2023 saw huge anti-Zionism rallies in US revealing deep split within Jewry
In response to Israel's war on Gaza, the US saw unprecedented anti-Zionism protests. TRT World's coverage, led by Tanguy Garrel and Noureldein Ghanem, captured the demands of some of the anti-Zionism campaigners.
In the last three months of 2023, the United States witnessed historic pro-Palestine and anti-Zionism protests in response to Israel's brutal war on besieged Gaza that has left more than 20,000 Palestinians dead in just 76 days — meaning Israel wiped out about 1% of Gaza's pre-war population.
The intensity of these protests was huge in many states, including California, New York and the capital, Washington DC, and were organised by Jewish groups like Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now to demand ceasefire in Gaza and final settlement to the conflict arising from Israel's decades-old occupation of Palestinian lands.
Activists, Christians, Muslims and Jews, have been at the forefront of these protests, including the Neturei Karta Jews — a group of Orthodox Jews who outright oppose the state of Israel and Zionism and show full support to Palestine.
According to prominent American Imam Omar Suleiman, the unprecedented number of American Jews protesting Israel's war on Gaza also tore apart the anti-Semitism narrative that is often used to target those denouncing Israel's policy against Palestinians.
TRT World's coverage of the protests, led by Tanguy Garrel and Noureldein Ghanem, captured the demands of some of the anti-Zionism activists:
"I’m someone who was indoctrinated into Zionism, but now so firmly planted in anti-Zionism" — Jewish American writer, Amanda Gelender
Lies, indoctrination and birthright trips.
— TRT World (@trtworld) December 21, 2023
Jewish American writer, Amanda Gelender, shares with TRT World her personal encounter with Zionism and also provides insight into Israel’s strategies to lure Jews worldwide toward occupation of Palestine pic.twitter.com/YSvNdsCYDJ
"Christian Zionist movement is super powerful, even more powerful than the Jewish Zionist movement" — US evangelical pastor Mae Elise Cannon
"Christian Zionist movement is super powerful, even more powerful than the Jewish Zionist movement"
— TRT World (@trtworld) December 16, 2023
This US evangelical pastor tells TRT World that she only understood the ordeal of Palestinians once she visited the Israeli-occupied West Bank pic.twitter.com/CFwT3aXn0A
"Muslim countries had historically provided refuge to Jews during the Inquisition and Crusades... It's not Godly. It's not Judaism. It's against the Torah to kill or steal. It's against the Torah to even have a state since the destruction of the temple, and we haven't attempted to do that. They are using our name" — Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss of Neturei Karta
Muslim countries had historically provided refuge to Jews during the Inquisition and Crusades, Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss of Neturei Karta tells TRT World, adding the emergence of Zionism “transgresses the laws of the Torah” and that he “cries with Palestinian suffering” pic.twitter.com/YlhnOUznlR
— TRT World (@trtworld) November 25, 2023
The words used by Israeli leaders to describe Gaza and Palestinians are typical of a "pre-genocidal" situation — Omer Bartov, Israeli-American expert on genocide and the Holocaust
"Human animals", "flattening Gaza", "eradication"
— TRT World (@trtworld) November 24, 2023
Omer Bartov, the Israeli-American expert on genocide and the Holocaust, tells TRT World the words used by Israeli leaders to describe Gaza and Palestinians are typical of a "pre-genocidal" situation pic.twitter.com/rfsZv2IeXt
"Let Gaza live." "Stop arming Israel!"
"Stop arming Israel!"
— TRT World (@trtworld) December 19, 2023
More than 100 pro-Palestine activists gather at US Congress rotunda to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and protest the arming of Israel by President Biden's administration pic.twitter.com/4iKj1Z11K0
"Ceasefire Now!", "He he h oho, the occupation has to go"
Dozens of anti-Zionism Jewish protesters shut down a major freeway in Los Angeles to demand a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza pic.twitter.com/5EeHJReIU1
— TRT World (@trtworld) December 14, 2023
Anti-Zionism Jews light menorah to show solidarity with Palestinians as US President Joe Biden meets with Jewish leaders to celebrate Hanukkah at the White House
As Biden joins Jewish leaders to celebrate Hanukkah at the White House, anti-Zionist Jewish groups gather outside to light a menorah for Palestinians in besieged Gaza pic.twitter.com/sBxVrKnXQK
— TRT World (@trtworld) December 12, 2023
"We are here, as rabbis, to change the policy of the American and Israeli government" — group of rabbis in front of US Congress
"We are here, as rabbis, to change the policy of the American and Israeli government"
— TRT World (@trtworld) November 15, 2023
Group of rabbis build a temporary synagogue in front of the US Congress to demand an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza pic.twitter.com/xUT82eDmKy
"No genocide in our name" — American anti-Zionism Jews outside White House
‘No genocide in our name’
— TRT World (@trtworld) October 17, 2023
Hundreds of American Jews demonstrate in front of the White House to urge Joe Biden to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza pic.twitter.com/3izehlWjkn
"I think we should torture you and your family"
Pro-Israel protests also took place in the US, but many participants were aggressive and insulted those who showed solidarity with Palestine.
“I think we should torture you and your family”
— TRT World (@trtworld) November 17, 2023
During the pro-Israel march in Washington, DC, a group of protesters insult and threaten an activist who calls for a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza pic.twitter.com/OTc9O9RiuZ
"There is nothing anti-Semitic about calling for equality. What's antisemitic about saying all people deserve to be treated equally?" — anti-Zionist Jewish protester at Freedom Plaza, Washington DC
Large number of Jewish Americans in Washington DC join what organisers say could be a biggest pro-Palestine protest in the US since Israel’s attack on besieged Gaza pic.twitter.com/3vcOmqQWUB
— TRT World (@trtworld) November 4, 2023