Jewish bodies call for ABC Q&A panellist rethink amid Nasser Mashni furore

Australia’s peak Jewish organisations have urged the ABC to rethink the inclusion of two panellists on Monday’s Q&A program over their alleged ‘anti-Israel and anti-Semitic positions’.

Peak Jewish bodies have called on the ABC to rethink Monday’s Q&A program. Picture: Joel Carrett

Australia’s peak Jewish organisations have urged the ABC to ­rethink the inclusion of two panellists on Monday’s Q+A over alleged “anti-Israel and anti-Semitic positions”, as well as previous support for Hamas.

One of the panellists set to ­appear is Nasser Mashni, Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) president who ­founded a charity that is sending money to a Gaza-based health organisation ­accused of being affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terrorist group, known as the PFLP.

The PFLP, responsible for ­hijacking planes, assassinations and suicide bombings, is a designated terrorist organisation in the US, EU and Canada, while Australia has the group on its consolidated list of organisations subject to financial sanctions.

In a joint letter on Friday to ABC managing director David Anderson from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, the two organisations’ presidents called for Mr Mashni to be dumped from Monday’s panel.

Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni.

It also raised concerns with the planned appearance of UN special rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese, of which the letter alleged has made a series of “anti-Israel” comments.

“Recent and historical comments made by these panellists demonstrate strong anti-Israel and anti-Semitic positions, and support for Hamas … (a) terrorist organisation proscribed by the government,” the letter from Jillian Segal and David Ossip said.

The pair warned that without context, or an assurance to ­“challenge” any such views, the show could “likely lead to a highly prejudiced, false and misleading broadcast”. “Your assurance that ABC management and editorial staff will strive to provide a ­balanced and fair debate will be greatly ­appreciated as would any information on what steps will be taken by ABC management to ­ensure that outcome,” the letter said.

ABC managing director David Anderson. Picture: Martin Ollman

The main point of contention was reserved for Mr Mashni, with the letter calling for his removal from the panel, given “appalling public comments”.

The letter noted Mr Mashni’s comments last year advocating for Israel’s destruction and claims that the world’s power structures “all focus upon Zionism”, describing six terrorists who escaped ­imprisonment as “heroes”, and sharing a post from the APAN ­objecting to the designation of Hamas in its entirety as a terrorist organisation.

“We are confident you will share our strong view that it would be inappropriate to have Mr Mashni on the Q+A panel speaking about the situation in Gaza,” the letter said, noting a ­report in Fridays’ Herald Sun that revealed he had been convicted for kidnapping a 15-year-old boy in 1992.

However, Mr Mashni said he would not be “intimidated or ­silenced” and stood by his comments.

“Israel governs according to an ideology that values and privileges Jewish lives at the cost of Palestinian lives,” he said.

“It is incumbent upon our media outlets to uphold the freedom of expression that we all claim to cherish so much in Australia, and to step into their power to advocate for truth and justice – the lives of two million people in Gaza depend upon this.”

The Jewish groups’ opposition to Ms Albanese is less vehement, asking instead that the ABC ­ ensures “context” and challenges any “anti-Israel” comments.

Ms Albanese has, in comments dating back to 2014, aired concerns with her own objectivity, as well as what the organisations ­allege are “anti-Israel” comments and anti-Semitic tropes.