Nasser Mashni calls for Israel’s destruction, celebrates member of terror group as ‘hero’

Australia’s most prominent Palestinian activist, Nasser Mashni, has called a key member of a Middle Eastern terror group a “hero” and claimed Israel won’t survive to mark its 100th anniversary.

Australia’s most prominent Palestinian activist has called a well-known member of a Middle Eastern terror group and convicted plane hijacker a “hero” and claimed Israel will not survive to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni fronted an online panel alongside former Palestinian militant Leila Khaled last week, celebrating the convicted criminal and telling attendees Israel would be destroyed in the coming decades.

Ms Khaled was imprisoned for her role in two infamous plane hijackings, including a 1969 flight from Rome to Tel Aviv which was falsely believed to be carrying then Israeli ambassador to the US, Yitzhak Rabin.

In 1970, she was then involved in the Dawson’s Field hijackings, which targeted four planes headed for New York City and one for London.

No one was killed in the attacks, however, multiple people were taken hostage.

Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni. Picture: ABC

Mr Mashni told attendees at the Ecosocialism 2024 event that Ms Khaled – who labelled Hamas terrorists responsible for the October 7 attacks on southern Israel “freedom fighters” – a “hero” as he slammed the Albanese government for refusing her visa earlier this year.

“As we know our hero Leila was denied the opportunity to come here because this settler colonial, this racist country denied her a visa,” he said.

Mr Mashni also told viewers “Zionists have failed and they’ll never succeed”.

“Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea, in our lifetime my friends,” he said.

“Israel will not make 100”.

Ms Khaled’s visa was rejected following a letter by Executive Council of Australian Jewry to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles, warning that she must not be allowed to travel to Australia.

Nasser Mashni speaks at a pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne. Picture: Tamati Smith

The request, co-signed by president Daniel Aghion, and co-CEOs Peter Wertheim and Alex Ryvchin, was prompted by an advertisement for the pro-Palestinian event, which promoted Ms Khaled as a guest speaker.

“Given her criminal record as a terrorist, and her ongoing involvement with a sanctioned organisation, namely the PFLP, we submit … (that) it is reasonable to suspect that she does not pass the character test,” they wrote.

“For the same reasons, we submit that Ms Khaled should also not be permitted to appear virtually.”

A spokeswoman for Mr Giles was contacted for comment about her virtual appearance but said she was unable to comment on individual cases.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin told the Herald Sun on Friday that Mr Mashni was essentially calling for the “subjugation, exile or slaughter of the millions of Jews for whom Israel is their only home”.

“Mashni should be ashamed but given his views and his record he may be incapable of feeling sham,” he said.

“The shame should equally belong to those members of parliament and other public figures who meet with him.

Mr Ryvchin said Mashni should “remember that the Jews have always outlived their oppressors”.

Mr Mashni did not respond to a request for comment.

Originally published as Nasser Mashni calls for Israel’s destruction, celebrates member of terror group as ‘hero’