Thousands of people have gathered in Sydney’s eastern suburbs for a Jewish vigil in support of Israel.
Close to 10,000 registered for the event in Dover Heights on Wednesday, including NSW Premier Chris Minns, who was introduced as “a true friend of the state of Israel”, and federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was in Melbourne, where he spoke at a synagogue, but he was represented at the Sydney vigil by federal Health Minister Mark Butler.
Police and guards were a visible presence as security was ramped up to allow people to mourn the more than 1000 victims of Hamas’ horrifying attack on a music festival and a host of other Israeli targets at the weekend.
NSW Police said they didn’t have any warning of direct threats, and the evening proceeded peacefully.
Minns earlier apologised for not giving the state’s Jewish community a space to come together after the terrorist attack.
Jewish residents were urged not to attend a pro-Palestine protest as the Opera House was lit up in Israeli colours on Monday.
No marchers have been arrested but some were seen burning an Israeli flag and chanting anti-Semitic phrases.
“I really want to make it clear to the Jewish community that I want to apologise to them specifically on behalf of the government and myself as the premier of New South Wales,” Minns said.
Police said another pro-Palestine protest planned for Sunday was “unauthorised at this stage” but conceded they could do nothing to stop it.
Palestine Action Group organiser Fahad Ali said it would be going ahead and pledged to do “everything to ensure that it is a peaceful protest”.
The Human Rights Law Centre condemned the minister and the police for refusing to authorise the protest.
“The conflict unfolding between Israel and Palestine is a human rights catastrophe,” acting legal director Alice Drury said in a statement.
“The NSW government – and governments across the country – must not use this moment to demonise and criminalise pro-Palestine protesters, who are raising awareness of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
“Anti-Semitism must never be tolerated, and nor should the silencing of peaceful protesters who are deeply worried about the potential for full scale war.”
(9 News)
