NYC halal restaurants anti-Israel war criminal sidewalk display sparks fury as owner remains defiant
A Queens halal restaurant is facing heat for plastering photos of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Biden on the sidewalk outside the establishment — criticism that didn’t seem to faze the eatery’s owner.Pro-Zionist organization Betar USA wants the mayor’s office to remove the images that customers need to step on in order to enter The King of Falafel and Shawarma located in Astoria, slamming it as “anti-Semitic and anti-American materials” on public property.Israeli and American leaders are even labeled war criminals as part of the inflammatory display that is considerably worn after being there for months.The images on the sidewalk — and on the restaurant’s interior floor — also feature Israel’s Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, former President Donald Trump, ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Gov.
Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams and other leaders that the owner believes has been overly supportive of Israel.Betar spokesperson Meredith Weiss said the organization wants to see the posters on the public sidewalk scrapped by the city right away.“If the falafel restaurant owner in question genuinely cared for the welfare of the people of Gaza, their focus would be on condemning the oppressive leadership of Hamas,” Weiss said in a statement to The Post.“This was nothing more than a cheap publicity stunt to display hatred — of Jews and America.These actors of hate are fundamentally un-American and have no place in New York.”“Enough with empty words.
It is time for responsible leaders to rise above divisive rhetoric and take a stand, rather than perpetuating an agenda rooted in hatred,” she added.Betar’s letter sent to City Hall on Friday argued the city “has become increasingly unrecognizable as authorities appear to turn a blind eye to violence and hatred, allowing an atmosphere of hostility towards the Jewish community to persist.” Sign up for our Metro Daily newsletter! ...