By Philip Phi
Posted Sep 17, 2026 at 11:46 PM
In New York City, a protest unfolded outside the Young Israel of Midwood synagogue over its hosting of an Israeli real estate event. The demonstration was organized by the Palestinian Assembly for Liberation Al-Awda in New York City and New Jersey (PAL-Awda NY/NJ), as reported by The Jerusalem Post on May 12, 2026. The event, part of the Great Israeli Real Estate exposition, drew attention due to its focus on property in areas claimed by Palestinians.
Protesters, some wearing kaffiyehs and waving Palestinian and Hezbollah flags, gathered across from the synagogue. They chanted slogans such as “Brick by brick, wall by wall, Zionism will fall,” and displayed signs calling for the abolition of Israel, citing the land as stolen. The main banner of PAL-Awda featured a red inverted triangle, a symbol associated with Hamas.
The New York Police Department intervened to maintain order, setting up a cordon to prevent protesters from marching directly onto the synagogue’s property. Despite tensions, with scuffles and threats reported, officers managed to keep the peace. Four individuals were arrested during the protests, as confirmed by the NYPD.
The protest followed a similar event at the Park East Synagogue, where PAL-Awda also organized a rally against the Israeli real estate expo. The group criticized the event for promoting property sales in areas like Gush Etzion, Kfar Eldad, and Karnei Shomron, which they argue are in violation of international law. PAL-Awda also highlighted concerns about the event’s alleged restriction of attendance to Jewish individuals with specific political views, suggesting a breach of housing and anti-discrimination laws.
In reflecting on these events, the principles of peace and justice, as emphasized in biblical teachings like Micah 6:8, remind us of the importance of acting justly and loving mercy. As communities navigate these complex issues, the pursuit of peace and understanding remains a shared responsibility.
Source: Read the original report
Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
