How the four stages of the pro-Palestinian protests have been engineered

The student camp at Melbourne University in support of Palestine. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

The rising tide of university protests in Australia against Israel, Jews in general and industries that help the war effort against Hamas amounts to the fourth stage of the pro-Palestinian movement’s activities since October 7.

The first two stages effectively ran in tandem.

They were the sabotage and criminal damage protesting that has been run largely by hard left activists as seen on the docks in Melbourne and Sydney and ever since through the vandalism of political offices, Jewish-linked businesses and community members.

At the same time, tens of thousands of concerned, Palestinian-friendly street marchers have protested across the country.

While there have been allegations of links to criminality, the biggest beef might well be that little to nothing has been done among these protesters to stamp out overt anti-Semitism.

Police are very closely watching these groups and more may or may not come of this surveillance.

There are members of these groups who are menacing but the reality is time has taken the huff and puff out of the weekly events.

Few are watching anymore.

Embroiled in these public protests are two clear sub-factions – unions and Indigenous activists.

While traditionally key Right wing unions have sided with Israel, there is a strong undercurrent of union activity in the pro-Palestinian fight.

This union activity is significant because it leaches into the political debate and influences sections of the Labor Party.

The unions also have significant campaigning power, which was iced during the pandemic except for the Black Lives Matter protests.

Police in Victoria have largely sought to appease the Palestinian supporters, opting not to confront but to try to take the heat out of the debate.

One Indigenous leader openly talked about terrorism on the steps of the Victorian Parliament with no action taken.

There is also the very real point that in a free society, protests are generally an excellent thing and to be encouraged at every turn.

No matter how ignorant or misguided any protest might be, they add to a democracy.

There are legitimate questions to be asked about Israel’s strategy in Rafah, just as there are legitimate questions to be raised by universities about who is actually behind the protests on campuses.

It would be a surprise if outsiders weren’t involved in the most aggressive of the Melbourne University activism.

While Jewish leaders have been strong in their defence of their community, there has been very little overt marching or contesting of the pro-Palestinian strategy.

Police specifically don’t want to see a repeat of the pro-Palestinian supporters clashing with pro-Israel people and Caulfield South residents in Melbourne last November.

The strategy of taking the heat out of the debate has so far worked.

What is worrying police is that the fourth stanza of this protesting will lead to more violence, especially among pro-Palestinian hot heads who have recognised that their voices aren’t being heard.

It’s why university heads don’t want the protests to get even more out of control, allowing Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist and non-believing students to go about their business studying and peacefully debating the Middle-East.