Jewish Australians cycle in solidarity with Israeli captives amid anti-Semitic attacks
Hundreds of cyclists have gathered in a show of solidarity for the more than 130 Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza following an attack on a Jewish community centre in Melbourne.
More than 1000 Jewish Australians rallied in Melbourne on Sunday, calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza a day after a Jewish community centre was targeted with vandalism.
Taking part in the global “Ride to Bring Them Home Now” campaign, hundreds of cyclists descended on Bayside’s Beach Rd in the city’s southeast on what marked 100 days since more than 200 Israeli citizens were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7.
Security and police watched as the community later gathered in Mallanbool Reserve in a show of solidarity, donning yellow ribbons, a symbol of readiness to welcome home hostages.
The event came as the Beth Weizmann Jewish Community Centre in Caulfield was targeted for the second time in two months on Saturday by pro-Palestine supporters who spray painted a Palestinian flag and the word “Genocide” on the centre’s front facade.
Zionism Victoria and Beth Weizmann Jewish Community Centre executive director Zeddy Lawrence said “the only shadow” over the Ride To Bring Them Home Now event was the vandalism. “Once again though, we are left wondering if any action will be taken against those who commit such a brazen act of anti-Semitism or whether the perpetrators will get away with it once more,” Mr Lawrence said.
Jewish Community Council of Victoria chief executive Naomi Levin said the act was an attempt to “intimidate and instil fear” among Jewish Australians.
“The Jewish community is being targeted for activities half a world away and the motivation for this can only be defined as anti-Semitic,” Ms Levin said.
“Vandalising a known centre for the Jewish community in the heart of Melbourne has one objective: to intimidate and instil fear.”
State opposition spokeswoman for Education Jess Wilson condemned the wave of anti-Semitic attacks occurring throughout Melbourne while speaking at the event, and said discrimination of any form will not be tolerated.
“We must also address a deeply concerning issue that has been on the rise in Melbourne, the resurgence of anti-Semitism, and let me be unequivocal, anti-Semitism has no place in our city, in our state or in our country,” Ms Wilson said.
“I was absolutely disgusted … to see the graffiti on the Beth Weizmann Community Centre, (on) a day of immense grief for the Jewish community, an absolutely disgusting and decisive attack against the Jewish community.”
Calling for unity, federal Labor MP for Higgins Michelle Ananda-Rajah echoed the message a Palestinian man told her on her recent trip to Israel: “Palestinians and Jews can live together”.
“We need a road out of this and that road is not going to be lined with ideology and hate; that road will be lined with education and economics,” Ms Ananda-Rajah said. “That’s the new dawn that we need to really demand from leaders because the status quo is failing everyone.”
As the first day of the Australian Open kicked off on Sunday, Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley warned protesters there was zero tolerance for any disruptions.
He said anyone who disrupts what should be an “enjoyable and safe experience” for tennis goers will be asked to leave and not welcomed back.
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