Anti-Israel groups split over number of white people in charge

The anti-Israel groups have fallen out over claims there are too many white people advocating for Gaza and that the use of a former Israeli soldier to back the Palestinian cause is wrong.

Block the Dock Melbourne has savaged Free Palestine Melbourne, claiming the umbrella campaigning group has been overrun by white ­people. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Valeriu Campan

Anti-Israel activists have fallen out bitterly over claims there are too many white people advocating for Gaza in a peak lobby group and that the use of a former Israeli soldier to back the Palestinian cause is wrong.

Block the Dock Melbourne, which targets Israeli shipping interests, has savaged Free Palestine Melbourne, claiming the umbrella campaigning group has been overrun by white ­people who do not speak for the people directly affected by the Middle East conflict.

The groups are two of the highest profile pro-Palestinian groups in Australia, often campaigning together to highlight their opposition to Israel’s ­response to the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel last October.

Block the Dock’s Instagram post.

But the groups are at odds, with Block the Dock declaring publicly it was opposed to the lack of Palestinian people involved in FPM’s campaigning and against using a former ­Israeli soldier to promote their cause on ­behalf of those opposed to the Jewish state.

“What an embarrassment to the Palestinian community,’’ Block the Dock posted on social media. “We don’t need Palestinian killers in our community.

“90% of FPM is run by white people. White people do not speak for all Palestinians.’’

The weekend post by Block the Dock provoked a strong ­response across the anti-Israel ­lobbying sector, with some ­calling for it to be taken down and others stridently backing it.

The division came as Greens leader Adam Bandt ­declared at a Melbourne rally that the Albanese government should change course on its position on Israel, flagging his party would move a motion for such a change.

He said it was beyond doubt that the “far right-wing cabinet of (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu’s is intent on slaughter and dispossession’’.

“And it is time for Labor to change course,’’ he said.

Block the Dock is a radical left-wing group that has been camped at the Melbourne port, an engine room of the national economy, to try to disrupt Israeli-owned boats.

Israel’s ZIM is a global shipping line that activists accuse of helping the pro-Israel military cause.

The group has had only scattered success, but has received favourable coverage in some foreign media backing Gazans.

The entry to the dock has been defaced with anti-Semitic stickers, one declaring a picture of a Jew saying: “If I don’t steal it someone else will.’’

It was printed by the anti-Israel group @freepalestineprinting, which also has played a key role in the campaign against Israel and Jewish interests in Australia.

The anti-Israel groups have ­relied heavily on social media to further their cause, with Sunday’s rally in Melbourne live-streamed.

The Block the Dock post provoked a mixed reaction, with one woman saying the campaigns should be run by Palestinians.

‘’I think it’s only a problem if whites are running the organisations, we can be involved as ­allies,’’ she wrote.

“Palestinians should be the main people running the cause, with other groups as allies – ­especially First Nations as they’ve suffered similar.’’

Another respondent defended FPM: “They do have Palestinians in their organisation. I know them. And like all good and decent ­organisations in Australia it is an inclusive and multicultural space for activist who support Palestine. It is not closed to anyone.’’

Melbourne’s pro-Palestinian rallies are heavily backing First Nations causes, with Aboriginal activist Robbie Thorpe a lead speaker at the Melbourne rally.

He has set up camp near Melbourne’s botanic gardens and intends to remain for months or until the parkland area is returned to the Indigenous community.

Mr Thorpe, the uncle of Independent senator Lidia Thorpe, wants the land to be given back to the people of the Kulin nation.

The area is a burial ground for the dozens of Aboriginal people repatriated by the Museum of ­Victoria in 1985.

Block the Dock and FPM did not respond to requests for comment.