Unionists slammed for ‘heartless’ slamming of Israel over Hamas attack

A coalition of major labour organisations have been called “heartless and obscene” after they published an open letter accusing the Jewish state of “apartheid” and “ethnic cleansing”.

A coalition of major labour organisations have been called “heartless and obscene” after an open letter appeared accusing the Jewish state of “apartheid” and “ethnic cleansing” in the wake of Hamas’s terror attacks that saw women raped and babies beheaded.

Released Wednesday on the Sydney branch of the Maritime Union of Australia’s Facebook page, the letter said that they were “horrified” by the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the “unspeakable bloodshed” it has caused.

But the letter also said that “this tragedy is a direct result of Israel’s blockade and siege of Gaza, and of the apartheid and ethnic cleansing it maintains in the West Bank and within its own borders.”

“We also call for an end to the illegal occupation of Palestinian land and an end to apartheid and ethnic cleansing,” the letter continued, calling for governments and police to “facilitate” further demonstrations and protests in support of Palestine.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies head David Ossop said that “rather than spreading libels about Israel (signatories) should redirect their efforts to doing all they can to rescue the 200 innocent men, women, children and grandchildren who are currently being held hostage by the Hamas terror regime.”

Palestine supporters protest at Hyde Park on October 15.

A Pro-Palestine rally at Hyde Park on Sunday.

Meanwhile, other unions have moved to distance themselves from the letter.

The United Services Union sent a text to members saying the union was “not consulted” and that “members who choose to sign … do so independently of the union.”

The Rail, Tram, and Bus Union issued a statement saying that while they are “commited to the right of free speech in Australia,” the letter in question “does not represent the views of the RBTU.”

However, along with the Sydney branch of the MUA, the letter was signed by hundreds of

representatives and members of the National Tertiary Education Union, the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, the Australian Services Union, the Health Services Union, and the NSW Teachers’ Federation.

Included in the list of signatories were 14 separate individuals purporting to be from the “Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union”.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Jillian Segal (L) and co-CEO Alex Ryvchin at media conference in Sydney on October 9. Picture: AFP

Jewish leaders said the statement stood in contrast to a media release put out by the American AFL-CIO last week which said that “there can be no justification for the unspeakable atrocities and carnage carried out by Hamas.”

Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, “this propaganda distributed by old anti-Israel activists brings discredit to the union movement.”

“The words are heartless and obscene, blaming Israelis for beheaded, raped and burned alive.”

“It shows the hatred and inhumanity of the anti-Israel movement and their willingness to degrade any institution to advance their agenda.”

Israel unilaterally left the Gaza Strip in 2005, and the following year Palestinians elected a Hamas government which has ruled the territory ever since.

Nearly two weeks ago, Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel, brutalising and massacring at least 1400 civilians and kidnapping as many as two hundred more as hostages to be held in Gaza.

#SETTHEMFREE LAUNCH

Mr Ryvchin expanded on his comments as the NSW Jewish community launched the #SetThemFree campaign at Moore Park, on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Ryvchin and co-CEO Jillian Segal were joined by members of the community to call for the release of 199 people held hostage by Hamas since October 7th.

Mr Ryvchin acknowledged “the prime minister, the leader of the opposition, the premier, and political leaders throughout the country who stand with us in this time.”

“But I also want to condemn the silence of the so-called human rights community and the Australian Greens,” he said.

“They were silent as 1400 people were slaughtered in their homes, they are silent as 199 people remain in captivity”.

“Their silence is an affront to human rights and it places them on the wrong side of history and of humanity,” he said.

He said the Greens were “utterly shameful in the way they have conducted themselves … standing on the side of terror rather than the victims from it”.

Members of the crowd spoke of friends and family still in Israel, and urged Australians to support their community campaign.

“The horrors to which we fear the captives are being subjected minute by minute is really difficult to comprehend, and difficult really to keep a dry eye about,” Ms Segal said.

Campaigner Tamara Samuel said her brother decided to remain in Israel after witnessing the pro-Palestine protests held over the past week.

“After last Monday’s protest with people screaming ‘Gas the Jews’ he actually thinks he might be safer there. He is not planning to leave and he is planning to stand by and support the many family and friends we have there,” she said.

“I don’t think people understand the impact of what’s happening in Australia, and the lack of support by the Greens and the humanitarian community is really scary, combined with a lot of things going on in Sydney that make you feel unsafe.”

“But we are a very strong community,” Ms Samuel said, “and we are all here standing together”.