Foreign Minister Penny Wong to address SA vigil in support of Israelis

Foreign Minister Penny Wong will be among political leaders to address a vigil in support of the Israeli community in Adelaide on Sunday.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong will be among political leaders to address a vigil in support of the Israeli community in Adelaide on Sunday.

About 300 people are expected to attend the event at a private location, just an hour after a pro-Palestinian rally is planned to begin on the steps of Parliament House at 2pm.

State Liberal leader David Speirs, Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham and state Labor minister Clare Scriven will address the event organised by the Jewish Community Council of South Australia (JCCSA), alongside Ms Wong.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong will address a vigil in support of the Israeli community in Adelaide on Sunday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Jewish community leader Norman Schueler estimated there were up to 1500 Israelis living in South Australia, who were deeply affected by attacks on their homeland by Hamas.

He said the vigil was being held “primarily for Israelis to be reassured that they are amongst friends, that they are safe”.

“Whilst we (South Australians) can’t live it we realise what they’re going through,” he said.

Mr Birmingham told the Sunday Mail he would attend the vigil to “stand with SA’s Jewish community following the appalling Hamas attacks on Israel”.

“I recognise these are terribly challenging times for all communities seeing a loss of innocent lives,” he said.

“We acknowledge Israel’s right to self defence and the need to remove the threat posed by Hamas, while urging the release of hostages by Hamas, the protection of innocent civilians and the flow of humanitarian assistance.”

The rally in support of Palestine follows a similar event held last Sunday which attracted an estimated 3000 people.

A 'Solidarity with Palestine' rally was held in Adelaide at Parliament house. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Demonstrations have been peaceful in Adelaide but incidents at large protests interstate have prompted community leaders to reiterate calls for calm.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said current events in the Middle East were “deeply unsettling for many South Australians”.

“As a state, we condemn all forms of violence and hate speech, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia,” he said.

“Hateful prejudice has no place in South Australia.”

Mr Speirs said: “We must not allow the horrific acts of terrorism by the militant group Hamas to disrupt peace in our state because anti-Semitism and other types of despicable behaviour have no place in modern Australia”.

Islamic Society of SA president Ahmed Zreika urged people attending the rally to be respectful.

“We don’t need any hate speech, or anti-Semitism as chants, or any violence,” he said.

“We don’t agree at all with what happened interstate.”

Mr Zreika urged South Australians to “stand up for the just and the right and the fair”.

“We urge the Australian government to call on the government of Israel for the ceasefire as soon as possible. We want our government to send a strong stance to the Israeli government to stop the war.”

SA Police have said “sufficient police resources will be provided to ensure a peaceful rally is held, to minimise traffic disruptions and that the safety of all members of the community is maintained”. Police were also aware of the JCCSA event.