March for Israel in Washington

On November 14^th, almost 300,000 people took part in a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington in support of Israel, to free hostages taken by Hamas, and against growing anti-Semitism.

 According to the Conference of American Jewish Organizations, it was the largest demonstration in support of Israel in U.S. history.

Speakers at the rally included Natan Sharansky, leaders of the U.S. Congress, Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senator Joni Ernst.

Perhaps the most poignant performance was from Rachel Goldberg.

Her son, Hersh Goldberg-Paulin, was wounded on October 7th and then taken hostage by Hamas terrorists.

Rachel Goldberg: “The families of the abductees have lived through the last 39 days in slow motion torment… We all have third-degree burns on our souls… But the real souls suffering are those of the hostages. They want to ask everyone in the world: all the screamers, the indifferent, the experts, the academics, the knowledgeable, the passives, the perfectly outraged, the righteous, the indignant, the haters, the leaders, the lovers, the every single one of us: Why? Why? Why is the world accepting that 240 human beings from almost 30 countries have been stolen and buried alive? These children of God range in age from 9 months to 87 years. They are Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and Hindu. Why are they been left underground in a dirt?” “And Joshua Molel, who is Tanzanian African graduate student studying agrobusiness, would like to ask you why somehow his life actually does not matter?” Recalling the Christian German who saved Jews during the Holocaust, Rachel addressed the crowd: “Where were you when your brother blood cried on the ground? The world needs to start thinking about what will your excuse be, if you do nothing to save these people? Bring them home immediately.”

Thousands of people were unable to take part in the demonstration because anti-Semitic drivers refused to drive chartered buses, and airline and airport employees delayed charter flights for 7-11 hours at the runway.

Shortly before the close of business at 5:00 pm, in order to prevent scrutiny of this decision by congressional committees, the U.S. State Department issued an authorization for the transfer of $10 billion to Iran.

More images from the event can be viewed below: