Man arrested at Caulfield protest blasts police, Israel supporters

A heated confrontation erupted near a Caulfield North synagogue on Monday night when about 150 pro-Israel demonstrators surrounded fewer than a dozen pro-Palestine activists, who had planned to protest at an event that featured former Israeli officials.

On Monday morning, the Free Palestine Coalition Naarm led a call on social media for a “snap rally” outside the Caulfield Hebrew Congregation on Inkerman Road, in response to a planned talk at the synagogue titled “Israel’s challenges and opportunities in a new Middle East”.

The Australia/Israel Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) panel event included former Israeli air force chief Eitan Ben Eliyahu and former Mossad intelligence directorate head Zohar Palti.

However, shortly before 4pm the pro-Palestinian group called off the rally, alleging “threats of serious bodily harm” against demonstrators. AIJAC later confirmed the venue for its event had been changed as a precaution.

Regardless, dozens of people waving Israeli flags gathered outside the synagogue from about 6.30pm – alongside police and private security guards.

Right-wing activist Avi Yemini – who appeared to be filming for his Rebel News platform for much of the evening – led a small group to confront James Crafti, an activist who was wearing a keffiyeh (Palestinian scarf) on Inkerman Road.

The Age saw a man in a grey hoodie throw Crafti, an anti-Zionist Jew, to the ground as the group blocked him from walking towards the synagogue. Police put Crafti in handcuffs before he was escorted away.

“I turned up because I feel [the AIJAC event] was using a Jewish institution to further advocate for war crimes,” Crafti told The Age on Tuesday morning. “I thought the Zionist protesters were absolutely thuggish.”

Crafti, who didn’t know the AIJAC event had been moved, said it was “entirely wrong” for the police to arrest him. Victoria Police later confirmed a 39-year-old Brunswick East man was expected to be charged with breaching the peace and failing to move on.

“The police should have been ensuring there was a safe right for anyone to protest,” Crafti said.

James Crafti is detained by police near the intersection of Orrong and Inkerman roads on Monday night.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

The most serious confrontation on Monday night occurred a few hundred metres east of the synagogue, where hundreds of Israel supporters surrounded about 10 pro-Palestine activists.

The larger group chanted “bring them home” and “get a job”, some calling the protesters “cowards” for wearing masks. The pro-Palestine group mainly chanted “free, free Palestine” while some members blew bubbles.

Police scrambled to separate the groups at the intersection of Testar Grove and Inkerman Road, which was blocked in both directions. The crowd dispersed at about 8pm when the Palestinian supporters walked away.

Outside the synagogue, Israeli music blared until about 9pm as the pro-Israeli crowd continued waving flags at cars passing by.

Free Palestine Coalition Naarm described its cancelled action as “a peaceful protest called by Jewish anti-Zionists, many of whom grew up going to synagogues, and do not acquiesce to our religion being weaponised as a tool of genocide”.

Former Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked was slated to attend the AIJAC event, but the Australian government denied her a visa last week on character grounds. Shaked made headlines last year after calling for all Gazans to be deported and the Palestinian city of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, to be turned into a soccer field.

Caulfield North resident Julian Millman said he joined the pro-Israeli crowd because he wanted to support the local Jewish community.

“I don’t believe they’re here to try and protest,” Millman said of the pro-Palestinian activists. “I think they’re here to cause trouble.”

AIJAC executive director Joel Burnie said it was “deeply upsetting and sad” that the Jewish community still had concerns about “safety and protection in our own community”.

“Governments need less words and more action,” he said.

The tiny group of pro-Palestinian protesters on Inkerman Road on Monday night.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

Victoria Police said approximately 150 people attended the protest.

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