Radical groups sharing anti-Jewish handbook

Pro-Palestine groups in Australia are circulating and sharing guides for anti-Israel ­activists, unionists and educators to sabotage and vandalise property.

A meeting of unionists with CFMEU branding behind them shows its support for Palestinians.

Radical groups in Australia are circulating and sharing guides for anti-Israel ­activists, unionists and educators to sabotage and vandalise property and evade police by using encrypted communications and special codes.

Dozens of pro-Palestinian groups – ranging from well-­organised criminals who damage property linked to Israel or its military trading partners to unionists trying to blockade ­Jewish-owned ships – have surfaced in Australia since the ­Israel-Hamas conflict began in October.

The Weekend Australian can reveal some of the organisations, which are blatantly anti-Semitic, are backing secret advice to use code names for the targets of their demonstrations, and to use encrypted texts via the Signal messaging app and secure email servers to avoid police detection.

They also have been advised how to case out locations covertly and how to track Jewish shipping interests.

Amid a surge in violent protests and anti-Semitic attacks ­nationwide, one of several guides being circulated urges groups to investigate whether property damage, sabotage and graffiti should be part of their campaigning. “Do you agree what non-­violence means?” it says. “Explore the concept of what ­violence means to you and whether that doesn’t include topics like graffiti, sabotage and property damage.

“Establish or adopt a set of principles – preferably written down for future reference and for new people who might join you.’’

The Direct Action Planning Guide, which sources said had been spread around the activist community, outlines in detail how to stage protests and deal with the fallout if people are caught.

It suggests that protests could include blockades, barricades, sabotage, animal liberation, sabotaging construction machinery, graffiti and squatting.

The Melbourne-based guide, which radical groups are using as a template for activist campaigning in Australia, has been cited by militant protesters now targeting Jewish shipping interests.

There are established links between union activists and a radical anti-Israel group targeting Israeli shipping company ZIM.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said Australia was witnessing a 20-year evolution in Palestinian campaigning, which he said was causing a lot of anxiety among the Jewish community.

“This year, since October 7 it’s reached unprecedented levels. In terms of the resourcing going into it, in terms of the support they’re receiving from mainstream political parties, trade unions,’’ Mr Ryvchin said. “It’s always been centrally co-ordinated but it’s kind of been a lower-level thing, confined to university campuses, sort of fringe groups, but now you’re seeing the Australian Greens becoming agents of this movement and sizeable trade unions as well.

Stills from a video of vandals entering and defacing the foyer of the BAE Systems office in Richmond, Melbourne.

The vandals smashed glass.

“Everyone feels more brazen and outspoken, they feel like this is their moment. I think Hamas elevated their movement, it gave them a feeling of ascendancy that Israel’s downfall is just a matter of time and now they’re all kind of pushing with maximum force and intent to precipitate that.’’

Trade Unionists for Palestine social media contains cases of anti-Semitism, including claims that a rich Australian Jewish man was a terrorist who carried out ethnic cleansing against ­Palestinians and Israel is committing genocide.

The prominent activist group Free Palestine Printing’s Instagram page boasts a poster of a dog on a leash with a “boycott Israel” sticker covering its head. One comment refers to the Jewish state as “Satans (sic) Army.”

They also sprayed the foyer with red paint.

A man wearing a keffiyeh and holding a Palestinian flag is involved in an altercation with a man and woman in Southbank, Melbourne

A commenter says referring to Israel: “Offensive to dogs … my dogs are filled with love and loyalty. Should never be compared to such hatred. Satans (sic) army!”

Key unions and crossbench senator Lidia Thorpe have backed the Block the Dock movement, which is behind port protests in Melbourne targeting Israeli-owned ships. Block the Dock, a national movement, has posted photos and a version of events supporting the protesters who invaded the Carols by Candlelight event in Melbourne on December 24, where a video shows one person saying: “Racist f..king police.’’

While the large public pro-­Palestine marches have been largely peaceful despite containing some anti-Semitic propaganda, new video footage shows vandals dressed in black commando outfits breaking into BAE Systems in Melbourne, smashing plate glass and then spraying the foyer with red paint and boasting of it being part of a global anti-­Israel strategy.

Another video obtained by The Weekend Australian shows a violent street clash between a pro-Palestinian campaigner and two others, with the Palestinian supporters accusing the others of Islamophobia and striking an Islamic woman.

There is no suggestion that the violent and more radical protesting is being backed by mainstream pro-Palestinian groups such as Australia Palestine Advocacy Network. The more extreme protests are largely conducted under the cloak of anonymity.

APAN president Nasser Mashni said pro-Palestinian Australians were filled with despair.

“The Palestinian struggle is one that brings groups, movements and people of all backgrounds together, because it speaks to a struggle for values we all share – justice, equality and human rights, and what should be the universal application of international law and democratic principles,’’ Mr Mashni said.

“We’re seeing this strong support for Palestine because the public is horrified that governments of the west are offering the Israeli government impunity to commit genocide in Palestine.

“Community members are fuelled by a palpable sense of despair and disgust that governments like ours have barely uttered a word of objection to the Israeli government’s killing of 21,000 people in Gaza.”

The pro-Palestine cause is also being backed by some First Nations radicals in Melbourne, who have been prominent at protests.

Block the Dock is a follow-on organisation to Blockade Australia, which campaigned on climate issues in ports across the country.

Blockade Australia has used the Direct Action Planning Guide.

The Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance is crowd-funding for legal fees under the banner Palestine Action Fund and Fines, with $7488 raised for a $20,000 goal.

A sum of $20,000 would not cover one top barrister for a day’s work. “We are in this for the long haul. Support us to keep up the pressure for a #FreePalestine – donate to our crowdfunder,” the organisation says. “Along with comrades and community in Naarm (Melbourne) and around the world, WACA are maintaining the struggle for a Free Palestine. Donate now to enable the continuation of rolling actions in support of ­Palestine.’’

Other legal advice to protesters includes considering “self-­repping” in court if arrested over activism and using the court appearance as an opportunity to showcase the cause without legal representation. This advice of self-representation is rejected by other groups as unwise.

The Weekend Australian contacted multiple pro-Palestinian groups but most did not respond.

Block the Dock said it had ­targeted ZIM because it was a known Israeli-owned company, alleging their shipments could contain weapons supplied by Australia to be used against the Palestinian people. “Our campaigning has evolved through strategic use of social media, community engagement, and collaboration with advocacy groups,’’ a Block the Dock spokesperson said.
 “Block the Dock strives to have a meaningful impact and to raise awareness of the ethnic cleansing and the genocide the Palestinians are currently experiencing.’’