Anti-hate group lauded as ‘fringe’ protesters slammed
William Ton |
An anti-hate task force has been lauded as a “necessary step” to stamp out anti-Semitism as a senior government figure singles out “fringe” protest elements that drove its creation.
The working group, set up by the Victorian government, met for the first time on Tuesday after a spate of incidents involving Jewish institutions in Melbourne.
Palestinian Australians have accused leaders of double standards by ignoring and not engaging in meaningful discussions about ways to address concerns over the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The task force heard from police chief Mike Bush, Premier Jacinta Allan, Melbourne mayor Nicholas Reece and Jewish community leaders.
Members were updated on the group set up to facilitate communication between community leaders and the government and how police plan to enforce anti-vilification laws.
Education to combat anti-Semitism and new laws to stamp out “extreme, dangerous and radical” public demonstrations were also on the agenda, Ms Allan said.
“We agreed if there were further action we needed to take to keep Victorians safe, we will not hesitate to take it,” she said.
The task force will meet again in coming weeks.
The Jewish Community Council of Victoria, Zionism Victoria and Zionist Federation of Australia all expressed optimism.
Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler recognised the task force was not a “silver bullet”, but was confident leaders were genuinely committed to addressing anti-Semitism.
Zionism Victoria president Elyse Schachna said firm action must be taken against law-breakers.
“The anti-hate task force is a necessary step forward in addressing the rise in Jew hate,” she said.
The meeting came after worshippers were forced to flee the East Melbourne Synagogue when it was firebombed on the same night Israeli restaurant Miznon in the city centre was targeted by pro-Palestine protesters in a separate incident.
Sydney man Angelo Loras, 34, has been charged over Friday night’s synagogue firebombing.
Deputy Premier Ben Carroll, who was due to visit the restaurant on Wednesday, lashed what he described as a fringe group of protesters intent on causing destruction.
“Holding law-abiding citizens responsible for the actions of the Israeli government or what’s occurring in the Middle East is classic anti-Semitism and needs to be called out,” he told reporters.
But Palestinian Australians have accused leaders of double standards, saying their concerns have been met with political silence, suspicion, hostility or surveillance.
“There have been no task forces, no public statements of care for Palestinians as they watch their loved ones massacred by the genocidal state of Israel, or are targeted by anti-Palestinian racism here in Australia,” Australian Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni said.
Political leaders needed to stop criminalising Palestinian resistance, grief and political expression and engage in meaningful consultation, Mr Mashni said.
Miznon’s owners have spoken of the “profound impact” of the incident on Friday, which caused much distress to customers, patrons and staff in neighbouring restaurants.
About 20 protesters chanted “death to the IDF” – a reference to the Israel Defence Forces – outside the Hardware Lane restaurant and left a glass door smashed and tables and chairs up-ended.
Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance has claimed responsibility for the protest.
Antwany Arnold, 50, from Richmond, faced a Magistrates Court hearing on Tuesday on charges including affray and riotous behaviour.
He was remanded in custody, with court documents alleging he threw food and restaurant furniture.
A 48-year-old Footscray woman and a 28-year-old Essendon woman were also charged with assault, affray, riotous behaviour and criminal damage, while another person was arrested and then released for allegedly hindering police that night.
Others on Saturday spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic “inferences” then set them alight in the city’s northeast, while a fourth incident involved offensive images being spray-painted on pillars and walls near a Holocaust museum in Elsternwick.
AAP
