Jewish groups to hold March for Israel on National Mall next week

National Jewish organizations are asking for the public to join them in Washington, D.C., next week for a pro-Israel protest on the National Mall.

The Jewish Federations of North America is joining forces with the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations to hold a protest that will allow people in the U.S. to support Israel in its war with Hamas.

The organization posted online that the march, set for Tuesday, Nov. 14, intends to show support for Israel, the 240 hostages taken by Hamas during its Oct. 7 surprise attack and to condemn antisemitism.

According to the Times of Israel, the groups hope the event will rival the “size and impact” of other major Jewish demonstrations in 2002 and 1987.  

“We’re proud of what our government has done,” CEO Eric Fingerhut told the Times. “But we want them to know how much support there is not only for what they’ve done, but also for the continued efforts that are going to be needed as this long conflict continues.”

Over the weekend, tens of thousands of pro-Palestine protestors marched across D.C. to protest the retaliatory strikes from Israel that have hit the Gaza Strip in the weeks since the initial attack.

Protestors flooded the nation’s capital as they called for an end to U.S. support for Israel. They also put pressure on government leaders to support a humanitarian cease-fire in the Middle East — singling out President Biden specifically, and accusing him of supporting genocide by not calling for a truce.

The pro-Israel rally was formally announced on Monday, and the organization said there were more details to come.

According to the post from the organization, gates at the National Mall will open at 10 a.m. and the march will be held from 1 to 3 p.m.