Jewish protesters plan to target Israeli ministers at Sunday’s Israel parade in New York
Demonstrators say the purpose of the upcoming protests is to make U.S. Jewish organizations and synagogues aware ‘that it is very unprofitable’ to invite those ‘destroying Israel’s economy, security and future’
Marchers in the Celebrate Israel Parade on Fifth Avenue on Sunday, June 2, 2019. Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
This article originally appeared on Haaretz, and was reprinted here with permission. Sign up here to get Haaretz’s free Daily Brief newsletter delivered to your inbox.
Progressive Jewish organizations have stayed away from the annual Celebrate Israel Parade in New York City for many years, uncomfortable with what they perceive to be its takeover by groups on the religious right.
But at least one prominent liberal Zionist group will be once again marching down Fifth Avenue this weekend. Its change of heart was definitely not prompted by a newborn sense of identification with the Israeli government, but rather, a desire to show solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of Israelis protesting it back home.
Ameinu, an offshoot of the Labor Zionist movement, is a relatively small organization with several thousand members. However, hundreds of North American Jews who identify with its mission and support the Israeli protest movement are expected to join the official delegation as it marches alongside Central Park on Sunday.
They will be wearing T-shirts that say “Zionism Equals Democracy” (in Hebrew) on the front and “Marching for Democracy” on the back.
All groups marching in the parade are required to obtain prior approval for their T-shirts and signs from the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, which runs the event and passed the T-shirts without comment.
The Celebrate Israel Parade has been held almost every year since 1965 and typically draws tens of thousands of marchers and hundreds of thousands of spectators. Often timed to coincide with Israeli Independence Day, it is one of the biggest events of its kind on the New York City calendar.
Explaining its decision to rejoin the march after an 11-year break, Ameinu wrote on its website: “Our activism in the demonstrations in Israel and the United States has proven again that marching, singing, chanting and carrying signs makes a difference.”
The organization, headquartered in the United States with branches in Canada, Australia and Brazil, said its intent was to remind other participants and those watching that “we are marching in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel and around the world who are fighting for the future of the state.”
It added: “We know we represent the majority of American Jewry.”
The presence of liberal Zionists is not the only element that will distinguish Sunday’s parade. In previous years, protests have traditionally been held on the fringes of the parade by two main groups: pro-Palestinian activists and members of the anti-Zionist, ultra-Orthodox Neturei Karta sect. This year, they will be joined by another group: Israeli expats and Jewish Americans opposed to Israel’s new government – the most religious and right wing in the nation’s history.
The group, which calls itself NYC for Democracy, has been holding its own local demonstrations in solidarity with the big protests taking place in Israel every Saturday night. It plans to target not only the parade but also a host of events taking place across the United States this coming week in which Israeli government representatives will be participating.
NYC for Democracy is part of UnXeptable, a grassroots organization of Israeli expats based in the United States that coordinates the overseas protests.
Among other activities, it held a rally on Thursday outside Bnai Yeshurun synagogue in Teaneck, N.J., where lawmaker Simcha Rothman — a key architect of the judicial overhaul — was scheduled to speak. A protest is also scheduled for Sunday outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan, where a conference will take place sponsored by Arutz Sheva, a right-wing news outlet affiliated with the settler movement. Many representatives of the government will be participating in the event.
Ten representatives of the government – the largest delegation ever – will be leading Sunday’s parade. Aside from Rothman, who serves as chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, the delegation includes Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat, and Jerusalem Affairs and Jewish Heritage Minister Meir Porush.
The NYC for Democracy group will be accompanied in New York by seven leaders of the protest movement in Israel, who plan to make their presence felt at the parade and key events surrounding it. They are scheduled to land in the United States on Friday.
The Israelis are part of a group called Democratic Israel for All – a coalition of army reservists that features veterans, air force pilots and high-tech industry leaders at the forefront of the protest movement.
Hinting at its intention to disrupt Sunday’s parade, the group issued a letter to the Jewish Community Relations Council over the weekend, urging it to rescind the invitations extended to representatives of Israel’s government.
“We will confront those who threaten our shared democratic values whether in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Be’er Sheva or on Fifth Avenue,” the letter warned.
The Israeli protest movement leaders also noted that “by inviting this group of extremists to join you side by side in the annual Israel march, you will, unfortunately, be actively supporting the coup d’état against Israeli democracy.”
UnXeptable has made a similar request of the Jewish Community Relations Council It noted in its letter to the parade coordinators that “while Israeli government representatives have traditionally been prominent guests at this event, this year’s delegation, the largest ever, parades some of the chief architects and most vocal supporters of the judicial overhaul – widely viewed across the Jewish world and among our closest allies as gravely threatening the very fabric of Israeli democracy.”
The Jerusalem Post will be holding a conference in New York next Monday.
Representatives of both the Israeli and New York City-based protest groups have purchased tickets to attend, indicating possible plans to disrupt the event, which will also be hosting representatives of the Israeli government.
A post on the NYC for Democracy WhatsApp group said the purpose of the upcoming protests was to make Jewish organizations and synagogues aware “that it is very unprofitable to invite those who destroy the economy, security and future of the country.”
They also had a special message for the government officials flying to New York. “Whoever dismantles Israeli democracy should not expect a relaxing vacation in New York,” the WhatsApp post said.
Asked for its response to demands that Israeli ministers be banned from the parade, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York said in response: “For decades the parade has included a delegation of Israeli government officials designated by the government, as well as members of the Knesset from the coalition and the opposition designated by the Knesset, which is expected to happen again this year.
“We appreciate that many people in Israel and around the world continue to passionately protest with deeply held views concerning the future directions of Israel.”
It added: “We welcome participants with different viewpoints and opinions to show their love for Israel and participate in the parade,” which is “a unique opportunity to walk together, literally and figuratively, up Fifth Avenue and celebrate Israel’s 75th anniversary.”
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