Demonstrators from Jewish, Muslim and social democratic groups gathered to protest against Israel in New York on Friday. Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VG
NEW YORK (VG) In one of the world’s largest synagogues, American Jews pray for Israel. Nearby, fellow believers demonstrate in support of Gaza.
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In New York, American Jews demonstrate against the bombing of Gaza US President Joe Biden has given his unreserved support to Israel, which many Americans are dissatisfied with The conflict in Israel and Gaza creates division between Jewish groups in the US Palestinians also experience more negative attention and hate speech Show more
“Free Palestine!” “Free Palestine!”
“Stop the genocide!” “Stop the genocide!”
Screams fill Manhattan’s Third Avenue on Friday night. The rain is pouring and the street is closed off with large police presence, because hundreds of protesters are sitting on the ground in the middle of the road. They shout slogans in support of Gaza.
Many of them are Jews.
– As Jews, we want to spread the message to the whole world: We cannot inflict our suffering on others. The bombing of Gaza must stop. We demand a ceasefire, says Jay Saper to VG.
Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VG
Rubbings
Saper is one of the leaders of the group Jewish Voice for Peace. On Wednesday, he entered a building at the Congress together with a hundred others, and had to spend a night in detention.
US President Joe Biden has given his unreserved support to Israel. The US is Israel’s most important supporter, supplying the country with money and weapons.
But in the US, not everyone is happy about it.
– Biden’s support is deeply disturbing. We refuse to let him or Netanyahu speak on our behalf, says Saper.
Across the country, the conflict in Israel and Gaza is causing friction. Also between Jewish groups.
Jay Saper i Jewish Voice for Peace. Foto: Thomas Nilsson / VG
– We are proud to be Jews. As a people who survived a genocide, we must do everything in our power to prevent others from being subjected to it, says Saper in Jewish Voice for Peace.
He says he understands that everyone mourns the mass killings and hostage-taking committed by Hamas.
– But the most important thing is to understand what is the root of the violence. And that is the oppression the Palestinians have been exposed to for 75 years, says Saper.
Info
Jews in the United States
There are over 7.5 million Jews living in the United States. They make up 2.4 percent of the population. 1.6 million of the American Jews live in New York. They have long had a divided view of the Israel/Palestine conflict. Recently, disagreement about Israel’s right-wing government has also increased among American Jews. Show more
The serious hour of the rabbis
A few streets away from the loud protest of American Jews who support Gaza, it is completely quiet in the magnificent Temple el-Emanuel synagogue in Central Park.
It is one of the largest synagogues in the world. Outside there are police officers on high alert. It’s Shabbat, and Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson has a very special message for this Friday’s important ritual.
Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson opens the service. Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VG
– Israel is under attack. Many do not understand Israel’s desperate struggle, says the rabbi to the serious congregation.
Just before the service started, the news came that a mother and daughter from Chicago had been rescued from Gaza – as the first to be released. There are still more than ten Americans believed to have been kidnapped, 30 have been confirmed killed.
Police stand watch outside the synagogue in Manhattan. Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VG
“Tell me what Israel will do”
– Just disgusting.
This is what the rabbi says about those who believe that Israel itself is to blame for the Hamas attack.
– You can make all kinds of arguments about the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, but justifying what Hamas did as a legitimate form of resistance is completely incomprehensible to me.
– The suffering that Israel inflicts on the residents of Gaza, are they justified?
– If Hamas laid down its weapons tomorrow and came out of Gaza with its hands over its head, Israel would stop bombing the same day. Tell me what is Israel going to do to ensure that the hostages are released and that Hamas’s barbarism ends? asks the rabbi rhetorically.
Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VG
– Several people ask questions
VG has him alone in an antechamber in the synagogue, and asks him to tell about how the last two weeks have been.
– Absolutely horrible. At first we were all shocked. Then we were traumatized. Right now, we are determined to support Israel’s need to defend itself.
– At the same time, the world is starting to ask questions, when more and more innocent people die in Gaza. Israel must do everything it can to protect civilians, but Israel must also ensure that Hamas no longer poses any threat, Davidson believes.
American Jews in New York listen to the rabbi’s words. Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VG
Called out to death trap
Of the 2,300 families associated with the synagogue, several have relatives who have been killed in the Hamas attacks.
And many of them have sons and nephews who are now going to war as reservists in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
– They will face great danger when they enter Gaza. They enter a giant minefield, but underground tunnels and human shields. It’s going to be bad.
Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VG
Palestinian unrest
In another part of the metropolis of New York, in an area known as “Little Palestine” in Bay Ridge in the very south of Brooklyn, a Palestinian restaurant has felt the increased unrest.
After the Hamas attacks, the popular eatery Ayat was showered with bad reviews on social media.
– Everything is much worse now, says the American Palestinian Ahmed (24), who is there to eat with his friends.
Also read: Palestinian Wadea (6) was killed
Ahmed (TV) eats lunch under a mural depicting Palestinian children imprisoned in the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VG
– Many Palestinians are called for. Up the street here, a random man was beaten up by a mob with an Israeli flag.
Palestinian flags and political messages fly at the restaurant, which usually also has several Jewish customers.
– Here in the USA, Palestinians and Jews have lived peacefully together for a long time. But this conflict and all the disinformation that is being spread is destroying this.
Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VGPublisert:
Published: 21.10.23 at 10:30 p.m
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2023-10-21 20:30:23
#Americas #Jews #divided #war #Disgusting
