Six people have been arrested following heated exchanges between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters in Melbourne’s CBD.
A combined crowd of 7,000 attended the separate Nakba Sunday rally and the Never Again rally now organized by the Christian Zionist group International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem.
It is understood that some protesters from Sunday’s Nakba rally, which started at midday around the State Library, merged on Spring St, around Parliament House, where the Never Again is Now rally was scheduled to start around 2.30 p.m
Police officers formed a line between opposing groups to “ensure safety and prevent violence.”
“While organizers had confirmed separate locations and routes for their events, protesters in one group moved to Spring Street, Melbourne East to counter the protest,” read a statement from Victoria Police.
Controversial right-wing commentator Avi Yemini and a pro-Palestine protester clashed in tense scenes on Sunday.
Victoria Police formed a barrier to help prevent violence as the Nakba rally that began around midday met the Never Again is Now rally in the Melbourne CBD (pictured).
Six people were arrested, including three for impeding police (pictured, police holding a protester)
‘The police response largely succeeded in keeping these two opposing groups separate.
“Victoria Police respects people’s right to protest lawfully, but we ask that they do so peacefully without impacting the wider community.”
Following both events, Victoria Police confirmed that six people were arrested.
One person was arrested for posting advertisements, another for hindering and giving a false name, and another for assaulting police and possessing a habit-forming drug. Three people were also arrested for obstructing police.
All have been released pending summons.
Controversial right-wing commentator Avi Yemini was photographed with a microphone on Sunday after posting on Instagram about the Never Again rally.
He was also photographed in a tense exchange with a pro-Palestine protester.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said the police response was “largely successful in keeping” the two groups separate.
The demonstration of one group was in favor of anti-Semitism and the other in favor of Palestine.
Police attempted to keep the two groups separate while supporting people’s right to peaceful protests.
There was a large police presence in Melbourne’s CBD for both protests.
Protesters dressed in the traditional keffiyeh and waving the Palestinian flag arrived in Melbourne’s busy central business district around midday for the Nakba Sunday rally.
Billed as a rally to “oppose the oldest of racial hatreds, anti-Semitism,” the Never Again is Now rally included speeches by Victorian senators Sarah Henderson and James Patterson.
A post shared on their Facebook page before the event warned attendees not to “engage” with counter-protesters at the State Library event.
‘There is no reason to worry about this. “Victoria Police is closely monitoring the situation and there will be a large visible police presence across the city,” he said. “There are many solid plans in place.”
The Sunday Nakba rally on Wednesday marked the 76th anniversary of the Nakba, which means “catastrophe” in Arabic, and comes amid rising tensions with police.
The demonstration followed wild scenes at the Victorian state Labor Party’s annual conference at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Saturday, where officers clashed with protesters who tried to break into the venue.
The pro-Palestine demonstration began around noon (pictured)
The anti-Semitism demonstration began at 2:30 p.m. (in the photo)