Former Nomad co-director Al Yazbek to depart for Indian ashram after Nazi symbol incident

Forced out of his own company after displaying a swastika at a pro-Palestine protest Al Yazbek has turned nomad as his wife confirms he’s out, and celeb accountant Anthony Bell enters the fray.

A former Sydney restaurant boss who displayed a Nazi symbol at a pro-Palestine protest is off to an “ashram in India”, with an extraordinary statement from his own wife confirming he is out of the embattled high-end hospitality group.

Former Nomad co-director Al Yazbek was forced from his own company after he held up a sign with a swastika and the words “stop Nazi Israel” at a Sydney rally in October.

A new statement reveals Yazbek is now off on a spiritual quest before he returns to court next month to be sentenced for knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol without excuse – and a celebrity accountant is in to advise the business going forward.

“Al Yazbek is booked to depart for an ashram in India, returning for his sentencing on December 10,” the statement reads.

It has also emerged Yazbek referred to his Jewish landlords as “Shylock & Shylock” amid reports by The Australian.

Al Yazbek at the protest.

Rebecca Yazbek. Picture: John Appleyard

The masthead also reported that Mr Yazbek referred to one of the landlord’s employees as “the little bald Jewish guy who works for you.”

These comments appeared in emails directed to Sydney real estate investors Robert and Geula Burke, who own the five-storey Surry Hills building where Mr Yazbek’s upscale Nomad restaurant is located on the ground floor.

The hospitality group will be rebranded as Edition Hospitality, with his wife Rebecca – who earlier said she was “furious” with her husband – as its sole director.

High-profile businessman Anthony Bell has been appointed as a business adviser to the under-fire group.

“Nomad Group is already a successful company, (and) I am confident this new structure will work towards our future success,” Ms Yazbek said in a statement.

“This is the right time to move towards a new phase for my business.”

Nomad in Sydney. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

After the protest, Ms Yazbek declared her husband was “no longer involved in the management of the business” and that his actions had “offended a lot of people”.

“As both his wife and business partner, I was furious with his actions and heartbroken by the harm they caused,” she said at the time.

“I fully understand the disappointment and frustration felt by those affected, and I am committed to doing everything possible to restore your trust.”

Al Yazbek. Picture: Jeremy Piper

In the new statement, Ms Yazbek described the restructure as “a new phase, both personally and professionally”.

“We bring people together over great food and great wine,” Ms Yazbek said.

“Our food is delicious, our staff culture is what I am most proud of, our chefs are best in class, and our consistency and attention to detail will not change.”

Anthony Bell. Picture: Richard Dobson

Rebecca Yazbek. Picture: John Appleyard

Mr Bell added: “We’ve spent some time putting this new structure together and as I listened to Rebecca articulate her vision for the business and her plans for the future, I knew I wanted to be involved and jumped at the chance to join her as an adviser.”

The backlash after Yazbek’s display at the pro-Palestine protest was swift and brutal, with champagne house GH Mumm ending its partnership with the Yazbeks’ Melbourne venue Reine & La Rue, while Telstra and Goldman Sachs cancelled event bookings there.

After he was charged, Yazbek issued a statement apologising “unequivocally” to the Jewish community for holding the “deeply offensive” sign and claiming he was “traumatised daily by the ongoing bloodshed in the Middle East”.

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