Arrests as pro-Palestine and pro-Israel groups gather outside Caulfield synagogue

Hours after a protest group scrapped its plans to demonstrate across the road from the Caulfield Hebrew Congregation, there was a brief scuffle that ended with two people in handcuffs.

People gathered along Inkerman Rd waving Israeli flags on Monday night.

Police were forced to intervene as pro-Palestine protesters faced off with members of the Jewish community outside the Caulfield Hebrew Congregation synagogue on Monday night.

In response to a planned protest organised by Free Palestine Coalition Naarm, hundreds of Jewish community members gathered in a counter-rally.

Waving Israeli flags and singing Israeli songs, the demonstrators gathered throughout the afternoon.

One woman, who wished not to be identified, told the Herald Sun she heard about the demonstration from a community WhatsApp group and walked to the rally.

“It’s very uplifting to hear the Israeli music, to see all the Israeli flags,” she said.

People waved Israeli flags outside the Caulfield Hebrew Congregation synagogue. Picture: Ian Currie

Members of the Jewish community held a counter-rally in response to the planned protest. Picture: Ian Currie

Girls wore Israeli flags. Picture: Ian Currie

Others waved Israeli flags from their cars. Picture: Ian Currie

Despite pro-Palestine organisers calling off their protest at the 11th hour, a handful of people wearing masks and keffiyehs gathered nearby at the synagogue.

One man on Orrong Rd was cornered and then confronted by members of the Jewish community.

A short scuffle broke out and he was thrown to the ground.

Police then restrained the man and escorted him from the scene.

It is understood another man was handcuffed and then released.

On Tuesday police said a 39-year-old Brunswick East man was expected to be charged with breaching the peace and failing to move on.

He was bailed to appear at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on March 14.

They said about 150 people attended the protest.

On the other side of Inkerman Rd, a group of pro-Palestine protesters faced off with Jewish demonstrators, forcing police to temporarily close a section of the road.

The two groups hurled chants at each other before the pro-Palestinian group was marched down Testar Grove.

A man was restrained by police outside the Caulfield Hebrew Congregation.

Protest called off at the last minute

Monday night’s scuffle came after Pro-Palestine protesters made a last minute call to cancel their “peaceful protest” outside the Caulfield Hebrew Congregation.

The group Free Palestine Coalition Naarm announced the cancellation in a social media post at about 4pm on Monday.

Organisers indicated the decision to cancel was sparked after they claim they received threats from Zionist social media pages.

The group had been planning to descend on the synagogue on Monday night.

Organisers of the protest had earlier urged followers to join the “peaceful demonstration against Zionist genocidal, colonial expansion” at the Caulfield Hebrew Congregation on Inkerman St in Caulfield North.

They said the protest was in response to a planned talk on “Israel’s challenges and opportunities in a new Middle East”, held by the Australia Israel and Jewish Affairs Council, together with the Caulfield Hebrew Congregation and United Israel Appeal Victoria.

Guests on the panel include former chief of the Israeli air force Eitan Ben Eliyahu and Israel’s former interior and justice minister Ayelet Shaked.

Monday night’s event is being run by the Australia Israel and Jewish Affairs Council.

“We need to let them know their genocidal planning is not welcome on sacred Boonwurrung land. We will peacefully demonstrate across the road,” the pro-Palestine organisers wrote online.

“This is a protest called by Jewish anti-Zionists, many of whom grew up going to synagogues – and do not acquiesce to our (religion) being weaponised as a tool of imperialist genocide.

“We stand for the liberation of Palestine and justice for Palestinian people, and refuse to allow Zionist Jews to hide behind religion to avoid culpability.”

Protest organisers said they will “peacefully demonstrate” across the road from the synagogue.

“It is important to respect places of worship. Attendees are asked not to go within 10 metres of the Synagogue and attendees of the Synagogue’s event,” they wrote.

A Victoria Police spokesperson had earlier said officers would provide a “visible presence” to ensure the safety of the community at the planned protest.

Natalie Gunn from Zionism Victoria said she was “deeply disturbed” to hear of the protest outside one of the community’s major synagogues.

“These people do not subscribe to Australian values of multiculturalism,” she said.

“The police and authorities should take immediate action to avoid a repeat of the antisemitic incitement and violence of November 2023 for the safety and security of all Victorian citizens.”

Protest organisers were planning to demonstrate ‘peacefully’. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Premier Jacinta Allan said earlier on Monday she was still being briefed on the details of the protest.

“I want to be absolutely clear that there is no place in this state for hateful behaviour, for hateful protesting, for people to attend places with hate in their heart. There is no place for that,” she said.

Ms Allan said that these sort of demonstrations are one reason why her party is introducing new anti-vilification laws in parliament on Tuesday.

“They will be a set of laws that will look at strengthening what makes our state great,” she said.

“Everyone deserves to live in this great state, free from hate, free from vilification and they also deserve the right to be who they are, practice their faith, believe in who they believe in, and have their identity respected.”

It comes after a violent clash between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups erupted in Caulfield in November last year.

The clash occurred near Princes Park after a synagogue was evacuated as hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in a park across the road.

Rocks were allegedly thrown from some members of the protest, with police officers forced to use pepper spray to separate the two groups.