Jewish man in California dies after altercation at Palestine-Israel protests

Separate pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations occurred simultaneously in the city of Thousand Oaks at the weekend

A protester carries an Israeli flag during a pro-Israel rally at the University of California, Berkeley campus last month. San Francisco Chronicle / AP

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A Jewish man who fell to the ground during an altercation amid pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian street protests in California died on Monday, and his death was determined to be a homicide, law enforcement and a Jewish organisation said.

Paul Kessler, 69, died of blunt force head trauma a day after the altercation on Sunday, Reuters reported the Ventura County Sheriff's Office as saying. Witnesses had reportedly described the incident as battery.

As of Monday night, no suspect was in custody in what the sheriff's office said “appears to be isolated and not part of a large effort”, though it had not ruled out a hate crime.

The incident took place as emotions have run high in the US over the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, with American officials and civil rights groups warning of increased threats against Jews, Muslims and Arab Americans since fighting broke out on October 7.

Last month, an Illinois man was charged with hate crimes after he stabbed a six-year-old Muslim boy to death and wounded his mother in an attack that officials said was carried out due to their religion and in response to the war.

"I'm horrified and heartbroken by the death of Paul Kessler, a 69-year-old Jewish man killed while supporting Israel during protests in California," said Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"As this investigation unfolds, we must continue to condemn antisemitism, violence and hate."

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles identified the victim as a Jewish man and labelled the incident as the fourth act of anti-Semitic violence in the Los Angeles area this year and the second since October 7.

Separate pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations occurred simultaneously on Sunday in the city of Thousand Oaks, about 65km west of Los Angeles, the sheriff's office said.

Mr Kessler was involved in a physical altercation between counter-protesters, the sheriff's office said, citing witness accounts. It did not specify which side instigated the altercation.

“During the altercation, Kessler fell backwards and struck his head on the ground. Kessler was transported to an area hospital for advanced medical treatment. On November 6, 2023, Kessler succumbed to his injuries,” the statement said.

Deputies asked the public for help in what it called “an active and ongoing investigation”. The sheriff's office said it would hold a news conference on Tuesday about the incident.

The leader of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, citing conversations with local government officials, said a pro-Palestinian protester had struck the victim on the head with a megaphone.

Rabbi Noah Farkas, president and chief executive of the group, said investigators have identified the person but that they have not made an arrest because the investigation was ongoing.

“This is what's happening in American right now. There is a culture of fear and a culture of really terror against the Jewish community happening,” Rabbi Farkas said.

Mr Kessler, who was carrying an Israeli flag at the demonstration, came from a family of philanthropists who were devastated by his death, Rabbi Farkas said.

During a call with American rabbis in September, US President Joe Biden said that anti-Semitism was a big challenge for the country.

“Anti-Semitism has risen to record levels," Mr Biden said in a call with US rabbis to commemorate the Jewish High Holidays.

“In the past several years, it has been given too much oxygen."

And last year, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, in a meeting with Jewish leaders, also warned of a rise in anti-Semitism.

“Right now, there is an epidemic of hate facing our country,” Mr Emhoff said at the meeting.

“Let me be clear: words matter. People are no longer saying the quiet parts out loud — they are screaming them.”