Pro-Palestinian and Pro-Israel Demonstrators Rally Outside Synagogue

May 6, 2026 - 03:24

For the second time in six months, dueling protests erupted outside Park East Synagogue on Manhattan's Upper East Side, where the congregation was hosting a real estate expo promoting property sales in Israel. The event, which drew both supporters and critics of Israeli settlement policy, turned the block into a tense standoff between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrators.

A heavy police presence, including officers on foot and in cruisers, kept the two groups separated by metal barriers. Chants of "Free Palestine" were met with shouts of "Am Yisrael Chai," as each side waved flags and held signs. The pro-Palestinian crowd accused the synagogue of profiting from what they called the occupation of Palestinian land, while the pro-Israel group argued that the event was a legitimate promotion of economic development.

Police reported no major incidents or arrests, though the atmosphere remained charged throughout the afternoon. Some attendees of the real estate event had to be escorted through a side entrance to avoid the crowds. The demonstration comes amid heightened tensions over the ongoing war in Gaza, which has sparked similar protests across the city in recent months. Park East Synagogue declined to comment on the rally, but a spokesperson for the event organizers said they would continue to hold such sales regardless of opposition.