‘Spineless, putrid’: Australia has no place for such awful behaviour

Australia, my Australia, has no place for the awful behaviour displayed by two NSW nurses and no apology after the fact will change that, writes associate editor Kylie Lang.

Former Bankstown Hospital nurses, Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, wearing their NSW Health uniforms were filmed declaring they refuse to treat Israeli people and would "kill them" if they present to their ward.

How pathetic, yet predictable, that the nurse who boasted about having sent many Israeli patients to hell says he was only joking.

The immediate reaction of Ahmad “Rashad” Nadir, one of two Bankstown Hospital nurses spewing out hate in a truly shocking anti-Semitic video rant, was to tell us “it was a joke”.

Like we should all lighten up. Nothing to see here, folks. Move on.

Nadir, who is now layered up and displaying a more appropriate response which includes an apology, initially showed no contrition whatsoever.

This seems to be the default position for spineless people who behave in putrid ways – and then get found out.

Look at partners who cheat – the only reason they come clean is because they’ve been discovered, and then the one who’s been betrayed should forgive and forget because “it meant nothing”.

Wrong. It meant plenty.

Two Sydney nurses have been stood down after disturbing footage emerged of the pair saying they would kill and refuse to treat Israeli patients. Picture: Nikki Short

Look at politicians who become embroiled in scandals – of their own making – and there are too many examples to list here.

The first response is to deny, and when that is no longer plausible, to deflect and downplay. You only ever hear a mealy-mouthed apology when they run out of other options.

I am sick of cowards who refuse to accept responsibility for their awful actions.

I am also tired of having to somehow feel sorry for perpetrators of bad deeds.

They had a rough upbringing, they had no good role models, they made poor choices. Talk to the hand, I say.

And so I don’t feel one bit of sympathy for the other NSW nurse – the female who vowed to “kill” Israeli patients – who is said to have suffered an “extreme panic attack” after the video exposed her hatred.

Sarah Abu Lebdeh is also layered up now, and her solicitor said in a statement: “As you can all appreciate this is a very emotional and distressing time for my client and

her family.”

Really? Tough!

The lawyer representing Nadir said his client had since apologised to the individual in question (video maker Max Veifer) and the broader Jewish community.

“He is a person of prior good character. It is unfortunate to find himself in a situation like this.”

Unfortunate?

What were these two thinking when they took part in that damning video that has understandably gone viral? That there would be no consequences?

Both Nadir and Abu Lebdeh have been banned from practising nursing anywhere in Australia, in any context.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park. Picture: Nikki Short

Effective February 13, they were deregistered by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of NSW.

The state’s health minister Ryan Park described the nurses as “vile, disgusting and deranged people, whose views do not reflect that of their colleagues, their community or NSW Health”.

He said the duo had likely breached “everything you can imagine”, such as medical standards, departmental responsibilities and possibly hate-speech laws.

Nadir also pretended to be a doctor. Another strike.

Health secretary Susan Pearce couldn’t hold back tears as she said the comments in the video were “appalling on every level”. Max Veifer, the Israeli influencer who instigated the video, has now given police the entire footage as they investigate fully and determine whether or not charges will be laid.

In Wednesday’s video, Nadir said: “You (Veifer) have no idea how many (Israeli people) come to this hospital … I send to Jahannam”, the Arabic word for hell.

Abu Lebdeh said: “It (Israel) is Palestine’s country, not your country you piece of shit.

“One day your time will come. One day you’ll die the most …”

She continued: “When your time comes, I want you to remember my face so you can understand that you will die the most disgusting death.”

When she was asked what would happen if an Israeli presented to the hospital needing care, Abu Lebdeh said: “I won’t treat them, I will kill them.”

And on it went, vile, putrid anti-Semitic hate – of which we’ve witnessed all too much of lately.

Nadir and Abu Lebdeh have been holed up in their Western Sydney homes, with Nadir being taken to hospital on Thursday night following reports of a “concern for welfare”.

This would be the same health system he saw fit to undermine and which NSW taxpayers are funding.

Australia, my Australia, has no place for such awful behaviour, and no apology after the fact will change that.

Kylie Lang is Associate Editor of The Courier-Mail

[e-mail]

Originally published as ‘Spineless, putrid’: Australia has no place for such awful behaviour