Inner West Greens councillor Dylan Griffiths calls for Palestinian figurehead to speak at Local Government general assembly

A Sydney councillor has advocated to see a Palestinian figurehead, who once described a group of terrorists as “heroes”, to speak at a national event designed to focus on local community issues.

A Sydney councillor has called for a Palestinian figurehead – who said an alleged terrorist was a “hero” – to speak at the Australian Local Government Association’s national event, rather than focus on issues in their communities.

In the middle of a cost of living crisis, rising council rates and the Inner West Council’s failed rollout of the FOGO bin initiative, Greens councillor Dylan Griffiths called on council to approve a public address from the Australian Palestinian Advocacy Network president, Nasser Mashni, despite the inner-city council being located more than 14000km away from the war.

The APAN president, who Cr Griffiths wanted to speak at the event, was previously quoted as describing men who planned a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv between 2000 and 2005 – as “Palestinian heroes”.

The network president, requested for the massive meeting of councillors across the country, also described members of the Islamic Jihad, responsible for the kidnapping and murder of an Israeli teenager shot in the head at point-blank range, as heroes.

Inner West councillor Dylan Griffiths.

Cr Griffiths requested Mr Mashni speak to the general assembly in July, as he believed the “ramifications” of the war are felt world wide and “experienced at a local scale”.

He said councils across Australia need to support the Palestinian community.

Nasser Mashni during the ABC program Q&A when discussing the Israel-Hamas war.

However, other councillors stepped in this week to block the move, instead green-lighting a plan for the head of the General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, Izzat Salah Abdulhadi to address residents on “the invasion and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, support for the Palestinian community including recent refugees staying in Australia”.

Cr Griffiths did not answer how the war in Gaza related to roads, rates, rubbish and local infrastructure issues – instead telling this publication it was “important for councils to ensure that they are not inadvertently supporting the war”.

Head of the General Delegation of Palestine to Australi Izzat Salah Abdulhadiis.

“I believe many councillors would like to hear from Palestinians such as Nasser Mashni from APAN about how we can best be part of the movement for peace, and take local action to support diaspora and refugees from Gaza,” Cr Griffiths told The Daily Telegraph.

“I personally believe the Australian Palestinian Advocacy network – a leading voice for advocacy for Palestinian human rights, justice, and equality – would be well suited to address the local government conference.”

Cr Griffiths said inviting a speaker to discuss international issues and local ramifications was “not new”, citing an Australian Local Government Association event which saw Ukraine Ambassador, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, address the national general assembly.

In November last year, the Inner West Council distributed information in supporting a Palestinian fundraising appeal, which aimed to provide immediate relief to people in Gaza.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne, and council representatives, were contacted for comment.