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On Tuesday evening, tensions flared on the streets of Manhattan as anti-Israel demonstrators found themselves at odds with police forces outside a synagogue. Meanwhile, nearby pro-Israel supporters proudly showcased Israeli and American flags.
In dramatic scenes captured on video, New York City police officers were seen pushing back the anti-Israel faction to establish a clear divide between them and their pro-Israel counterparts. The group, numbering approximately 100, brandished Palestinian flags and wore keffiyehs, loudly chanting, “Israel should not exist.”
The protest took place just a short distance from Park East Synagogue. The demonstrators made their presence known with chants like, “Palestine will never die,” and “Stop the sale of stolen land,” echoing through the streets.
This demonstration was orchestrated by Pal-Awda NY/NJ, a group known for its anti-Israel stance. The same organization had previously coordinated a similar protest outside the synagogue back in November, as reported by the New York Post.
Captured in a striking photograph, anti-Israel protesters clashed with the NYPD on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Manhattan. (Photo credit: Sam H, FreedomNewsTV)
It was in response to that protest that the New York City Council passed legislation allowing the NYPD to place barriers around synagogues to protect congregants from protesters. Police at Tuesday night’s clash were seen enforcing that barrier.
The council passed the legislation with a veto-proof 44-5 majority, but NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani refused to sign the legislation, instead dragging it out until an April 25 deadline when it automatically became law, the Post reported.
The Anti-Defamation League released an annual report on Wednesday morning that found 2025 “marked one of the most violent periods for American Jews.”
Pro-Palestinians gather at a ‘Stop the Sale of Stolen Palestinian Land’ protest against ‘Great Israel Real Estate’ event for Palestinian land sale at the Park East Synagogue in Manhattan on Tuesday, May 05, 2026, in New York City.
Assaults against Jews rose to 203 from 196 compared to the year before, and assaults with deadly weapons rose from 23 to 32.
The group did find that non-violent antisemitic incidents, including incidents of harassment and vandalism, were down 39% and 21% since 2024 respectively.
“Our 2025 Audit, which shows it was one of the most violent years for American Jews on record is a reminder of how dramatically the threat landscape has shifted. Numbers that would have shocked us five years ago are now our floor,” said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt.
Police are seen holding back anti-Israel agitators outside an NYC synagogue. (Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images))
The ADL audit includes both criminal and non-criminal acts of harassment, vandalism and assault against individuals and groups as reported to ADL by victims, law enforcement, the media and partner organizations, and evaluated by ADL’s experts, the group says.