(Eliana Rudee/JNS) At New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport on Monday night, Birthright Fellow and student leader Ariel Tidhar reported that the American Jewish activist group IfNotNow waylaid their group, as well as four other Taglit Birthright groups trying to check into their flights to Israel.

IfNotNow attempts “to end American Jewish support for the occupation,” referring to lands administered by Israel after wars, including eastern Jerusalem.

Tidhar told JNS, “They set up a table with a sign and snacks, and then they were coming up to participants while we were standing in line. While they were talking to participants, they were video recording and transcribing the conversations, saying, ‘You should learn the truth about the country you’re about to visit’ and that ‘Birthright goes against Jewish morals.’

“Even though the airport is a public place, it’s a total ambush on their end, coming with this sign that says Birthright on it and trying to hand out snacks,” maintained Tidhar.

According to the student leader, some of the Taglit Birthright participants were “asking them what are they trying to achieve from this,” while another defended the organization’s right to “share their side.”

Neither the Birthright providers nor the Taglit Birthright umbrella organization chose to comment on the incident.