Anti-Israel activists protested against a Jerusalem municipality real estate investment event led by Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion in Manhattan on Thursday, with activists rejecting Israeli control of the holy city and claiming it as Palestinian land.
The protest outside the Hilton Midtown against the “Jerusalem. Your Home. Your Future.” event saw protesters affiliated with the Palestinian Assembly for Liberation Al-Awda in New York City and New Jersey (PAL-Awda NY/NJ) waving a Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terrorist flag. According to videos and photos shared online by PAL-Awda, one activist wore a hat emblazoned with the martyr poster for a deceased Palestinian Islamic Jihad gunman.
Flag for the terrorist organisation Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine at the Thursday protest of Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion’s real estate event for the Israeli capital. pic.twitter.com/HH78bN6ZpD
— Michael Starr (@StarrJpost) May 29, 2026
‘Palestine is Arab’
“From the water to the water, Palestine is Arab,” protesters chanted. “Brick by brick, wall by wall, Zionism will fall.”
Protesters wrestled with police officers over security barriers that had been erected around the Jerusalem municipality, Israeli Building Center, and Jerusalem Development Authority event.
“The Zionist mayor, the genocidal war criminal of Jerusalem, is inside right now, he has orchestrated this entire illegal land sale.” activists said in a PAL-Awda video. “Settlers, settlers, go back home, Palestine is out alone!”
A PAL-Awda spokesperson said that the sale of real estate in Jerusalem was illegal, characterizing it as Palestinian land, and that Lion was seeking to recruit “settlers.”
The expo was expected to attract about 1,000 participants, with organizers emphasizing Jerusalem’s importance to the Jewish people and rising antisemitism. Developers presented projects at pre-sale prices and housing units currently under construction.
Bruce Blakeman, Deni Avdija attend real estate event
JTA reported that Republican candidate for governor of New York Bruce Blakeman attended the event, as did NBA star Deni Avdija, who was presented with an award as the ”Jerusalem Ambassador in the Diaspora.”
As a security measure, the event location was revealed only two days in advance, but PAL-Awda has been able to rally its supporters regardless.
On May 11, the anti-Israel organization held a demonstration against an exposition of the Great Israeli Real Estate event at Young Israel of Midwood. Another exposition by the same real estate fair was protested at Park East Synagogue on May 5.
Both protests saw masked protesters calling for the destruction of Israel, with Hezbollah and Hamas symbology present in demonstration materials.
