15 arrested in major police operation as Jewish protesters clash with anti-Israel activists Roads sealed off as as bitter confrontation erupt

Roads sealed off as as bitter confrontation erupts outside Israeli property fair

Fifteen people, including a 71-year-old Jewish man, have been arrested after rival protests erupted outside an Israeli real estate exhibition.

The protest centred on the Great Israeli Real Estate Event, held at Edgware United Synagogue after its original north London venue withdrew days before the exhibition. No reason was given for the cancellation.

In tense and dramatic scenes, police were forced to shut off a section of the A41 and and Edgware Way as Jewish protesters swarmed across the busy four-lane road to angrily confront a group of pro-Palestinian activists gathered on the other side.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police, the Territorial Support Group and the Community Security Trust managed to keep rival groups apart, although there were reports of physical violence.

Police estimated around 1,000 demonstrators and counter-protesters were involved. Jewish residents, joined by groups including Stop the Hate, prevented pro-Palestinian activists from reaching the synagogue itself, before gathering on the main road singing, dancing and waving Israeli and British flags.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators carried placards accusing Israel of selling “stolen Palestinian land” and promoting “ethnic cleansing,”

Video footage showed one pro-Palestinian protester being arrested after allegations of assault. Among those detained was 71-year-old local resident Adam Smith, who was handcuffed beside a police van and told Jewish News he was “OK” despite the cuffs being “uncomfortable”.

Despite the demonstrations, visitors continued to enter the fair throughout the day.

Event organisers, My Home in Israel, insisted all properties being marketed were located within Israel’s internationally recognised borders and rejected accusations of illegality.

My Home Israel dismissed allegations of West Bank land being sold at the event as “ridiculous” and “motivated by anti-Israeli and terrorist supporters”.

The issue had been debated in the House of Commons last week, with politicians including Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Callum Miller, the Liberal Democrats’ defence spokesman, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Green Party leader Zack Polanski denouncing the event.

Jewish News has seen WhatsApp messages from anti-Israel demonstrators calling for reinforcements to block the “Zionists”.

Listen to this video of the poor woman complaining about genocidists ‘splashing her with water’ And whining that she isn’t being allowed to go where she likes for once. The horror.

Jewish residents from Edgware and their supporters from groups including Stop the Hate, successfully stopping the pro-Palestinians from reaching the synagogue itself.

Al Jazeera reporters arrived on scene and were loudly booed by members of the Jewish community, whilst the presence of community emergency service Hatzola vehicles received cheers and applause.

An organiser of the real estate event told Jewish News: “We are here at the request of many members of the community. They feel it’s their basic right to buy property wherever they want around the world. There’s no reason why, if they feel they want to buy in Israel, they can’t do that. This has never happened in the last 25 years. Terrorists basically attacked us, for doing nothing wrong. I’m shocked that we need to change locations . . . ”

Police commander Adam Slonecki said: “We have liaised with the venue and the Community Security Trust and have deployed officers to prevent serious disruption and to deal with any offences, using the full range of powers available to us including imposing conditions under the Public Order Act. We are mindful that Jewish communities are experiencing heightened fear and concern following two-and-a-half years of sustained protest and, in recent months, a series of arsons and other attacks. There is a distinction between protesting in central London and protesting in the heart of communities where the potential to cause serious disruption and intimidation is greater and our policing plan reflects that.”

Board of Deputies acting president, Adrian Cohen said: “We are deeply disturbed at the wholly unjustified protest called for this morning outside a north-west London synagogue. Protesting at a synagogue based on false pretences seems to be little more than an excuse to harass and intimidate the Jewish community.”