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(JTA) — Leaders of Turkish Jewry condemned demonstrators who rallied around a synagogue in Istanbul to protest against Israel, including men who kicked the building’s doors and hurled objects at it.

The Turkish Jewish Community on Twitter called the incident Thursday night outside the Neve Shalom synagogue, where several dozen men gathered with anti-Israel signs, “intimidation and provocation,” calling on authorities to make sure it “stops” and that the people responsible are prosecuted for a hate crime.

The protesters came to demonstrate against the decision by Israeli authorities to position metal detectors at the entrance to the Haram al Sharif compound in Jerusalem, according to the Hurriyet daily.  The devices were placed at the site, where the Al Aqsa mosque is situated, after three Palestinian terrorists killed two police officers there on July 14.

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One man, who identified himself as Kürşat Mican, told reporters at the synagogue: “The Zionists prevent our brethren freedom of worship. We are here to block you from your freedom of worship. No matter if we are stopped here today, we will come tomorrow. No one can enter here.”

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