By Daniella White
Premier Jacinta Allan has labelled pro-Palestine protesters who rallied outside the National Gallery of Victoria on Sunday as “extremists” who brought antisemitism to the streets of Melbourne.
The demonstrators targeted the gallery, which was forced into lockdown, because of donations it has received from well-known Jewish philanthropists John and Pauline Gandel.
Premier Jacinta Allan has called pro-Palestine protesters who rallied outside the NGV on the weekend “extremists”.Credit: Jason South
Hundreds of activists marched through the city to the NGV on Sunday afternoon, and one witness reported being yelled at by protesters and accused of supporting Zionism and genocide by entering the gallery.
Videos circulating online show protesters writing slogans in chalk on the gallery’s exterior walls, including “NGV funded by Zionists”, as well as turning the pond outside the NGV red.
The activists held banners saying “Zionism = fascism” and “blood on your hands”, while others chanted: “NGV, you can’t hide, you’re supporting genocide”.
On Tuesday morning, Allan condemned the protest and said the demonstrators were shameful and “cloaking their extremism under the conflict of the Middle East”.
“Victorians are blessed to have the generosity of philanthropic generosity from families like the Gandels,” she said.
“That generosity, that philanthropy enriches us all, and that behaviour we saw where antisemitism came to the street on the National Gallery was just disgraceful.
“It is shameful behaviour and I condemn it because the generosity of the Gandels, it’s enriched my family.
“Those people who choose to cloak their extremism under the conflict of the Middle East are shameful and should be condemned.”
Allan’s comments were in stark contrast to those from Multicultural Affairs Minister Ingrid Stitt, who on Monday said people had the right to protest peacefully, infuriating senior Jewish leaders.
“You do have the right to peacefully protest. We can’t necessarily always impact what happens ... in other countries around the world, but what we can do is all ensure that people in Victoria act appropriately, in accordance with the law and respectfully,” Stitt said on Monday.
Victoria’s new police chief, Mike Bush, said he watched part of the protest as he walked through Swanston Street and that it was peaceful from start to finish.
“It was peaceful as it walked through Swanston Street. It was loud, there were a lot of people there, they were entitled to do that,” he told ABC Radio on Monday.
“But I was very proud of the way our people prevented any further harm. Yes, there was an inconvenience to the public [police closing the front entrance of the NGV], so I was proud of how [police] did that to prevent any disturbance or harm or violence.”
The protest was organised days after a blog post written by an anti-Israeli activist was published and circulated, alleging the NGV held a “secret, extravagant Zionist dinner” to celebrate Pauline Gandel’s 90th birthday, attended by Israel’s ambassador to Australia.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said the protesters were “beneath contempt”.
“No matter how they try to spin it, targeting two Jewish Australians in their 90s who have contributed enormously to this country and have devoted their lives to uplifting others is gutter activism rooted in racial prejudice and jealousy,” he said.
“The attack on the NGV followed the same process as the attack on diners at the Miznon restaurant. Relentless incitement against the establishment and individuals connected to it followed by calls for direct action which were eagerly taken up.”
But Greens leader Ellen Sandell said governments should be doing everything in their power to pressure Israel to allow trucks of aid into Gaza “rather than demonising peaceful protesters who are simply trying to do everything in their power to call it out”.
The Gandels have funded institutions and organisations in Israel, according to the Gandel Foundation website.
In an interview with the Australian Financial Review after the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas in southern Israel, John Gandel said Israel had no choice but to go “all out” in its war in Gaza.
“If they don’t go all out, it means they withdraw. They can’t do it gently,” Gandel told the AFR.
The Gandels have been contacted for comment.
Get alerts on breaking news as it happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert.