Name: Thousands Rally in Support of Israel in Washington
Uploaded: 2023-11-15T04:33:25.000Z
Description: WASHINGTON—Tens of thousands of pro-Israel advocates descended on the National Mall on Nov. 14 for what was one of the most important rallies in Jewish American history.

Jack Bradley is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Jack previously anchored "NTD Newsroom" and worked as an assistant producer for the show. 

Jack Bradley

NTD Plus

News

News with integrity, from the U.S. and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

China’s Broken Promises Loom Over New Trade Deals

David Lam is a national correspondent based in California and a part-time anchor for "NTD Tonight." Before joining NTD he was a financial analyst.

David Lam

Californians React as Trump Calls for Gas Tax Suspension

Arleen Richards is NTD's legal correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers all major legal stories. Arleen holds a Doctor of Law (J.D.).


Arleen Richards

Federal Agencies Announce ‘Summer Surge’ of Law Enforcement into DC Ahead of 250th Anniversary

Christina Corona is a California-based reporter for NTD News. She primarily covers California news, politics, and entertainment.  

Christina Corona

Trump Administration Reports Zero Border Releases

Arian Pasdar is an international correspondent for NTD News based in South America. His reporting focuses on immigration and key events in Latin America.

Arian Pasdar

US to Host 1st Ever World Cup Final Halftime Show, Featuring Shakira, Madonna

Savannah Pointer is a politics reporter for The Epoch Times. She can be reached at savannah.pointer@epochtimes.us

Savannah Hulsey Pointer

Jason Perry is an Army veteran and NTD's National Security Correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Jason primarily covers border security, national defense, foreign wars, and veterans' issues.

Jason Perry

Health News

Texas Children's Hospital to Open First-Ever Detransition Clinic Under Deal With DOJ

Sam Wang is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Sam covers politics on Capitol Hill, and U.S.-China relations. 

Sam Wang

Citizens Honor Police for Their Service and Sacrifice

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

Trump ‘Projecting American Influence and Leadership’ on Iran Issue in Beijing: China Expert

Chris Bob is a reporter for NTD and a host of "Profiles of Service." He is also a small business owner. Chris graduated from Union College with a concentration in politics and religion in Russia and the former Soviet Union.

Chris Bob

Senate Panel Advances Crypto Regulation Bill

Jason Blair is a national correspondent for NTD News based in California. 

Jason Blair

Lawmakers Weigh ‘Sanctuary’ Polices After Woman’s Death in Virginia

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 15)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 14)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 13)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 12)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 11)

Don Ma is an anchor and senior business correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Don is the anchor and producer of NTD's "Business Matters," which airs weekdays at 4:30 pm ET.

Don Ma

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 10)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 9)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 8)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 7)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 6)

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

China Sends Warships to Pacific Drill as Tensions With Japan Rise

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

2 US Embassy Personnel Assigned to Cartel Case Killed in Car Accident

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

US News

Gunman Kills 8 Children, Including 7 of His Own, in Louisiana Mass Shooting

Flora Hua is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers China news, U.S.-China relations, and human rights issues. Flora primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus."  

Flora Hua

Trump: Seized Iranian Ship May Have ‘A Gift From China’

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Wildfires Across Georgia and Florida Have Destroyed Nearly 50 Homes and Are Forcing Evacuations

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

US Warns of China Hacks via Routers, Smart Devices

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

2 Americans Among Suspected Communist Rebels Killed in Clashes With Troops, Philippine Officials Say

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

World News

Middle East

Iran

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

3 Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean: WHO

WASHINGTON—Tens of thousands of pro-Israel advocates descended on the National Mall on Nov. 14 for what was one of the most important rallies in Jewish American history.

They heeded the rallying cry of "Never Again" amid the latest round of Hamas attacks on Israel that began on Oct. 7, resulting in the greatest single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, when 6 million Jews were killed.

The gathering also comes during a spike in anti-Semitism worldwide, including in the United States.

Israel has responded with air and ground attacks in Gaza, which Hamas controls. Hamas has taken hundreds of hostages, including at least 30 Americans.

"History shows that when the world ignored anti-Semitism in the last century, it led to the worst catastrophe in human history—six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in his speech to the crowd.

"Let us not forget history. History shows that Israel was almost destroyed in 1967 and in 1973. We cannot, we cannot, we must not let that happen again."

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), expressing solidarity with Israel and decried the rise in anti-Semitism in the United States including on college campuses. He remarked that the rallying cry of "from the river to the sea Palestine will be free" is a call "for the extermination of Israel."

He called the current climate of virulent anti-Semitism "unacceptable."

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who also expressed support for Israel, noted the history of Jews being expelled from countries including Spain and Portugal—both of which happened in 1492.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), representing Senate GOP leadership, said that "the United States must remain resolute" in its support for Israel and its "most basic human right: the right to life."

The Epoch Times interviewed attendees ahead of the event who expressed similar sentiments such as why they decided to go to Washington.

Anti-Defamation League National Director and CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said he attended the rally because he wanted to hear the call for the hostages to be freed and for "Hamas to surrender their weapons."

"And in the end, the only way we're going to have a long-term peaceful outcome that's good for Israelis and Palestinians, that's good for Jews and Muslims and all people is living together and working together in peace."

Benjamin Abeogel, of Maryland, said he has family in Israel and, while none of them are among the some 230 hostages Hamas has captured, they had to evacuate their homes and go to shelters.

"We need to free the hostages. We need to end the war," he said. "And we need to keep the Jewish state independent and living and thriving where they are. We need to have a spot in the world where Jewish people can represent themselves."

Progressives, including some in Congress, have called for a ceasefire to end the fighting and result in the release of the hostages. President Joe Biden has rejected such calls, although his push for humanitarian pauses in the fighting has been accepted by Israel.

Thousands of supporters of Israel rally in the National Mall in Washington on Nov. 14, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

Additional speakers at the rally included U.S. Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism Deborah Lipstadt, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and his brother, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog. President Herzog appeared live virtually, speaking in front of the holy Western Wall in Jerusalem.

The march was organized by the Jewish Federations of North America, which supports the Jewish and pro-Israel communities in the United States, and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, an umbrella organization of Jewish and pro-Israel groups including the Anti-Defamation League.

In addition to the aforementioned dignitaries, family members of some of the hostages were at the rally.

On Nov. 13, Jonathan Polin and Rachel Goldberg, the parents of one of the U.S. citizens taken hostage by Hamas, shared their story of trying to get their son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, back.

Mr. Goldberg-Polin attended the Nova Music Festival near the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked it. His arm was blown off. Whether he got treatment for the arm, which would increase the chances that he is still alive, or not—which would have led to his bleeding to death—is unknown.

Ms. Goldberg's message to those in attendance at an event at Adas Israel Congregation in Washington: "Be that mosquito"—in other words, don't stop raising their son's case to the U.S. government.

The parents said they met with U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan before the event at the synagogue.

Lizzie Drucker-Basch, who is from Richmond, Virginia, and is a friend of the Polins, told The Epoch Times she came to the rally "because our hearts are broken."

Buses and planes carried tens of thousands of pro-Israel activists from across the United States.

Security measures were put in place, including <a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/road-closures-planned-for-the-march-for-israel-in-dc/3469108/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">road closures</a>.
<h2>Spike in Hate Crimes</h2>
The march comes as anti-Semitic hate crimes have increased by 214 percent in New York. There was a 388 percent spike in anti-Semitic incidents in the United States between Oct. 7 and Oct. 23, according to the ADL.

That includes a 69-year-old Jewish man in Los Angeles, Paul Kessler, who was allegedly killed by a pro-Palestinian demonstrator with a megaphone in Los Angeles. A suspect was arrested but released.

Jonathan Oswaks, who said he was a friend of Mr. Kessler, told The Epoch Times that he attended the Washington rally, among numerous reasons, to call for justice for him. He met with Sens. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) prior to the rally about the tragedy.

"I want to see this man arrested. I want to be able to walk in my community," he said. "I want to be able to enjoy the facilities of the community. And with murderers at large, it puts everybody at risk."

Anti-Semitism has been on the rise in Europe for the past decade and has shown no signs of abating. When asked by The Epoch Times if the United States is like Europe in terms of anti-Semitism permeating society, Mr. Greenblatt said that "the numbers tell a different story than that. But I think we have great reason for concern."

On Nov. 1, Natan Sharansky, an icon in the Jewish and pro-Israel communities who was imprisoned for eight years in the Soviet Gulag for his dissident activism, called for a gathering to sound the alarm about the situation in Israel and the rise in anti-Semitism.

"If there is to be a future for America in America, it is time to step up in defense of its core values, and in this American Jews can play an important role," Mr. Sharansky wrote in <a href="https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/never-again-is-now">Tablet magazine</a>.

"Let us start with a March of One Million: students, parents, Jewish organizations, and allies coming together in support of academic freedom and against a primitive ideology that silences truth and justifies murderous rampages as a form of liberation."

There is a precedent for large rallies in Washington by the Jewish and pro-Israel communities.

In 2002, a rally was held amid the Second Intifada, when Palestinian terrorists targeted Israelis between 2000 and 2005.

In 1987, there was a protest in solidarity with the Soviet Union's Jews, who were prevented from leaving the communist empire.

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/thousands-to-rally-in-support-of-israel-in-washington-5529301">The Epoch Times</a></em>

Latest

Washington

Videos

Politics

04_Top Stories

Latest Clips

antisemitism

Management

02_Second Lead

Jackson Richman is a Washington correspondent for The Epoch Times. In addition to Washington politics, he covers the intersection of politics and sports/sports and culture. He previously was a writer at Mediaite and Washington correspondent at Jewish News Syndicate. His writing has also appeared in The Washington Examiner. He is an alum of George Washington University.

Jackson Richman

Israel–Hamas War

Israel-Hamas war

Hamas-Israel war

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.