Foreign actors backed protests such as the Wednesday Los Angeles synagogue demonstration, claimed the Israeli Los Angeles consulate, also warning that unless authorities checked belligerent behavior, it could lead to another Washington embassy staff terrorist attack.
Some of the protesters at the Innovating Safety, Empowering Communities public safety event at Wilshire Boulevard Temple’s Audrey Irmas Pavilion had no connection to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said Deputy Consul General of Israel to the Pacific Southwest Yulia Rachinsky-Spivakov, and were likely an example of foreign backing of anti-Israel demonstrations.
Foreign actors – including Iran and Qatar – were giving money to activist groups, said Rachinsky-Spivakov, which ostensibly explained the frequency of the incidents.
“There are stronger forces standing behind them,” she said.
The diplomat pointed to the near-weekly protests outside the consulate by Code Pink, which had documented links to an alleged CCP-backed network, as further evidence of the theory.
Rachinsky-Spivakov also warned that local authorities did not appreciate the extent of the threat, even though security personnel were wounded at the Wednesday protest, during which there was also property damage and physical altercations.
New York Park East Synagogue protest, other violent incidents
The demonstration was the second aggressive demonstration at a US synagogue following the November 19 New York City Park East Synagogue protest, the diplomat reminded. Those at the event were legitimately terrified of the internal outbursts and outside siege.
Rachinsky-Spivakov said local officials had to pay more attention to such events to avoid another incident like the May terrorist attack outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, in which two embassy staff were murdered.
“We already have had tragic experience with what can happen,” she said.
Rachinsky-Spivakov said participants to the symposium organized by the consulate in cooperation with the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles, Faith and Community Development Los Angeles (FACE), and the Jewish Federation’s Community Security Initiative were threatened and insulted with slurs.
“Zionist pigs,” protesters allegedly said. “Baby killers.”
Protesters burned objects outside the conference building and blockaded two entrances. Objects were either burned or smoke bombs were used to create smoke outside the hall.
Inside, several protesters attempted to disrupt the event, getting into a scuffle with security personnel that smashed vases and sent glass flying. One of the protesters had allegedly attempted to charge at a diplomat. Protesters allegedly pounced on the windows of vehicles leaving the event.
The event on public safety was intended to discuss how to protect vulnerable groups and bring together local Jewish and Asian communities, said Rachinsky-Spivakov, but it was instead met with violence and threats.
Consul General of Israel to the Pacific Southwest Israel Bachar said in a statement that protesters operated as part of a coordinated, concerted effort to exploit and undermine American values to attack the Jewish and pro-Israel community.
“They are cynically using American democracy to attack it,” Bachar said in another statement. “We need to fight against their fear tactics.”
Several people were arrested for property destruction and battery at the protests, according to organizers.
Koreatown for Palestine and Nodutdol for Korean Community Development had held the protests primarily over a lecture from a representative of Israeli defense firm Elbit Systems and the involvement of the consulate.