This evening in Manhattan, โThe Great Israeli Real Estate Eventโ will be advertising land available for sale in Gush Etzion, a cluster of illegal West Bank settlements, while also making tax, legal, and banking services available for those who want to become settlers, according to the eventโs publicly listed information. Despite the commercial and internationally illegal nature of the event -- the UN considers Gush Etzion to be an illegal settlement -- it is being hosted at a religious institution, Park East Synagogue on the Upper East Side.
Previous events have drawn protesters and counter-protesters, leading to charges of antisemitism leveled at the protesters for demonstrating near a synagogue. The protesters have countered that it is inappropriate to use a religious institution to shield such a contentious practice. In the wake of previous protests, the New York City Council, with a veto-proof majority, in March passed legislation restricting such demonstrations.