{"id":111061,"date":"2026-05-13T01:01:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T01:01:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/111061\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T01:01:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T01:01:18","slug":"dueling-protests-erupt-in-midwood-over-controversial-israeli-real-estate-expo-brooklyn-paper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/111061\/","title":{"rendered":"Dueling protests erupt in Midwood over controversial Israeli real estate expo \u2022 Brooklyn Paper"},"content":{"rendered":"

A controversial touring real estate expo, billed as \u201cThe Great Israeli Real Estate Event<\/a>\u201d and offering properties in the occupied Palestinian territories, has become the focus of dueling pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrations in New York City.<\/p>\n

Less than a week after pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel supporters<\/a> clashed on the Upper East Side over the Israeli real estate event at the Park East Synagogue, organizers held another event Monday at Young Israel of Midwood Synagogue on Ocean Avenue. The organizer is holding seven events across New York state \u2014 including in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens \u2014 as well as in Canada before heading to London, drawing competing protests.<\/p>\n

Monday\u2019s protest was organized by the Palestinian Assembly for Liberation Al-Awda for New York and New Jersey (PAL-Awda NY\/NJ), which also led last week\u2019s demonstration. Organizers called for an end to the ongoing sale of Palestinian land, including in the occupied West Bank.<\/p>\n

The organization cited alleged violations of New York civil rights law and international law. In 2024, the United Nations\u2019 top court, the International Court of Justice, issued an advisory opinion<\/a> stating that Israel\u2019s occupation of Palestinian territories violates international law and declaring settlement activity in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal.<\/p>\n

\"\"Pro-Palestinian demonstrators march through Midwood demanding an end to the sale of land in the occupied Palestinian territories.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"Pro-Palestinian demonstrators march through Midwood demanding an end to the sale of land in the occupied Palestinian territories. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

It was the first time the ICJ had issued a ruling on the legality of the occupation. While the opinion is not legally binding, it carries significant political weight. Several European leaders, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez, have strongly criticized Israel\u2019s actions in Gaza. On May 11, 2026, European Union foreign ministers agreed on new sanctions against individual Israeli settlers and organizations in response to a surge in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza.<\/p>\n

The NYPD established a buffer zone with barricades stretching one block in each direction from the synagogue along Ocean Avenue and Avenues M and L to control access. Police also set up separate protest pens within sight of the synagogue and deployed officers to keep the opposing groups apart. Despite those measures, scuffles broke out between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and pro-Israel counterprotesters.<\/p>\n

\"\"The NYPD stepped up security ahead of the protest and counterprotest.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"Pro-Israel counterprotesters gathered across from Young Israel of Midwood Synagogue.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

Four protesters were arrested, according to the NYPD. Brooklyn Paper observed the arrests of two pro-Israel protesters accused of throwing eggs at a group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside barricades at Ocean Avenue and Avenue M. The publication also observed the arrest of a pro-Palestinian activist accused of pulling a woman\u2019s hair. The fourth arrest was not witnessed by Brooklyn Paper, and police did not disclose details.<\/p>\n

As police drones and an NYPD helicopter hovered overhead, groups of pro-Palestinian activists carrying banners reading \u201cIsrael is killing children\u201d and chanting \u201cGaza\u201d marched through Midwood side streets. They were followed by groups of Jewish counterprotesters, some wrapped in Israeli flags, and youths on scooters weaving through the crowds while hurling racist and homophobic slurs at pro-Palestinian activists and, in some cases, threatening to kill them<\/a>. According to The Intercept, one protester said he had been pepper-sprayed by a pro-Israel counterprotester.<\/p>\n

In a statement issued before the protest, Assembly Member Michael Novakhov condemned the anti-Israel demonstration, calling it \u201canother deliberate attempt to intimidate and harass Jewish New Yorkers in their own community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pol, who represents Midwood, accused Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other Democrats of blurring the line between anti-Zionism and antisemitism while refusing to unequivocally condemn protests targeting Jewish communities and houses of worship.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen mobs gather outside synagogues, chanting hateful rhetoric and targeting visibly Jewish neighborhoods, that is not peaceful activism. It is intimidation,\u201d Novakhov said. \u201cStatements from our Democrat Mayor Mamdani that fail to clearly condemn this behavior send a dangerous message that the safety concerns of Jewish New Yorkers are secondary.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Pro-Israel counterprotesters shouted insults at pro-Palestinian demonstrators during tense clashes outside the Midwood synagogue.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"Two pro-Israel protesters were arrested for hurling eggs at pro-Palestine activists.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"NYPD arrested a pro-Palestine protester.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

He reiterated his support for legislation creating buffer zones around houses of worship, including proposed 25-foot and 100-foot buffer zone bills currently before the New York Legislature. Novakhov said New Yorkers should not be subjected to intimidation outside places of worship and that public safety and religious freedom must come first.<\/p>\n

In a statement, Mayor Mamdani said New Yorkers have a constitutional right to protest and counterprotest, but no one should face violence, intimidation or hatred because of who they are or what they believe.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe violence \u2014 alongside antisemitic, anti-Muslim and racist rhetoric, as well as racial slurs, displays of support for terrorist organizations, and calls for the death of others \u2014 was despicable and has no place in our city,\u201d he said. \u201cWe can simultaneously protect both public safety and civil liberties, and our city remains committed to doing exactly that by upholding the right to peaceful protest while keeping every New Yorker safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Update (May 12, 6:40 p.m.): This story has been updated to include a statement from Mayor Zohran Mamdani.\n<\/p>\n