Los Angeles, California – Violence erupted outside a synagogue in Los Angeles on Sunday, disrupting services and sparking fear among community members as fights broke out between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and supporters of Israel. More than 150 people converged on the Adas Torah synagogue on West Pico Boulevard, leading the Los Angeles Police Department to eventually deploy 60 officers to the scene. President Biden, Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Mayor Karen Bass all condemned the clash, with Mayor Bass calling the violence “abhorrent” and stating that “blocking access to a place of worship is unacceptable.”
The conflict unfolded over several hours, with a pro-Israeli demonstrator arrested for carrying a sharp pole and reports of two instances of battery being investigated by LAPD officials. The protest was allegedly in response to a real estate event advertised in a Jewish Journal issue on June 21, promising information on housing projects in English-speaking neighborhoods in Israel. The Council on American-Islamic Relations office in Los Angeles stated that the synagogue was targeted not because it was Jewish, but because of the event promoting the alleged illegal sale of Palestinian land in the West Bank.
As tensions escalated, Rabbi Yossi Eilfort, with his security group Magen Am, was present at the synagogue in response to the planned protest. LAPD Chief Dominic Choi revealed that authorities were aware of the protest in advance and adjusted their deployment strategy based on the size of similar gatherings. However, the large gathering on Sunday overwhelmed initial police presence, leading to chaos, violence, and anti-Jewish sentiments at the scene. Rabbi Hertzel Illulian and other witnesses described a disruptive atmosphere, with Rabbi Illulian expressing that protesters disrupted the afternoon prayer.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza, sparked by an attack in southern Israel, has fueled protests across the U.S., with pro-Palestinian demonstrators facing off against Israel supporters. The rising death toll and humanitarian crisis in Gaza have drawn concern from the U.S. government and international organizations. The escalation of protests targeting places of worship in densely populated Jewish communities like Pico-Robertson has raised alarm among community members and officials alike.
Public officials, including Mayor Bass, Assemblymember Isaac G. Bryan, and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, have strongly condemned the violence and expressed solidarity with the affected community. Steps are being taken to review security measures and the law enforcement response to such incidents, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety of individuals gathering in places of worship. The events outside the Adas Torah synagogue serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing tensions and deep-rooted issues surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict.