A restaurateur accused of carrying a sign with the Nazi swastika superimposed on an Israeli flag has “unreservedly apologized” after facing massive backlash against his businesses.
Alan Yazbek, owner of restaurants Nomad and Reine & La Rue, was charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public after officers allegedly caught him carrying the sign at a pro-Palestine protest in Sydney on Sunday.
Yazbek was one of around 10,000 protesters who took to the streets of the CBD a day before the anniversary of the October 7 attacks last year, in which the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas attacked communities bordering Israel.
Next to the large swastika, the sign Yazbek is accused of carrying had the words “Stop Nazi Israel.”
Images have since emerged of him also holding a green and gold flag in Hezbollah colors and a Ned Kelly-like figure.
In response to the hateful images and texts, several customers have vowed to never return to Yazbek’s restaurants.
On Friday, Yazbek “unequivocally apologized” for his actions at the rally.
He said the sign he allegedly carried during the pro-Palestine rally was “deeply offensive to the Jewish community.”
Alan Yazbek was charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public after officers allegedly caught him carrying a sign with a swastika at a protest in Sydney on Sunday.
The charges have also jeopardized a partnership between Yazbek, who runs the restaurant chains with his wife Rebecca (pictured), with French champagne brand GH Mumm at this year’s Spring Racing Carnival.
“You can be assured that I will do everything I can to regain the trust of my wonderful staff, our loyal customers and the wider community,” he said in a statement seen by The Australian.
‘Friends and acquaintances who know me, both Jews and Gentiles, know that I am not anti-Semitic.
“They also know how passionate I am about supporting diversity and equality both in my personal life and within the NOMAD group of companies.”
Yazek said he was “traumatized daily by the continued bloodshed” in the Middle East – in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon – and vowed that “we must stop it.”
“I again apologize unreservedly,” he said.
“To the Jewish community at large, and in particular to my NOMAD Jewish friends, staff and guests, both past and present, I offer an olive branch of peace and love.”
His apology came too late for at least five Melbourne businesses that have canceled bookings for events at Reine & La Rue, while others are considering venue changes, he said. Herald of the sun reported.
The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association (ARCA) said on Friday that Nomad Group would be removed from its organisation.
“There is no place in the hospitality industry for racism and anti-Semitism, and the ARCA board has initiated the process, under the ARCA constitution, to revoke Nomad’s membership,” an association spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, the charges have also jeopardized a partnership between Yazbek, who runs the restaurant chains with his wife Rebecca, and French champagne brand GH Mumm at this year’s Spring Racing Carnival.
Some customers took to Nomad’s social pages to express their frustrations.
‘We just canceled our reservation. Anymore. Shalom,’ said one.
“Loved this restaurant to this day…won’t be back…rooster served with a hint of hate,” wrote another.
‘Do all your dishes come with a touch of anti-Semitism? Asking for a friend,’ said another.
‘The owner is a raging anti-Semite. I’ll eat at a Jewish restaurant, thank you!’ another wrote.
The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association (ARCA) said on Friday that Nomad Group would be removed from its organisation.
Images have since emerged of Yazbek also holding a green and gold flag in Hezbollah colors with a Ned Kelly-like figure (pictured).
Staff at the luxury restaurants, which are often booked up to 18 months in advance, were called to a meeting at around 11am on Wednesday and given training on how to respond to questions about Yazbek.
Officers who spotted Yazbek’s alleged sign on Sunday arrested him and took him to Surry Hills Police Station.
He was charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public and was granted bail.
‘Many of us have family in the region. Every loss of life is a tragedy. We are in mourning,” Yazbek told Daily Telegraph.
As part of his bail conditions, Yazbek is prohibited from being within 2 kilometers of City Hall, where he was arrested, unless he is visiting his restaurant or offices for work purposes.
The demonstration was largely peaceful, apart from the arrests of Yazbek and Jewish Osher Feldman, who was detained for allegedly disturbing public order in a separate incident.
Yazbek will appear at Downing Center Local Court on October 24.
He faces up to 12 months behind bars or $11,000 if convicted.