‘Make me mayor,’ says pro-Palestine activist

Pro-Palestinian activist and burger boss Hash Tayeh will contest Victoria’s council elections on a platform of being a champion for immigrants who he says are being ‘smeared and attacked’.

Burgertory boss Hash Tayeh. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Pro-Palestinian activist and burger boss Hash Tayeh will contest Victoria’s council elections on a platform of being a champion for immigrants who he says are being “smeared and attacked”.

The outspoken Palestinian campaigner and owner of restaurant chain Burgertory, who was once arrested for inciting ­hatred against Jews, told The Australian his decision to enter politics was spurred by the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, which he described as a turning point in his life.

Running as an independent, Mr Tayeh said he could “cherry-pick” where he wanted to run as his chain of restaurants spanned the state, but he was likely to ­settle for spot on the Merri-bek council, which includes Coburg, which has a high Muslim ­population.

“A lot of people in the community were really pushing me and encouraging me to run for councillor and because I’ve got businesses pretty much all over the state, I can cherry-pick where I want to run,” he said.

“The reason that I’m encouraged to run is because through my own experiences, I’ve seen the bias, the mistreatment, the double standards, the mini­misation of, I would say, immigrants.”

Mr Tayeh said he intended to run as a councillor in the Oct­ober local government elections, but was weighing up his options to contest the mayoral position, currently held by Adam Pulford.

His most recent business venture includes a cafe called La ­Resistance, which he calls a “bold symbol of resistance against all forms of oppression and a vessel of support for the ­oppressed”.

“Since this genocide in Pales­tine, and these attacks against me, and watching the people of our community be smeared, attacked, over and over again, I have realised that my purpose is greater than just running a business,” Mr Tayeh said.

“My purpose is to be a part of the system and to try and change it from the inside so that people that align with our values are free from bias, are free from attacks, are free from smear campaigns, and that they are receiving the justice they deserve.”

In terms of policy, Mr Tayeh said he would advocate for creating more assimilation programs for immigrants and social cohesion, and focus on crime and urban ­development.