What’s going on in Melbourne?

 

        I believe that the silent majority in Melbourne feels Israel's pain following the Oct 7 pogrom by Hamas. 

        However, they are not setting the agenda and disruptions by protestors are changing the tone.

• In solidarity with Palestinians, trade unionists have attempted to block the Israeli ZIM shipping line at the Melbourne port.
  https://www.news.com.au/national/unionist-for-palestine-vow-to-block-israeli-ship-from-melbourne-sydney-ports/news-story/bb898492ad4b152eb7abe73d55a36881
  
  https://www.sheppnews.com.au/national/pro-palestine-protesters-block-israeli-shipping-line-2/

• Signs have been displayed around the city of Melbourne showing Israelis kidnapped by Hamas and calling for their release. Multiple friends of mine have seen, confronted, and shared with me recordings of people ripping down or defacing these signs.
  https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzVIZaOMxzG/

• A local city council (Merri-Bek) voted to call for a cease-fire in Gaza and to boycott Israeli companies. A council member (of Muslim Turkish heritage) voted against the proposal, explaining this is not an issue for local government.
He has been receiving death threats.

“They‘re saying: ‘Inshallah – so they’re saying God willing – you will die in a plane … wait until we do what the Israeli pigs are doing to our children. Wait until the next election’.”
“We don’t have the power, the federal government does. I think don’t they understand the role of local government. We’re viewed as radicals, as the laughing stock of local government.
https://www.ntnews.com.au/technology/online/melbourne-councillor-faces-death-threats-over-gaza-ceasefire-vote/news-story/ff80a3ebd6d8e15df2d455cfb4db0979

• Palestinian protestors invaded the Melbourne Cup,  a horse race in honour of which there is a public holiday. This is not a political event and was clearly targeted because of its high profile in the news.
  https://www.9news.com.au/national/melbourne-news-police-arrest-palestine-protestors-at-melbourne-cup/f2a49974-2d12-4e41-80cb-3715921c2441

Other facilities have been put into place to support Jewish students, such as a helpline with appropriate Jewish therapists. 

I have been advised that:-

• a large Melbourne aged care facility has arranged for armed guards for protection.-
• a Jewish day school has canceled its annual sports day due to security concerns. 


• Last week Turkish restaurant in Melbourne briefly displayed a sign refusing service to Israelis.
 
• A Melbourne Greek restaurant lost almost all its bookings for a few days after expressing sympathy to the Jewish community following the Oct 7 massacre.
  https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/other-industries/melbourne-greek-restaurant-abused-for-proisraeli-post/news-story/423411f1bfe9b62c36eafa16fb94f40b

In response, Jewish customers came out in force and the restaurant has since been booked out. 

• The Australian, a major daily newspaper, is a shining beacon of logic in the media coverage of events in Gaza. At a library I visited today in Boorandara, the front-page article about the war had been crudely ripped out of their public copy of the Australian newspaper.

This is just a small summary.

If monitoring incidents of this type is of interest to you, you may be interested to follow Dvir Abramovich, from the Anti-Defamation Commission. (Follow on Facebook)