Several held as 2 pro-Israel demonstrators pepper-spray participants at pro-Palestine rally in New York

By Dilara Hamit

Two pro-Israel demonstrators pepper-sprayed participants at a pro-Palestine rally in New York, prompting the arrest of several students on Thursday.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) responded when two participants in a pro-Israel rally, which was held to counter a pro-Palestinian rally in support of the Faculty Solidarity Encampment at The New School's University Center, pepper-sprayed some people.

Protesters then sat in front of a police car transporting the arrested student, resulting in the arrest of more than eight people, according to a statement posted on The New School Free Press website.

Shortly after three people were arrested in front of the police car, the statement said another protester threw water at a police officer, resulting in two more arrests.

The police apprehended the pro-Israel counter-protesters for using pepper spray on people and harassing them while recording them with a tripod.

"The counter-protesters harassed the crowd for about 30 minutes until an NYPD officer escorted them across the street. However, the counter-protesters returned shortly after and continued to film the protesters. A protester then grabbed the tripod and broke it, leading the counter-protesters to pepper spray two protesters," the statement said.

It added that the police moved the protester to the van, but protesters surrounded them and yelled, “Let him go.” Protesters then positioned themselves in front of the van and refused to move.

The crowd dispersed after the protesters were arrested, it said.

"The rally in front of the University Center has concluded, and protesters began moving to One Police Plaza around 9:15 p.m. for jail support," the statement said.