Major Jewish organizations in the United States are organizing a pro-Israel rally to take place in Washington, D.C., next week to condemn the Hamas terror attacks on Israel and to call for the release of the hostages.
Organized by the Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the March for Israel will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
“The March for Israel will be an opportunity for all Americans to come together in solidarity with the people of Israel, to demonstrate our commitment to America’s most important ally in the Middle East, to condemn the rising trend of antisemitic violence and harassment, and to demand that every hostage be immediately and safely released,” the march website says.
Organizers promise high security at the event, where participants will pass through high-detection metal detectors and be given blue wristbands to wear.
Eric D. Fingerhut, president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, said in a statement that Hamas murdered “the most Jewish people in a single day since the Holocaust.”
“Israel must eliminate the terrorist threat on its border and restore safety and security to its people,” he added. “Americans have rightly stood by Israel at this critical moment because Americans understand that Israel’s fight against Hamas is no different than America’s fight against Al Qaeda and ISIS. ”
According to a press release from the march, the Jewish Federations of North America represent 146 federations as well as hundreds of independent communities “dedicated to building and sustaining flourishing Jewish communities at home, in Israel, and around the world.”
The rally comes amidst global protesting and rioting over the conflict between Israel and Hamas. In the United States, university anti-Israel protests have particularly come under scrutiny. Students often chant slogans such as, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will soon be free.”
The Anti-Defamation League Center on Extremism has recorded a “significant spike in antisemitic incidents” across the U.S. since the Hamas attack, indicating that “reported incidents of harassment, vandalism and assault increased by 388 percent over the same period last year.”
Last week, a Jewish man died after an assailant hit him in the head. Police have yet to name that assailant. The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office said that the cause of 69-year-old Paul Kessler’s death was a blunt-force head injury and ruled his death homicide.
Have an opinion about this article? To sound off, please email [email protected], and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state.
