Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin blasts Sydney Mayor Clover Moore while lauding police 'maturity' in barring Sydney Harbour Bridge march

Sky News AU

4 days ago

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin has lauded NSW Police after the application to lead a pro-Palestine protest on the Sydney Harbour Bridge was rejected, but slammed Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore for supporting the protesters.
The Palestine Action Group in Sydney announced on Sunday that a rally was being planned across the Harbour Bridge on August 3 to send a ''powerful'' message to the world on the conflict in Gaza.
However, Acting Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna said organisers wanted to close the bridge to allow up to 10,000 to cross, and there was not enough time to do it safely.
He said that police had suggested alternative locations for the protest to take place and told reporters it was a matter of timing and public safety.
Mr Ryvchin said the decision to set the Bridge off-limits showed that "common sense prevails'.
The Jewish community leader said the protesters wanted the Bridge because the "bigger the landmark, the bigger the spectacle", which would help them to further their goals.
Mr Ryvchin said "this particular brand of activists" thought they had a right to do whatever they wanted, but needed to remember their place within society.
"They are so obnoxious and so extreme in their mentality, they need to be stopped," he said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the protest should be held elsewhere while Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, posted on social media that the protest should be allowed.
'It would be an incredibly powerful symbol for our most iconic landmark to be the site of a demonstration against starvation in Gaza and in favour of lasting peace,' Ms Moore said.
Mr Ryvchin said Ms Moore was "kidding herself" and was putting her own politics above the people she was "supposed to serve".
"Clover Moore needs to start thinking about the interests of the people of Sydney, but fortunately, again, the maturity of the police has prevailed and this march won't happen on the Bridge," he said.
'When she talks about this march being a lovely gesture of peace, peace does not enter the vocabulary of these people. They've never spoken about peace.
'They were in the streets celebrating immediately after October 7.'
Mr Ryvchin said the protesters would likely march regardless of the Bridge being off limits.
The Jewish leader said the activists were people who sought 'emotional gratification' and wanted to be seen 'standing up for something'.
'It's not about the Palestinians. It's about their own internal emotional nourishment and needs. That's what this is really about for them,' Mr Ryvchin said.
He said the protesters, instead of getting it 'out of their system', had become 'more extreme' and 'more severe' in their behaviour and conduct.
'We're seeing a transfer from those rallies to the storming of restaurants, to the harassment of people in the streets, to the daubing of public buildings,' he said.
'Police need to determine whether we're a state of laws or whether this violent mob with their intentions are allowed to prevail and hold sway over the vast majority of Sydneysiders who are peaceful and law abiding.'