US: Proposal to restrict protests shields 'unlawful' sales of Palestinian land, rights groups say Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 01/14/2026 - 18:28 New York governor proposed banning protests within 25 feet of religious institutions, citing a pro-Palestine protest as the primary motivator Protestors amass outside the Park East Synagogue in New York City's Manhattan borough, on 19 November 2025 (Photo by Neil Constantine/NurPhoto) Off New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday, citing a pro-Palestine protest as the primary motivator, proposed a ban on protesting outside of religious institutions, prompting criticism that it violates First Amendment rights and the "unlawful sales" of Palestinian land, according to rights groups. Hochul made the announcement to introduce a protest-free 25-foot buffer zone outside of religious institutions during her State of the State address, explicitly referencing the Palestinian Assembly for Liberation-Awda’s (PAL-Awda) protest against Tivuch Shelly's real estate expo promoting the sale of Palestinian land on 8 January in the New York City borough of Queens. Hochul said that her proposal protects “those who simply want to pray”. Protestors were criticised by lawmakers such as New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, US representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and attorney general Letitia James for chanting "We support Hamas" during the Queens protest. PAL-Awda condemned Hochul's proposal to limit its ability to protest and assemble, calling it a “blatant violation” of its First Amendment rights and an attempt by the state to shield real estate companies. "This ban is instead protection for Zionist real estate companies and settler agencies that use religious institutions as shields, behind which they conduct discriminatory business and perpetuate violations of local and international law, enabling the genocide and displacement of Palestinians," the New York and New Jersey-based community organisation said in an emailed press release. It also rejected Hochul's claim that her proposed ban protects people’s right to pray. A PAL-Awda representative also said that it showed lawmakers would rather "deploy unconstitutional protest restrictions and police violence to silence people of conscience, than engage with the material relationship between this city and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians". New Jersey real estate fair marketing land in occupied West Bank draws charged protests Read More » In recent years, several Israeli real estate companies have held expos in the US that promote the sale of land in the occupied West Bank, which is illegal under international law. The events have regularly drawn pro-Palestinian protesters and pro-Israeli counterprotesters, often descending into scuffles and violence. The Center for Constitutional Rights and Palestine Legal also condemned Hochul's proposal. The civil rights organisations issued a joint statement on Tuesday saying the proposal posed “a serious threat to New Yorkers' First Amendment rights and sends a dangerous message that silences dissent". “Protesting [against] the discriminatory sale of occupied land is core political speech, and the sale of Palestinian land in violation of international law that facilitates the dispossession of Palestinians should not be insulated from scrutiny merely because it takes place in religious spaces,” the statement added. "Public advocacy for Palestinian rights and liberation does not lose constitutional protection simply because some find it uncomfortable or controversial." 'Moral failure' PAL-Awda’s Jewish members have repeatedly demanded an end to the weaponisation of their religious spaces for what they call the agendas of land theft and settler colonial expansion. Advocacy group Jewish Voice for Peace issued a statement last week criticising the use of synagogues for illegal land sales as a “moral failure”. "That events supporting the theft of Palestinian land, in full violation of international law, are occurring at all is unconscionable. That they are occurring in our sacred spaces is a moral failure of epic proportions.” In March 2024, the PAL Law Commission filed a formal complaint with the attorney general's office, detailing violations of numerous laws. Protests against the sales and recruitment of settlers have been ongoing for years, including at houses of worship, homes and religious schools, and have not been censured by New York officials. Far-right Jewish-American group Betar to wind down operations after investigation Read More » Since Israel’s war on Gaza, they have turned increasingly violent. Last February, hundreds of pro-Palestine people attended a demonstration organised by PAL-Awda in New York City's Brooklyn area to protest against a real estate event advertising land for sale in occupied Palestine. It was organised by the Israeli real estate company, the Getter Group. A counter-protest by the far-right Zionist organisation Betar USA was organised across the street. Pal-Awda said that several pro-Israel supporters approached, threatened and assaulted the pro-Palestinian demonstrators, resulting in two young men being hospitalised as a result of their attack. On Tuesday it was announced that Betar USA is winding up its operations after an investigation and settlement with the New York office of the attorney general, after it was found that it was inciting and encouraging violence and harassing protesters, among a number of other violations of New York's civil rights laws. A statement by Pal-Awda at the time of the protests said that pro-Palestinian attendees were “spat on, kicked, harassed, maced, physically struck and punched by Zionists. One counter-protestor held a lighter to a Qur’an, another made sexual gestures with the Qur’an, and others mocked the [Muslim] call for prayer”. US Politics News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0