Published: 7 February 2023
Last updated: 19 March 2024
Speakers at the Sydney rally, supported by the right-wing AJA, accused the Albanese government, the ZFA and Australian Jewish News of being hostile to the Israeli government.
More than 100 people gathered on Sunday afternoon at a rally in Sydney’s east to show solidarity with Israel.
The rally was prompted by the deadliest Palestinian terror attack in Israel in 15 years, leaving seven Israeli civilians dead. The shooting followed a raid by IDF soldiers in the West Bank refugee camp of Jenin in which 10 Palestinians, eight militants and two civilians were killed.
The pro-Israel rally comes as protests attacking the Israeli government's anti-democratic policies spread. Israeli expatriates and Diaspora Jews gathered at events in nearly 20 cities including London, Basel, Munich, Madrid, Sofia, Oslo, New York, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, Toronto and Cambridge, England. In Israel, about 60,000 people demonstrated against anti-democratic policies in the fifth consecutive week of protests.
“There is a sense that this is not only an Israeli democracy issue but also a world Jewish issue,” says Amichai Lau-Lavie, an Israeli-born rabbi and social activist helping organize the New York rally. “We see what we’re doing as standing in solidarity with the best in Israel and protesting the worst.”
The speakers at last Sunday's Sydney gathering had no such concerns about Israeli government. In fact, they attacked the Albanese government, the Australian Jewish News and even the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) as being "hostile" to the Israeli government.
The gathering, at Dudley Page Reserve in Dover Heights, was organised by a private member of the community, Eli Tuvel, and was supported and promoted by the Australian Jewish Association (AJA), a far-Right advocacy group.
Tuvel, in his mid-twenties, told The Jewish Independent that he originally conceived of the idea to organise the rally supporting Israel when the Albanese government, in October, withdrew Australia’s recognition of West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. He said the East Jerusalem synagogue attack prompted him to act.
The rally was addressed by AJA President Dr David Adler, its Public Affairs Director Robert Gregory and Rabbi Nochum Schapiro, President of the NSW Rabbinical Council. Rabbi Yehoram Ulman of the Sydney Beth Din and Rabbi Chaim Ingram also addressed the crowd with prayers for Israel.
Adler argued that Israel’s challenges today were greater than missiles, citing concerns over internal terrorism, humanitarian aid being funnelled to NGOs hostile to Israel, and Jewish mainstream and left-wing organisations “undermining the Israeli government”.
"While we work hard and pay our taxes, we know that Anthony Albanese is sending tens of millions of dollars to fund Palestinian-Arab incitement."
Robert Gregory, Public Affairs Director, AJA
Adler condemned the ZFA over its alleged lack of community consultation, quoting an internal document sourced from a Freedom of Information search where the ZFA advised the previous Morrison government that the moving of the Australian embassy to West Jerusalem would “not preclude in any way a two-state solution” or “the Australian government recognising East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state”.
Adler accused the AJN of publishing material that undermined the Israeli government and denounced general media bias towards Israel that equivocated the deaths of Jewish civilians with Palestinian terrorists.
Gregory drew attention to fears of antisemitism, indicating he had spoken to numerous people who were not attending the rally out of fear of showing support for Israel in public.
"I know some people were afraid to attend a pro-Israel rally out in the open, but I think it’s even more important than ever to do it that way."
Eli Tuvel, organiser of Sunday's rally
Gregory called out “the hostile acts of Anthony Albanese and the Australian government toward Israel.
“While we work hard and pay our taxes, we know that Anthony Albanese is sending tens of millions of dollars to fund Palestinian-Arab incitement. Penny Wong and the Labor party stabbed the Jewish people in the back over Jerusalem. Our message to Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong is that Jerusalem belongs to the Jewish people forever.”
An attendee at the rally who wished to remain anonymous was motivated to show support for Israel following the civilian deaths in East Jerusalem. The person expressed dismay over what they believe is a widespread disregard for Jewish deaths and was concerned over growing antisemitism in Australia, that the Albanese government was “pro-Palestine”, and the need for security and secrecy in putting on the rally.
"If we say that Israel or parts of Israel don’t belong to us, then whatever is done to us to get us out of that which doesn’t belong to us is acceptable."
Rabbi Nochum Schapiro, President of the NSW Rabbinical Council
“We need security here to protect us from saying our opinions and showing support, while Palestinians march in the middle of George Street. They don’t need to be worried. It shows who is the one that is under attack and who is not.”
All speakers signified their support for a unified Jerusalem under Israeli control.
Rabbi Schapiro issued a warning over Israel ceding land to Palestinians. “If we say that Israel or parts of Israel don’t belong to us, by virtue of the fact that we are ready to cede parts of it, then whatever is done to us to get us out of that which doesn’t belong to us is acceptable.”
This is not the first time Tuvel has organised a rally in support of Israel. In May 2021, he organised a motorcade rally of 50 cars that travelled from Vaucluse to Bondi in a public demonstration of pro-Israel support. That event occurred while 700 community members gathered privately at Central Synagogue to show support for Israel, hosted by mainstream Jewish organisations.
Tuvel told The Jewish Independent Media he was happy with the rally’s turnout given the short notice. “I know some people were afraid to attend a pro-Israel rally out in the open, but I think it’s even more important than ever to do it that way.
“I was disappointed not to receive any support from some Jewish organisations and the Australian Jewish News, but thankful for those who did support. The message to the Jewish and broader community is that the Sydney Jewish community supports Israel, and we do so proudly and in the open.”
Photo: Dr David Adler, President of the Australian Jewish Association, addressing the rally in Sydney on Sunday
All photos by Nell Cohen
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