A massive pro-Israel rally is scheduled to happen in front of the U.S. Capitol and around the National Mall in the District on Tuesday.
The “March for Israel,” organized by the Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, expects to draw 40,000-60,000 participants and begins from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.
The event’s purpose is to show solidarity and support for Israel and its people.
Jewish Federations president and CEO Eric Fingerhut said the rally will focus on the over 200 hostages still being held by the terror group Hamas since the brutal Oct. 7 attack on the Jewish state.
“[The] November 14th event will bring together communities from across the country to show strong solidarity with the Israeli people, while demanding the immediate release of the remaining hostages and to condemn the rise of antisemitism,” The Jewish Federations of North America wrote in a statement.
“Hamas’s brutal and ongoing acts of terror have no place in a civilized world and directly undermine global efforts to seek just and lasting peace in the Middle East,” William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations told The Jerusalem Post.
Americans from all over the country are expected to arrive on fleets of coach buses to participate in what is anticipated to be the largest pro-Israel gatherings in decades.
Jewish schools have reportedly canceled classes, and communities have chartered planes to attend the event.
The theme of the gathering is “Americans March for Israel, March to Free Hostages, March Against Antisemitism.”
The March for Israel comes days after over 180,000 people across France, including 100,000 in Paris, marched peacefully on Sunday to protest against rising antisemitism.
France Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, representatives of several parties on the left, conservatives and centrists of President Emmanuel Macron’s party as well as conservative leader Marine Le Pen attended Sunday’s march in the French capital amid tight security.
Mr. Macron did not attend, but expressed his support for the protest and called on citizens to rise against “the unbearable resurgence of unbridled antisemitism.”
The marches against antisemitism in both countries happen against a backdrop of recent pro-Palestinian marches and antisemitic incidents in major metropolitan cities across the globe since the attack in Israel by Hamas and Israel’s declaration of war against the terror group in Gaza.
Road closures for the march in the District began Monday with gates set to open at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.
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