VIEWPOINT: BEN COHEN

Anti-Zionist Jews? Not in our name

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I recently journeyed to Columbus Circle in Manhattan to savor the atmosphere at two rival demonstrations over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

On one side, by the entrance to Central Park, and adjacent to the hot dog stands and “I Love NYC” souvenir outlets, I found about 60 or so pro-Israel demonstrators. The sky was gray and leaden, the humidity threatened a thunderstorm, and the news coming out of Israel was pretty bleak, but their mood veered in the joyous direction. They danced and sang, they recited prayers for the IDF’s fallen soldiers, and they held signs that were—dare I say it—almost kumbaya-like in their tone. There was no anger and no hate, but rather a series of appeals to behave rationally and with humanity. “For Real Peace, Gaza Needs Good Education, Not Bombs,” read one message. “Israel Left Gaza For Peace,” declared another, almost imploringly.

As I read these and similar signs, I imagined the response these demonstrators would encounter outside the 59th St. subway station, where pro-Palestinian demonstrators were now gathering. The word “naive” would be the least of it, I reflected. As if on cue, a car whizzed around Columbus Circle, with one of the passengers brandishing a Palestinian flag out of the window. Over the din of the traffic and the songs and chants of the pro-Israel demonstrators, I heard a voice from inside the car boom in our direction, “F**k YOU!”

As the afternoon wore into the evening, I crossed the street to see what was happening on the Palestinian side. The turnout was smaller than I’d expected—600 at most—but there was a tangible feeling of anger. Someone was yelling “Allahu Akhbar!” into a megaphone and plenty of banners with slogans like “End Aid to the RACIST State of Israel” and “Israel is an Apartheid State” were on display. For a few minutes, I spoke to a man holding a sign reading, “Zionism threatens us all.” He was polite and cordial but predictable, his remarks to me peppered with catchphrases like “wealthy Jews” and claims such as “9/11 was chiefly an attack on U.S. support for Israel.”

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