Why it matters:
The protest highlights deep divisions within Jewish communities over Zionism, the occupation of Palestinian land, and religious legitimacy for political migration programs.
Driving the news:
A synagogue in St. John’s Wood hosted a Zionist Aliyah-facilitating program, prompting anti-Zionist Jewish groups — including Neturei Karta rabbis — to gather outside, pray, and denounce the event.
State of play:
Zionist organizations reportedly attempted to block the protest in advance, launching media and public relations campaigns that failed to deter demonstrators.
British police pushed protesters a significant distance away from the synagogue, a move they described as unfair treatment.
A Zionist counter-protest formed nearby, where participants used foul language and attempted to harass anti-Zionist demonstrators, according to recorded footage.
What they are saying:
Neturei Karta rabbis present at the protest “condemned the activities that were taking place at the synagogue.”
In an exclusive interview, Rabbi Yakub Wise denounced the event, saying he “condemned the sale of Palestinian land to the Zionists.”
He added that it was vital to “ban action against Palestine rather than banning Palestine action,” stressing the need to oppose ongoing oppression in Gaza and the West Bank.
Key points:
- Anti-Zionist Jews held religious prayers during the protest.
- Demonstrators said the Aliyah program contributes to the dispossession of Palestinians.
- Protesters accused British police of discriminatory handling.
- Zionist counter-protesters engaged in verbal harassment, according to witnesses and video evidence.
- The demonstration remained peaceful and dispersed without arrests.
Zoom in:
The protesters framed the Aliyah program as part of a broader policy of demographic engineering in the occupied Palestinian territories, characterizing it as a religiously misappropriated ritual used to legitimize colonial expansion.
The big picture:
The confrontation reflects long-standing tensions between anti-Zionist Orthodox Jewish communities and mainstream Zionist organizations over the political use of Judaism and the legality of Israeli settlements.
Catch up quick:
- Aliyah refers to Jewish migration to the occupied territories; anti-Zionist groups oppose its use to populate the occupied land.
- Neturei Karta, a strictly Orthodox anti-Zionist movement, regularly protests Zionist political actions.
- London has seen an increase in Jewish-led pro-Palestine demonstrations since the Gaza crisis escalated.
The other side:
Zionist groups, who organized the synagogue event, argue that Aliyah is a core component of Jewish identity and a legitimate religious practice. They maintain that protests against such programs unfairly target Jewish communal life.
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