15 arrested in major police operation as Jewish protesters clash with anti-Israel activists
Roads sealed off as as bitter confrontation erupts outside Israeli property fair
Fifteen people, including a 71-year-old Jewish man, have been arrested after rival protests erupted outside an Israeli real estate exhibition.
The protest centred on the Great Israeli Real Estate Event, held at Edgware United Synagogue after its original north London venue withdrew days before the exhibition. No reason was given for the cancellation.
In tense and dramatic scenes, police were forced to shut off a section of the A41 and and Edgware Way as Jewish protesters swarmed across the busy four-lane road to angrily confront a group of pro-Palestinian activists gathered on the other side.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police, the Territorial Support Group and the Community Security Trust managed to keep rival groups apart, although there were reports of physical violence.
Police estimated around 1,000 demonstrators and counter-protesters were involved. Jewish residents, joined by groups including Stop the Hate, prevented pro-Palestinian activists from reaching the synagogue itself, before gathering on the main road singing, dancing and waving Israeli and British flags.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators carried placards accusing Israel of selling “stolen Palestinian land” and promoting “ethnic cleansing,” while chants both supporting and opposing the IDF echoed across the area. Flags associated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Iran’s Lion and Sun movement were also visible.
Video footage showed one pro-Palestinian protester being arrested after allegations of assault. Among those detained was 71-year-old local resident Adam Smith, who was handcuffed beside a police van and told Jewish News he was “OK” despite the cuffs being “uncomfortable”.
Despite the demonstrations, visitors continued to enter the fair throughout the day.
Event organisers, My Home in Israel, insisted all properties being marketed were located within Israel’s internationally recognised borders and rejected accusations of illegality.
My Home Israel dismissed allegations of West Bank land being sold at the event as “ridiculous” and “motivated by anti-Israeli and terrorist supporters”.
The issue had been debated in the House of Commons last week, with politicians including Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Callum Miller, the Liberal Democrats’ defence spokesman, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Green Party leader Zack Polanski denouncing the event.
With police imposing conditions under the Public Order Act “to prevent serious disruption to the local community” the estimated 1,000 protestors massed on the streets, pavement and grass verges, with Jewish residents from Edgware and their supporters from groups including Stop the Hate, successfully stopping the pro-Palestinians from reaching the synagogue itself.
Jewish News has seen WhatsApp messages from anti-Israel demonstrators calling for reinforcements to block the “Zionists”.
Some were escorted to a local bus stop and Edgware Underground station, before a second group congregated outside of Holland House Primary School, protected by a ring of officers. A police helicopter hovered above.
There were loud chants for and against the IDF, waving of Israel, British and the Iranian Lion and Sun flags, alongside those of The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and framed images of Iran’s ayatollah.
Placards proclaimed: “Stop Israel’s illegal sale of stolen Palestinian land” and “Welcome to Israel’s great ethnic cleansing land sale show.”
Al Jazeera reporters arrived on scene and were loudly booed by members of the Jewish community, whilst the presence of community emergency service Hatzola vehicles received cheers and applause.
Video footage shows one pro-Palestine protestor being arrested for “assaulting Jews”. Adam Smith, who was placed in handcuffs at the side of the road by a police van, told Jewish News he was a long-time resident and was “OK” despite the cuffs being “uncomfortable”.
An organiser of the real estate event told Jewish News: “We are here at the request of many members of the community. They feel it’s their basic right to buy property wherever they want around the world. There’s no reason why, if they feel they want to buy in Israel, they can’t do that. This has never happened in the last 25 years. Terrorists basically attacked us, for doing nothing wrong. I’m shocked that we need to change locations and I hope it won’t stand between Jews what want to buy wherever they want.”
In response to the show of support from the local Jewish community, the event organiser added: “I didn’t ask for it. I’m not unhappy that Jews are standing up for their basic rights, but I’m not going to comment on anything to do with community affairs. I’m proving that we’re doing nothing wrong. We’ve been accused of breaking British law with some of the vendors offering apartments beyond the green line and that is absolutely not true.”
Despite the protest, a steady stream of visitors made their way through security to visit the fair.
The Metropolitan Police said: “There was an increased police presence in Edgware this afternoon due to the event at Edgware United Synagogue and protest and counter-protest. Protesters have been arrested for public order offences and criminality will not be tolerated.”
Police commander Adam Slonecki said: “We have liaised with the venue and the Community Security Trust and have deployed officers to prevent serious disruption and to deal with any offences, using the full range of powers available to us including imposing conditions under the Public Order Act.
“We are mindful that Jewish communities are experiencing heightened fear and concern following two-and-a-half years of sustained protest and, in recent months, a series of arsons and other attacks. There is a distinction between protesting in central London and protesting in the heart of communities where the potential to cause serious disruption and intimidation is greater and our policing plan reflects that.”
In an email to members, Edgware United synagogue wrote: “This is a private, and wholly legitimate event, for which our community is now being subject to harassment and bullying by external groups. There has been significant misinformation in the press claiming that this is selling land in the ‘Greater israel’ and many assertions that this event is illegal. “This event is promoting land ONLY WITHIN the Green Line and is strictly adhering to the law.”
Board of Deputies acting president, Adrian Cohen said: “We are deeply disturbed at the wholly unjustified protest called for this morning outside a north-west London synagogue.
“The event organisers have publicly refuted claims that the event is marketing real estate over the Green Line. It is very disappointing that MPs and other public figures have not acknowledged this and instead inflamed tensions through partial and misleading commentary.
“Protesting at a synagogue based on false pretences seems to be little more than an excuse to harass and intimidate the Jewish community.
“We have been in touch with the Metropolitan Police calling for protestors to be kept from intimidating members of the community, to police robustly any examples of hate speech, and to provide reassurance to the local community.
“We are calling on the police to ensure such protests are kept a significant distance from places of worship to prevent intimidation to members of the Jewish community.”
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