Victorian Labor Premier Jacinta Allan fails to toast Israel at its Independence Day function

While Jacinta Allan’s office requested the tradition be scrapped at an Independence Day function, catering staff poured glasses for a toast that did not happen, leaving Jewish leaders fuming.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan speaking at Israeli Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday night. Picture: Peter Haskin

Jewish leaders were left fuming after Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan did not propose a traditional toast to Israel at a function to celebrate the anniversary of Israel’s independence.

The Premier’s office contacted Jewish organisers of the Independence Day function at Melbourne’s Windsor Hotel to request that the champagne toast to Israel be left off the running sheet for the program this year.

It is understood that the Premier’s office believed such a toast would be inappropriate given the current high community passions surrounding Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza.

However the message did not appear to have reached the catering staff at the function who poured dozens of glasses of champagne in expectation of a toast that did not happen.

Jewish community members at the event said they were disappointed with the decision not to propose a toast to Israel at a time when the country’s Jewish community is dealing with record levels of anti-Semitism.

“It’s about my ancestral homeland,” said one Jewish community member. “It’s not a political toast to (Israeli prime minister) Benjamin Netanyahu.”

Several accused the Premier privately of caving into the pro-Palestinian lobby by declining to participate in the toast.

In previous years, Victorian premiers have traditionally participated in a toast to Israel at the annual Independence Day function which is attended by the state’s most senior Jewish leaders and community figures.

However Ms Allan did choose to speak at the Israeli function on Wednesday night despite pressure from pro-Palestinian leaders not to appear at all. Former premier Daniel Andrews also attended the function but did not speak.

A spokesperson for Ms Allan declined to comment about the function.

The Premier gave a speech denouncing the rise in anti-Semitism which recently saw an anti-Semitic graffiti attack on the wall of a prominent Jewish school, Mt Scopus Memorial College.

“Anti-Semitism strikes at the heart of our equal society, and I condemn it,” Ms Allan told an audience of around 250 members of the Jewish community. “I condemn it in this city and state. I condemn it on the walls of our schools. I condemn it in the halls of our universities. I condemn it everywhere. As leaders, we do have a lot to reckon with, about how we rise to this moment, and it starts by listening to the community, not listening to stunts, not listening to violent protesters,’ she said.

The president of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria Philip Zajac, called for greater consequences for those who engage in anti-Semitic behaviour.

“I cannot safely walk across Spring St, because I am a Jew.

“I cannot go to the State Library on Sunday, because I am a Jew.

“We are spat on and pushed, because we are a Jews,” Mr Zajac said. “It’s enough, it’s enough. There needs to be consequences.”

Mr Zajac said there needed to be tougher laws, stronger enforcement, great security grants for Jewish schools and greater education about the dangers of anti-Semitism.

“We ask that you continue to speak out with moral clarity to all Victorians making it clear that anti-Semitic rhetoric and incitement has no place in the great state of Victoria,” he said.

Mr Zajac called on the state Labor government to implement law reform recommendations to beef-up anti vilification laws and to develop an anti-racism strategy.

“To the leaders here tonight, whether you lead a small organisation, a congregation, a community, a local council or a state government, it is time to chase peace.”

Additional reporting: Rachel Baxendale