Southwest
Israel Block Party at University of Texas disrupted by agitators
Students attending an annual Israel block party at the University of Texas at Austin were met with disruptive anti-Israel protesters on Wednesday afternoon.
The Israel Block Party has been a tradition organized by Texas Hillel at UT Austin for 25 years.
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According to its website, the event is the largest pro-Israel event on a college campus in North America and is meant to celebrate the culture, strength, resilience, and hope of Israel and the Israeli people.
Students attending an annual Israel block party at the University of Texas at Austin were met with disruptive anti-Israel protesters. (Fox News)
Around 50 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered just feet away, many wearing masks and holding signs denouncing Israel. They chanted, “Israel is a terrorist state. There’s nothing here to celebrate.”
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Jewish students told Fox News they felt afraid on their own campus.
Jewish students told Fox News they felt afraid on their own campus. (Fox News)
“I think I really shouldn’t have to, as a student, be scared to go to a party, a block party, on my campuses,” Rebecca Katz, University of Texas freshman. “I honestly I was a little nervous to come to the Israeli block party because of the protests, but I think UT, security and Hillel have done a really good job of making everyone feel safe.”
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Blake Shanberg, a junior at the University of Texas, said the students were just trying to celebrate their culture.
“You’ll see students on this campus are not trying to be hateful,” Shanberg said. “We’re just trying to enjoy and celebrate. And we’re trying to show that there is a way to have valid peace. “
The anti-Israel protesters were also calling to free Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University student from Syria, who led massive protests on the Ivy League campus last year. (Fox News)
The anti-Israel protesters were also calling to free Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University student from Syria, who led massive protests on the Ivy League campus last year. Khalil is now held at an ice detention facility in Louisiana and is in the middle of a legal battle with the Trump administration who is pushing to get him deported.
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Protests remained peaceful with campus police and staff on site monitoring both groups.
Last April, over 100 anti-Israel protesters were arrested on UT Austin campus and police had to use pepper spray to break up the massive crowds.
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Jurors deliberating the fate of the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history, failed to reach a verdict Thursday afternoon, telling the judge they were deadlocked.
A spokesperson from the United States Attorney’s Office told KTLA that jurors will continue to deliberate until they reach a verdict or give up.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, a former Uber driver and one-time Pacific Palisades resident, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. The fire continued to smolder underground for about a week, even after Los Angeles firefighters believed it had been extinguished.
Flames reignited on Jan. 7, erupting into the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the upscale community, authorities said.
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A courtroom sketch of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, during his initial court appearance on Oct. 23, 2025. (Bill Robles) -
The U.S. Dept. of Justice booking photo of Jonathan Rinderknecht over the Palisades Fire devastation in Malibu, California in January 2025 (AP).
Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht deliberately set the fire, claiming he had grown increasingly resentful of wealthy residents and viewed Pacific Palisades as a symbol of that frustration.
“Their case, though circumstantial, is strong,” KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl said. “The defense is relying on, can they (prosecutors) show beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rinderknecht actually started this fire and it wasn’t the result of fireworks or some intervening cause.”
The defense argued there is no direct physical evidence tying Rinderknecht to the fire and said the prosecution’s case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence. Rinderknecht did not testify during the trial.
Defense attorney Steve Haney spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday about why he believes it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove how the fire started.
“The lack of scene preservation. The fact that they got there after a lot of the evidence was missing. Not a lot of direct evidence. This is a circumstantial case, which is always difficult as a prosecutor to prove,” Haney said.
Rinderknecht, who was arrested and indicted last October, faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of three arson counts, including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.
Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report
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