- Pro-Israel protest outside a Melbourne synagogue
- It came after a planned pro-Palestine protest was cancelled.
Tensions rose outside a synagogue as pro-Israel supporters gathered to counter a pro-Palestinian protest even though the demonstration was cancelled.
Several pro-Israel protesters demonstrated outside a popular Melbourne synagogue on Monday night, even after the planned pro-Palestinian protest was formally canceled at 11am because organizers cited security concerns.
“This peaceful demonstration has been canceled due to threats made by Zionists against protesters,” organizers posted on social media.
Despite the cancellation, there was a visible police presence near the synagogue in Caulfield North, in Melbourne’s southeast, where a sea of Israeli flags far outnumbered Palestinian flags.
Specialized police surrounded a small group of Palestine supporters holding anti-Zionist signs reading “nothing is more anti-Semitic than Zionism” in an attempt to keep them away from the larger pro-Israel group.
The planned rally was in response to a planned talk organized by the Council for Jewish Affairs and Australia/Israel that included former Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked, whose visa to enter Australia was reportedly rejected.
Pro-Israel and Pro-Palestine protesters clashed outside a popular Melbourne synagogue on Monday night.
Pro-Israel activists gathered outside the Caulfield Hebrew Congregation on Monday night following reports of a pro-Palestinian protest, which was called off at 11am.
The pro-Palestinian protesters were surrounded by specialized police to keep them separated from the pro-Israeli crowd.
Earlier, Prime Minister Jacinta Allan told reporters that “there is no place in this state for hateful behavior, for hate-filled protests, for people attending places with hate in their hearts.”
“Everyone deserves to live in this great state, free from hate, free from vilification, and they also deserve the right to be who they are, practice their faith, believe in who they believe, and have their identity respected,” he said.
Allan added that it is protests like these that require his government to propose anti-defamation laws.
“They will be a set of laws that will seek to strengthen what makes our state great,” he said.
Prime Minister Jacinta Allan previously told reporters that “there is no place in this state for hateful behaviour, for hate-filled protests, for people attending places with hate in their hearts.”
The demonstration was also criticized by 3AW Mornings presenter Tom Elliot, who described it as “unnecessarily inflammatory”.
“Nothing good is going to come out of a protest in favor of Gaza and a free Palestine that takes place in front of a synagogue,” he said.
A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed police would be present to “provide a visible presence to ensure the safety of the community”.