The theme of this year's Israel Day Concert held in Central Park was support for Jewish sovereignty over Gush Katif and northern Samaria. The concert, held annually following the massive Israel Day Parade, is traditionally a show of support for the Jewish towns of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza.
Susan Rosenbluth, editor of the New Jersey-based Jewish Voice and Opinion, spoke with the New York Police Department following the concert: "They said that the turnout for Sunday's concert in Central Park was between 35,000-40,000 people," she told Arutz-7.
However, much of the Israeli media, both electronic and written, downsized the numbers at the anti-disengagement concert. Israel's popular Hebrew internet news site Ynet, as well as the Hebrew portal Walla, both said that only "a few thousand" came to the concert. Concert organizers admitted that initially the numbers were small, but that tens of thousands showed up later, as the parade also ran late.
Some of the Israeli media, including reports by the government-owned Voice of Israel radio, interpreted the huge turnout for the parade as a show of support for the Israel government's disengagement plan. Walla, for example at "http://news.walla.co.il/?w=//727222", wrote: "Only a few thousand turned out last night for a protest rally against the disengagement plan in New York… The absolute majority preferred to express their support for the government of Israel on this day."
"Absolutely not," Rosenbluth responded emphatically. "The parade is pro-Israel, and absolutely not pro-withdrawal... Anybody who wants to spin the parade as a sign of support for Sharon's withdrawal plan – that is a purposeful misrepresentation. That is absolute hogwash."
American news sources noted that anti-evacuation orange shirts and balloons were numerous among the marches and spectators in the parade.
With the extremely hot weather going into the 90's, the turnout of 35-40,000 people at the concert went beyond the organizers' expectations.
Susan Rosenbluth, editor of the New Jersey-based Jewish Voice and Opinion, spoke with the New York Police Department following the concert: "They said that the turnout for Sunday's concert in Central Park was between 35,000-40,000 people," she told Arutz-7.
The Israel Day Concert
Central Park, New York
However, much of the Israeli media, both electronic and written, downsized the numbers at the anti-disengagement concert. Israel's popular Hebrew internet news site Ynet, as well as the Hebrew portal Walla, both said that only "a few thousand" came to the concert. Concert organizers admitted that initially the numbers were small, but that tens of thousands showed up later, as the parade also ran late.
Some of the Israeli media, including reports by the government-owned Voice of Israel radio, interpreted the huge turnout for the parade as a show of support for the Israel government's disengagement plan. Walla, for example at "http://news.walla.co.il/?w=//727222", wrote: "Only a few thousand turned out last night for a protest rally against the disengagement plan in New York… The absolute majority preferred to express their support for the government of Israel on this day."
"Absolutely not," Rosenbluth responded emphatically. "The parade is pro-Israel, and absolutely not pro-withdrawal... Anybody who wants to spin the parade as a sign of support for Sharon's withdrawal plan – that is a purposeful misrepresentation. That is absolute hogwash."
American news sources noted that anti-evacuation orange shirts and balloons were numerous among the marches and spectators in the parade.
Orange balloons were abound in protest of Disengagement Plan
With the extremely hot weather going into the 90's, the turnout of 35-40,000 people at the concert went beyond the organizers' expectations.