Anti-Zionist Jews Protest 78 Years of Israel on Independence Day

Thousands rally in Meah Shearim, Jerusalem, to mourn the Nakba and reject the Zionist state

On Israel’s Independence Day, April 22, 2026, a large anti-Zionist march took place in Meah Shearim, Jerusalem. Thousands from the community gathered to protest on a day that marks the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 — celebrated by Zionists as a national holiday, but observed as a day of mourning by anti Zionist Jews.

A Day of Mourning, Not Celebration

Protesters — some of whom described themselves as Palestinian Jews — said the day represents mourning rather than celebration. They expressed deep opposition to the creation of the state, and made clear their belief that it does not represent Judaism, and that its very existence contradicts their religious convictions.

Tensions Amid Regional Conflict

The protest took place against a backdrop of escalating the Zionist crimes, including Israel’s continued military operations following its conflict with Iran and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Demonstrators said the current climate made it all the more important that Jewish voices opposing Zionism be heard publicly.

“We mourn 78 years of the existence of the State of Israel”

Participants noted that, over the years, demonstrators have faced intimidation, arrests, and sustained pressure aimed at silencing their views. Despite this, large crowds turned out once again, delivering a clear and unified anti-Zionist message.

Flags, Symbols, and Nakba Commemoration

Demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and wore keffiyehs in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The march also marked 78 years since the Nakba — the mass displacement of Palestinians in 1948 — which participants described as a period of profound loss, uprooting, and ongoing hardship that continues to this day.

Messages Displayed During the March

Several banners were prominently displayed throughout the protest, including:

“We mourn 78 years of the existence of the State of Israel”
“Anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism”
“Israel is not the Jewish state; it is a Zionist state — Jews are not Zionists”

Aftermath: Flags and Community Defiance

Following the march, Israeli flags were burned and Palestinian flags were displayed prominently throughout the Meah Shearim neighborhood, raised visibly above the streets. Israeli authorities later moved to remove some of the flags — prompting community members to gather again in large numbers to defend and preserve the displays in an act of collective defiance