The 2024 Israel Summit originally set to be held at the Sonesta Hotel in Nashville will reportedly change venues amid threats by individuals encouraged by the local pro-Palestine group Palestine Hurra Collective Nashville.
On Friday, the hotel leadership contacted one of the event’s sponsors, HaYovel, notifying the group that they were dropping their contract to host the summit as “police were concerned that the hotel, their guests, local businesses, and attendees to the Israel Summit would be in physical danger due to the threatening nature of the calls and messages they received,” according to a report by Israel365, which is also sponsoring the event.
The event, still expected to be held from May 20-22 at a venue yet to be announced, is also sponsored by the groups The Israel Guys and Keep God’s Land.
“We will move forward with this event at a different venue and show these thugs that they will not be rewarded for their unconstitutional, hateful actions. Now, more than ever, it is important that America stands unconditionally with Israel and that we publicly show that we cannot be intimidated by pro-Hamas thugs,” the group HaYovel released in a statement.
Last week, the pro Palestine group Palestine Hurra Collective Nashville publicly called for its members to call the hotel’s general manager and demand they make the decision to back out of hosting the Israel Summit.
“Let Sonesta Hotel know- NOT IN NASHVILLE! We will not allow genocidal racists to hold a conference in our city…Call [the hotel] and let them know Nashville Stands with Palestine!!! Over 30,000 Palestinians have been murdered and many unaccounted for, yet they choose to come here and celebrate the death of civilians and recruit new Zionists! Call relentlessly until this event is shut down,” the group wrote in an Instagram post.
The group also posted the following script it directed its members to use when contacting the hotel:
Hello, my name is (Your Name) and I am calling as a concerned community member. I am asking that the Sonesta Nashville Airport cancel the booking for the upcoming Israel Summit, hosted by HaYovel. This event encourages unwavering support for Israel, even as Israel is accused of committing genocide against Palestinians by the International Court of Justice and is being investigated for committing war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
Israel has now murdered well over 30,000 people and tens of thousands more are missing, injured, or starving. As this genocidal campaign against Palestinians continues, events such as these, hosted by people and organizations that support the illegal settlements and reject the mere existence of the West Bank, simply cannot go on. This event will harm the Nashville community as it supports a message that the community does not.
We seek peace and justice during this time, while this organization supports the ongoing attack against Palestinians. Until this event is canceled or in the event it is not canceled, I will not be providing the Sonesta any business and I will be advising others to do the same, as the establishment will not be aligned with my ideals nor the community’s. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my concerns, and I hope that you cancel the Israel Summit.
The Israel Summit is a “gathering of pro-Israel advocates affirming Israel’s unconditional sovereignty over their entire land,” according to the event’s website. The three-day summit will include speeches from more than 15 guests, a gala dinner, vendors, conference sessions, film screenings, and a musical performance by artist Yair Levi.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Pro-Palestine Protest” by Palestine Hurra Collective Nashville.
….you took your date to stone Jews.
Does Nashville host an Iran Summit or Russia Summit?
And, really, isn’t Pride Week the same as an Israel Summit?