NSW Police say ‘no’ to Jewish community: yes to Palestinian rally
While Jews were welcomed to landmarks around the world that were lit with the Israeli flag, NSW police told Sydney’s Jewish community to avoid the Opera House after greenlighting a pro-Palestinian march to the site.
NSW police warned Sydney’s Jewish community to avoid the Opera House on Monday as its sails were lit with the Israeli flag to commemorate those killed and kidnapped by Hamas, after green-lighting a pro-Palestinian march to the site.
Jewish leaders said it was “sad and disturbing” to be told they were not safe in Sydney, as Greens MPs backed Palestinian marchers who said they supported “resistance” against Israel despite the deaths and disappearances of women and children.
Pro-Palestinian protesters, who had marched from Town Hall, threw flares outside the Sydney Opera House and yelled “f..k Israel” and “f..k the Jews” as the sails were lit in blue and white.
A number of police officers guarded the Opera House stairs.
An Israeli flag was burned on the steps of the Opera House in one of the most concerning scenes from Monday night’s pro-Palestine rally.
Video footage depicts protestors using what appears to be flares to light up the flag, in the middle of a congregated group.
Colin Rubenstein, executive director of the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) said the throwing of flares, chanting of abuse and burning of the Israeli flag was “deeply disgusting”.“This is deeply disgusting and offensive behaviour. Morally it’s bankrupt and of course we would expect the authorities to be closely scrutinising this behaviour. One has to understand that inciting violence is an offence in Australia,” he said.
Other monuments internationally have been lit in support of Israel, including the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Ground Zero in New York and Niagara Falls. These were largely met with peaceful observance and support, such as in Germany where crowds carried Israeli flags towards the Brandenburg Gate.
Pro-Palestine protests have been seen in a number of countries, with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warning that the conflict was a “fast-moving” situation both abroad and at home.
London’s police presence has risen after celebrations of Hamas’s ambush broke out onto the streets. In Northern Ireland a giant Palestinian Flag was displayed on Black Mountain near Belfast.
At Sydney Town Hall, Mark Spiro was dragged away by police as he held an Israeli flag. He was heard shouting “I did nothing wrong” as he was arrested and removed by officers.
“I was literally at the protest for all of probably three seconds with a rolled up Israeli flag, and next thing I know I’ve got multiple police officers trying to grab the flag off me and then carrying me away from the scene,” Mr Spiro said in an interview with Sky News.
“It was excessive and at the time having both of your arms pinned back for effectively having a rolled up Israeli flag was shocking and confronting.”
NSW police wanted to take Mr Spiro to a police station, but he was allowed to leave after agreeing to leave the city and handing over his flag to police.
“I walked from Town Hall Station across the road with a rolled up flag, next thing I know I have three police officers holding my arms back and trying to confiscate my flag,” Mr Spiro said.
“(The police) should feel ashamed of themselves quite frankly, I was an innocent bystander.”
NSW Police have since released a statement on the event.
“The NSW Police Force will continue to engage with community groups as we monitor the situation both here and abroad,” the statement reads.
“Our priority is to ensure that all members of the community feel safe and supported and are free to go about their daily lives.”
Attendees speaking to The Australian said they didn’t condone the murder of innocent civilians, but were at the rally to support Palestine.
Anthony Albanese on Monday said the pro-Palestinian march should not go ahead and warned protestors they would only inflame the situation.
The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies told members late on Monday that authorities advised them not to go to the Opera House – despite it being lit up in support for Israel – as police allowed Palestinian support marchers to leave the starting point at Town Hall and walk towards the lit-up sails.
“NSW police are urging the community not to attend the Sydney Opera House or Town Hall this evening,” an email from the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies said. “Community members already in the CBD should be vigilant … The events ... may pose a risk to the safety of community members and you are strongly urged not to attend.”
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said it was disturbing and concerning to know the community was not safe in its own city. “It is a very sad state of affairs when security concerns mean the Jewish community is not safe to go to certain parts of the Sydney CBD,” he said.
The board have been in contact with NSW police throughout the day and it is understood the new advice came from Assistant Police Commissioner Tony Cooke.
A NSW police spokeswoman said safety was “the first priority”.
“Police are engaging with community groups as they continue to monitor the situation – the community can be assured an appropriate policing response is in place across the state,” she said.
At 8:30, the bulk of the pro-Palestine march had filtered away, but a rowdy group from the crowd — some decked in face coverings, with megaphones and flags of Iran, Lebanon, Palestine and the Gulf states — could be heard chanting “f**k the Zionist pigs”.
“Palestine will be free, f**k the Zionist pigs,” one group chanted.
“Allahu akbar” was also heard under the sails of the Opera House.
Although scenes never escalated into full-on violence — more akin to a rowdy football game — one freelance photographer had a $10,000 camera was ripped from her by pro-Palestine protestors and thrown down the steps of the Opera House.
“The flares were starting and I was just near the edge,” freelance photographer Michelle Haywood said.
“I held it up to get a better shot, and next thing I know a young bloke grabbed it.
“He said: ‘what the f**k do you think you’re doing’, and threw it about 20 metres.”
Ms Haywood was in tears speaking to The Australian and said it then got kicked around by other rally protestors, explaining the piece of kit was not insured and would now set her back close to $10,000.
Earlier on Monday, the Prime Minister condemned the pro-Palestine rally in Sydney’s CBD on Monday night as Australia’s Jewish organisations condemned both the Greens for their support and those planning to attend.
“I support people’s right to demonstrate their views, we’re a democratic nation,” Mr Albanese said, “but I would counsel what is to be served apart from creating a climate not conducive to peace and to the objectives of wanting to see Palestinians and Israelis living a peaceful and secure life.”
The Australian Jewish Association and the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies slammed state Greens for supporting the pro-Palestine rally in Sydney’s CBD, with one of the groups saying they were “backing terror”.
The organising group, however, have said it would be a “mass peaceful protest”.
After events in Lakemba in southwest Sydney overnight – where fireworks were fired in celebration of Hamas’s attacks – Jewish figures remained concerned.
“As Israeli women, men, children and the elderly are being hunted down, raped, beheaded and butchered in the streets, the NSW Greens are joining others tonight at a ‘rally for Palestine’ calling for ‘no war’ on terrorist-run Gaza,” AJA chief executive Robert Gregory said, comparing it to a rally during World War II in support of Nazi Germany.
“The NSW Greens and anyone who attends this disgrace are dancing on the blood of the Jewish victims … (the party members) are reprehensible and have disgraced themselves in such a way that they should never play a role in any parliament. We call on all decent people to condemn them. “
The NSW Greens posted on X on Monday afternoon proclaiming their support for the rally.
Also on Monday, Greens MP Jenny Leong, in a response to a post by federal Defence Minister Richard Marles calling the attacks “unprovoked”, criticised him, as well as a decision to light up the Opera House in the Israeli flag.
“Unprovoked?! This is a disgraceful statement from Defence Minister Richard Marles,” Ms Leong said. “It is also appalling that tonight the Opera House will be lit up in support of Israel – what about all of the Palestinian lives lost since occupation?”
Mr Ossip said it “defied credulity” that any person could attend the pro-Palestine rallies that “celebrated the rape of Israeli girls” and “kidnapping … How could any decent human being seek to justify or defend the murder of 260 young people innocently attending a dance party?”
Earlier on Monday, NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman condemned the rally in Lakemba – saying it “celebrated barbarity” – and criticised the Greens’ stance.
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