Waverley Council extraordinary meeting called to debate future of deputy mayor Ludovico Fabiano

A Greens politician is under pressure to hold his political position following community uproar over his stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, with a meeting called to debate his future as deputy mayor.

Greens councillor and Waverley deputy mayor Ludovico Fabiano has come under fire for voting against a ​motion condemning this month’s attacks by Hamas.

An extraordinary meeting has been called by an eastern suburbs council to effectively depose its deputy mayor, after he failed to condemn this month’s attacks by Hamas on Israel.

Greens deputy mayor Ludovico Fabiano and Greens councillor Dominic WY Kanak last week voted against a council motion raised by Jewish councillor Will Nemesh condemning the recent attacks by the terrorist group in Gaza.

Since then, a petition calling for Mr Fabiano to resign as deputy mayor has garnered more than 1000 signatures and it is understood that councillors had received more than 150 emails on the issue.

On Monday, Waverley councillors were told an extraordinary meeting would be held on Thursday to reassess and determine the length of term for the office of the current deputy mayor.

Also on the agenda are items to consider the removal of the Cr Fabiano and Cr Kanak from advisory committees.

Jewish councillor Will Nemesh said was “bitterly disappointed” two greens councillors declined to support his motion.

However Mr Fabiano has defended his stance, saying he publicly condemned the attacks in his remarks to the council, and “spoke extensively about my commitment to the wellbeing of our local Jewish community”.

The motion tabled by Liberal and Jewish councillor Will Nemesh at the council’s October 17 meeting requested the council recognise the trauma the conflict had inflicted on the community’s large Jewish community and for the council to provide increased support and services to residents.

Deputy mayor Fabiano defended his stance, stating he wanted to see amendments that acknowledged military action by Israel. Picture: supplied.

Vaucluse MP Kellie Sloane said she supported calls for the deputy mayor to stand down. Picture: Julian Andrews.

The motion included wording “condemning” incidents of anti-Semitism seen at a pro-Palestine rally held last Monday against the backdrop of the Opera House lit in the blue and white of the Israeli flag.

Mr Fabiano said both Mr WY Kanak and himself publicly condemned the attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians at last week’s council meeting.

“We recognised the shock and trauma being experienced by members of our community and supported the assistance being offered by council to people affected by these tragic events,” Mr Fabiano said.

“Cr WY Kanak and I moved amendments that we personally believe respond to the tragic events overseas,” he said.

“We showed compassion for all civilians caught up in this tragedy. I spoke extensively about my commitment to the wellbeing of our local Jewish community”.

Vaucluse MP Kellie Sloane acknowledged the attacks by Hamas had been “deeply distressing” for the Jewish community as she voiced support for the deputy mayor to step down.

“If Greens deputy mayor Ludovico Fabiano cannot even bring himself to support a motion that condemns Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation, then surely his position is untenable,” Ms Sloane said.

“Let’s not forget that this motion had both Labor and Liberal support, and also acknowledged the loss of civilian life in Gaza – an entirely reasonable position and in keeping with our community expectations,” she said.