Poll reveals harsh truth for Middle East protesters

Pro-Palestinians peacefully rallied in Sydney on Sunday without succumbing to the blandishments of those who would inflame local passions over the Middle East for their own ends – testimony perhaps to commonsense and our habit of free speech. But Australians seem to be rapidly losing interest, if not patience, with the protests.

Pro-Palestine rally on SundayCredit: Janie Barrett

Their tolerance and attentiveness will be further tested today as silent vigils by Jewish and Muslim communities and their supporters take place around Australia, marking the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

It is a poignant moment better left to the Jewish community to lead the remembrance, but while proponents on either side of the tragic war remain further apart than ever, there is little doubt where public sympathy lies: The Herald’s Resolve Political Monitor poll found Australians strongly reject the use of public protests to take sides in the escalating war: 59 per cent of voters oppose the marches.

Only 8 per cent want authorities to allow protests supporting Palestine; 7 per cent were in favour of pro-Israel protests. Resolve director Jim Reed said results showed the marches were not building support for the Palestinian cause. “Where there is partisan support in areas like diplomacy and supply of equipment, it tends to favour Israel by a factor of two to one,” Reed said. “If the idea behind weekly marches for Palestine or Lebanon is to gain mainstream support for their cause, they are failing dismally.”

NSW Police wanted to stop two pro-Palestinian rallies this holiday long weekend due to public safety concerns but they withdrew from Supreme Court action on Thursday and gave the green light for the usual protest in Sydney that had taken place every Sunday since the Hamas attack. The regular Sunday protests had passed without major controversy until safety fears arose last weekend as protesters carried prohibited symbols of Hezbollah, a designated terrorist organisation since 2021. Others held photos of Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader killed in Israeli strikes.

Allowed their Sunday rally, organisers then withdrew their application for an authorised public assembly today. Pro-Palestinians will hold a stationary vigil, which did not require permission from authorities.

Both Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Premier Chris Minns lamented the insensitivity of holding such a demonstration on the anniversary but George Brandis, a former attorney-general and a regular Herald columnist, said while it was “shameful and grotesque” the event deliberately coincided with the anniversary, the right to peaceful protest had long been recognised at common law.

On Sunday, apart from a few who carried flags designed to insult Israel, demonstrators overwhelmingly showed admirable restraint. Hopefully, these restraints will apply during Monday’s vigils.

Our Resolve poll underscores the demonstrators’ lack of efficacy to win support for their cause. After 52 weeks, NSW taxpayers must be wondering how much longer they will be required to shoulder the burden of paying the cost of policing such ineffective and potentially offensive protests.

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