating shock attack that triggered the war in Gaza.
University of California, Los Angeles saw some of the most violent scenes during the recent wave of pro-Palestinian encampments at US educational institutions amid mounting accusations of antisemitic harassment against Jewish students.
