Anti-War Activists to Protest in Century City Thursday

Anti-war activists will stage a protest Thursday outside a Century City fundraiser for Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.

Demonstrators plan to gather at 4 p.m. in front of Hyatt Regency Century Plaza and hold a news conference that will include Miko Peled, son of Israeli Gen. Matti Peled and author of "The General's Son, Journey of an Israeli in Palestine."

Shakeel Syed, steering committee member of the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, and Huda Bayaa, of the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, will also speak during the protest, according to the event's Facebook page. 

The FIDF is a not-for-profit corporation headquartered in New York that initiates and helps support educations, social, cultural and recreational programs and facilities the young men and women soldiers of Israel, according to its website. It also supports the families of fallen soldiers.

Stevie Wonder recently canceled a scheduled appearance at Thursday's gala, citing "the current and very delicate situation in the Middle East."

According to the event's Facebook page, the FIDF director and CEO expressed "regret" over Wonder's decision.

FIDF director and CEO Israeli Army Major General Yitzhak Gershon expressed "regret" over Wonder’s cancellation and claimed that FIDF is a "non-political" and "humanitarian" organization.

—City News Service and Patch editor Rebecca Whitnall contributed to this report.

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