STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A noisy scene unfolded Monday evening in Willowbrook when a real estate forum held at a synagogue sparked protests by pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups.

A man was arrested after lighting an Israeli flag on fire, according to a New York police spokesperson.

With a heavy NYPD presence on the scene, hundreds of residents and worshipers gathered side by side on the steps of Staten Island’s Young Israel just before 7 p.m., while at least 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators stood behind the police barricades on the opposite side. from busy Forest Hill Road.

Protesters organized by the Palestinian Assembly for the Liberation of New York and New Jersey (PAL-Awda) came to express their disapproval of a meeting held at the synagogue regarding real estate opportunities in Israel.

In response, the Council of Jewish Organizations (COJO) organized a “Rally for Unity and Love/Peace Day,” according to COJO President Mendy Mirocznik.

A leaflet published by the PAL-Awda on Xformerly known as Twitter, promoted the protest: “Zionists are selling stolen land in Palestine. The group claimed that online Zionists were planning the expansion of “illegal settlements.”

“The space was supposed to be used for a real estate show presentation, and the group decided to do a signing event at Young Israel,” Mirocznik explained. “The synagogue has the right to rent the space and is peaceful and not disturbing anyone, whereas this group has been in the tri-state area being very disruptive – it’s creating stress in the community,” he said. -he affirmed.

Young Israeli Rabbi Yakov Lehrfield noted that many of his congregants felt obligated to attend because they have children who are currently enlisted and fighting for the Israeli army.

“This is our way of telling the world that we are not going to lie down,” Rabbi Lehrfield said. “There they fight with guns. Here we can fight with our voices and show the world that we care – we won’t just cower.

As Israeli and American flags were waved and impromptu chants in Hebrew, including the Israeli national anthem “Hatikvah,” were sung, members of both camps exchanged harsh words while demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and held signs emblazoned with phrases such as: “Judaism is not Zionism. Zionism is not Judaism” and “Stop the sale of stolen Palestinian land.”

Amid honking horns and shouts of support, several anti-Semitic comments could clearly be heard from vehicles slowing in front of the temple. Several pro-Palestinian protesters were also escorted back across the street by police who worked to keep things as peaceful as possible and avoid any potential altercations.

The political director of the Muslim American Society (MAS) of Staten Island, who was in attendance, noted that students and some people practicing Orthodox Judaism have joined the “Free Palestine” movement to express their disapproval of Zionism.

At the scene, a sign reading “Release the Beepers, Ask Inside” could be seen hanging above a door at Young Israel of Staten Island, he said. Last September, Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency placed explosives in 5,000 pagers intended to be distributed to Hezbollah members; the detonation of these devices would have killed nine people and injured nearly 3,000 people, according to Reuters.

“It’s almost a threat to many people’s lives when they hear about free beeps,” said the Staten Island MAS political director. “In particular, there is a very large Lebanese community here on Staten Island, as well as a Muslim community. And so to see a sign like that openly displayed was definitely something horrifying for a lot of them.

Burning flag

The arrest followed an episode that began when a man held the Israeli flag while seen standing on top of a rock, surrounded by a large group of protesters. The man then allegedly used a lighter to set the flag on fire, according to a source close to the investigation.

No additional injuries or property damage were reported to police and the man faces charges including misdemeanor reckless endangerment, the spokesperson said.

This is a developing story and additional information will be released as it becomes available.