The entourage of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel arrivedat the Hurva Synagogue area in Jerusalem's Old City on Thursday to be met with "anti-Semite" calls by right-wing activists. Later on Thursday Emanuel is scheduled to celebrate his son's Bar Mitzva in the capital.
Large security forces surrounded Emanuel and his family, preventing extreme right-wing activist Itamar Ben-Gvir from approaching him. Ben-Gvir and other activists cried out slanderous slogans against Emanuel and US President Barack Obama. Police forces eventually grabbed Ben-Gvir and pressed him to the ground.
Right-wing activists arrived at the Western Wall square on Thursday morning and waited for Emanuel.
Police warned Ben-Gvir he would be arrested should he verbally attack Emanuel. "I have a right to protest against anyone who wants to give away the Western Wall and incites against Israel. I shall file suit against each and very officer," Ben-Gvir responded.
On Wednesday Emanuel met withPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said we received a warm welcome in Israel. The two joked during a joint press conference.
Emanuel's visit in Israel has sparked protest mainly due to rumors claiming he is behind Obama's hard-line policy towards Israel.