A multiday “Global Conference for Israel” in Chula Vista is prompting protests from some groups in the San Diego community.
The conference began Thursday and runs through Sunday at the Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center.
On Thursday, there was a significant security presence both around and inside the hotel and convention center. It's a completely sold out event.
“We have every hotel room and the entire facility, so we have a total of about 3,000 people that will be joining us,” said Sol Lizerbram, board chairman for Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF), which is hosting the event.
The conference is described on the organization’s website as “four incredible days of visionary speakers, inspirational gatherings with fellow Zionists, and the world's largest Israel Expo.”
“The purpose is for people of similar mindsets getting together looking for ways to promote peace,” Lizerbram said.
He said his organization is apolitical and builds hospitals, schools, reservoirs, fire and emergency centers, parks and other structures and spaces.
Lizerbram said people come to the conference from countries around the world. That includes mayors from Israeli communities and hundreds of locals.
“It’s all sessions about how to facilitate more people moving to the north and south of Israel,” Lizerbram said. “An important part is in the south of Israel — which is the Negev — is 60% of land of Israel and only 10% of population. So our goal is to move 500,000 people down to that area.”
The Associated Press has previously reported on a long-standing land dispute in the Negev desert between the Israeli government and the Arab Bedouin minority.
The conference has drawn protest from some San Diego organizations who align themselves with anti-Zionist or pro-Palestinian movements.
On Thursday there was a small crowd at the Interstate 5 overpass near the convention center opposing the conference. More protests are expected to come.
“A lot of us who are Jewish organizers are familiar with JNF, because you are exposed to them a lot growing up in synagogues and stuff,” said Nate Lacy.
He’s a coordinating committee member with Jewish Voice for Peace San Diego.
Lacy said his organization was one of many who had called for a cancellation of the conference.
“They do a lot of land acquisition. They use their charitable tax status here in the U.S. and other countries to acquire new land — plant trees on land they own over Palestinian villages and whatnot. And they really promote the goals of Zionism, and we’re opposed to that,” Lacy said.
He and his organization plan to be part of nearby protests at the conference Friday and Saturday.
“This is something we oppose categorically. And we are gonna have a shabbat service tomorrow (Friday) night outside of the hotel and then we're going to be having a rally on Saturday and a vigil for those who have been killed and affected by Israeli violence,” Lacy said.
Gaylord Pacific did not respond to multiple requests for comment from KPBS in time for publication.
JNF’s Lizerbram said this is the first time the conference has been held in San Diego County in the organization's 125 year history.
