Victoria Police directed anti-Israel protesters to assemble outside a synagogue before violent riot

Police directed the protesters to gather outside a Melbourne synagogue before a violent clash erupted with Jewish locals outside the place of worship, a Victorian Court has heard.

Pro-Palestinian protesters were pepper-sprayed by police.

Victoria Police directed anti-Israel protesters to gather outside a Melbourne synagogue before a violent clash erupted with Jewish locals outside the place of worship, a Victorian Court has heard.

The race-hate legal action was lodged a year ago by Jewish ­businessman Menachem Vorch­heimer against the Free Palestine Melbourne group, organiser Tasnim Sammak and Victoria Police for giving the go-ahead to a rally that turned violent outside the Central Schule at Caulfield in the city’s southeast in 2023.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal heard that the initial location of a snap rally was to be outside the firebombed Burgertory premises belonging to businessman Hash Tayeh, but Victoria Police instructed organisers to hold the protest at Princes Park adjacent to the Central synagogue that was later evacuated.

Dozens of protesters violently clashed with Jewish locals and police officers at the time, triggering the evacuation of 150 congregants during Shabbat prayers.

The protest in the Jewish heartland of Caulfield in November 2023 captured national headlines because it led to ugly, violent street clashes after activists baited and hurled insults at Jewish residents.

VCAT documents show the human rights complaint was settled this week, with both FPM and Mr Vorchheimer ordered to issue public statements, but in the process caused a rift between pro-­Palestinian organisations after FPM issued a renewed apology to the Jewish community.

In the complaint, Mr Vorchheimer alleged Victoria Police “encouraged, organised and/or ­assisted” pro-Palestinian activists to allegedly breach the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act.

Mr Vorchheimer also alleged that Ms Sammak, a Monash University doctoral candidate and teaching associate, had encouraged activists to protest outside the Central synagogue hours after the firebombing of Mr Tayeh’s store on November 10 2023.

Tasnim Sammak speaking at a protest. Picture: Instagram.

He alleged that online statements posted on the FPM social media accounts had incited people to falsely believe Jews were responsible for the arson attack.

At its heart, the actions concerned several social media posts in which “Zionists” as a euphemism for “Jews” were blamed for the firebombing.

A rally of solidarity was then planned, with FPM posting on social media “join us in solidarity in rage” and “stand with Burgertory, stand against anti-Palestinian hate”.

During the course of the tribunal, it was revealed that Victoria Police had made crucial errors and bore some responsibility for events that night.

Defence lawyers for Ms Sammak had conceded that “tensions did escalate” when a pro-Israel group became involved and said: “The protest was moved to Princes Park, Caulfield South, at the request of Victoria Police, as there were pro-Israel protesters congregating outside the restaurant store.”

FPM has claimed the Insta­gram post that called for “rage” at the time was published by Ms Sammak without their approval, adding it had since been removed.

The organisation also acknowledged the firebombing was not ­racially or politically motivated, despite the matter remaining before the courts.

“It was assumed by many at the time that this was a hate crime,” FPM said in a statement. “Despite this, as an organisation that stands opposed to all forms of racism, Free Palestine Melbourne issued a prompt apology to the local Jewish community the day after the rally.

“We again reiterate our apol­ogy made on 11 November, 2023, for the protest location and the evacuation of the Central Schule.”

Mr Tayeh slammed FPM’s apology as “the equivalent of me apologising for saying Zionists are terrorists and accepting defeat”.

Jewish businessman Menachem Vorchheimer. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Mr Vorchheimer will use the evidence in a different civil proceeding against the state of Victoria and Victoria Police for their conduct, which includes authorising and assisting the anti-Israel protest that resulted in riots.

That matter is scheduled for mediation on June 17.

He said he welcomed the resolution of the legal proceedings, but said Victoria Police had made crucial mistakes and the Caulfield riots were wholly avoidable.

“I brought the proceedings because we are first and foremost Australians, and that whilst we might have differences of opinion, freedom of speech is not absolute, rather subject to certain reasonable limitations, including not to seriously vilify another person based on their racial and/or lawful religious beliefs or activities,” Mr Vorchheimer said.

Ms Sammak’s husband, Mohammad Sharab, also attended the hearing and issued a statement in the aftermath, saying he had learned that members of their movement had betrayed them by “feeding the feds” information.

“Today was a dark day to learn that organisations (acting) in our name are the ones causing us harm and putting us under the bus (sec),” he wrote.

“Time to cancel the rats out.”

The Age has reported that the men who torched Mr Tayeh’s restaurant were allegedly paid $20,000 at the time. One arsonist also told covert police the attack was linked to the conflict in the Middle East, contradicting repeated Victoria Police claims that there was no racial, religious or political motive.