NEW YORK — A pro-Israel protest took place in New York City yesterday after a Jewish man wearing an Israeli military shirt was assaulted. A counterprotest in opposition to Israel organized by a Palestinian solidarity group and an anti-Israel Jewish sect also occurred. 

On Dec. 26, Blake Zavadsky and Ilan Kaganovich were walking in the city borough of Brooklyn when they were physically and verbally assaulted by two men. Zavadsky told the New York Post that he was wearing an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sweatshirt at the time and that the assailants shouted anti-Jewish slurs at them. The New York City Police Department subsequently released an image of one of the alleged attackers. A police spokesperson told Al-Monitor today that they are still seeking the suspect. 

The incident prompted several Jewish groups and Republican city councilwoman Inna Vernikov to organize a march against anti-Semitism, which took place yesterday in Brooklyn. A flyer for the event stated that attendees should wear IDF sweatshirts like the victim had on. 

Joe Diamond, from Brooklyn, wore an IDF shirt to the march. He said that his issue is not with criticism of Israel, but with Jews being attacked and people questioning Israel’s right to exist.