The US Department of Justice has filed a civil lawsuit against several anti-Israeli protesters, utilizing a law that has historically been applied to protect women entering abortion clinics from pro-life demonstrators. The complaint, filed by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, alleges that the protesters disrupted a religious event at a synagogue in West Orange, New Jersey, in November 2024.

The event in question was a real estate fair promoting the sale of homes in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. According to the DOJ, the fair was “a religious event centered on the Jewish obligation to live in the Land of Israel.” Around 50 pro-Palestinian demonstrators staged a protest outside the synagogue, which the DOJ characterized as a “mob.” An altercation broke out, involving the event organizer and his associate, and the complaint claims that one protester blasted a vuvuzela horn inches from the organizer’s ear, potentially causing hearing damage.

The DOJ maintains that the protesters’ actions amounted to a physical attack, while the organizer’s actions in response were acts of self-defense. The complaint names several defendants, including one who allegedly choked and tackled the organizer’s associate to the ground. The incident is one of several recent clashes between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian groups in the US, particularly with regard to Jewish settlements in occupied territories, which are considered illegal under international law.

The use of the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE) in this case marks a significant development, as the law has primarily been applied to protect abortion clinics in the past. The DOJ claims that the law was previously “weaponized” against pro-life activists, while those disrupting religious practices were not targeted. The case may set a precedent for future enforcement of the FACE Act, with the Assistant Attorney General stating that this could be the first of several cases to come.

The escalation of tensions between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian groups in the US reflects the broader conflict in the Middle East, where Jewish settlements in occupied territories remain a major point of contention. As the situation continues to unfold, the DOJ’s actions in this case may have significant implications for the balance of power between these groups and the application of the FACE Act in similar cases going forward.