Latest news with #ShaharSegal
The Guardian
6 days ago
- The Guardian
Attacks in Melbourne have struck fear into the Jewish community, and do nothing to bring about peace
On Friday night, there was an alleged arson attack on East Melbourne Synagogue, and separately an alleged attack by protesters on an Israeli restaurant in the CBD. Police have said no links between the incidents have been identified. While criminal charges have now been laid and the justice system must be allowed to take its course, to understand the impacts of these two separate events on Melbourne's Jewish community, you first must understand what Fridays mean to us. It is the night where we welcome in Shabbat (the Sabbath), and the different expressions of how we do that are perfectly illustrated in both Miznon and the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation. Sitting on the edge of Melbourne's CBD, East Melbourne Synagogue is one of Melbourne's oldest and most established congregations, practising ceremonies reflective of the Orthodox Jewish religion. Only a short distance away is the Israeli restaurant Miznon. Despite their differences, both institutions of the Jewish community reflect what is most important to us on that day of the week: being together. Last Friday night, as 20 members of the East Melbourne Synagogue community were gathered around the table for Shabbat dinner, police allege a man allegedly attempted to set the building they were in alight. And at Miznon, a protest allegedly turned violent. Protesters reportedly targeted the restaurant because it is part-owned by Israeli restaurateur Shahar Segal, who has served as a spokesperson for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has been widely condemned for how it distributes aid in Gaza. But I don't believe what allegedly unfolded at Miznon was a legitimate peaceful protest. Patrons and staff were allegedly harassed. Furniture was allegedly thrown. Two separate incidents. Two very different spaces. Targeting East Melbourne Synagogue strikes fear to all who feel connected to their culture, community and way of life. Many will recognise this antisemitism from the darkest times in Jewish memory. But targeting Miznon also strikes fear for all who are proud of their culture, heritage, and background, and want to share it with their fellow Australians. It makes people question if their existence or where they were born diminishes their place in our country. There must be a space for legitimate criticism of the Israeli government, to voice the need for Gazans to receive aid, to end hostilities and work towards a lasting peace. But we cannot accept that any of that is achieved by causing further division here in Melbourne. Violence, pain and suffering is not a competition. And one of the most important things is to listen to different communities when they tell you what is impacting them. It is not up to those outside the Jewish community to tell us what is and isn't antisemitism, or to define what makes us feel unsafe. At the same time, we must learn that two things can be true at once: That we can hold empathy for the unimaginable suffering of the Palestinian people, while caring for the safety of the Jewish community in Australia. That we can wish for the safe return of hostages to their families in Israel, while seeing that the rise of Islamophobia here at home is true as well. And in doing so, we must realise some things that are not true. One of these things that is not true is that by expressing concern for rising antisemitism in Australia, you are endorsing violence in a conflict on the other side of the world. The reality is if the Jewish community doesn't feel safe here in Australia, we are not the only ones. Other communities are watching. They are seeing what is happening to the Jewish community when we call out what is happening to us. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion This is demonstrated to me daily when I receive private messages of solidarity and support from people who are afraid of assumptions and repercussions if they said as much publicly. The government that I am a part of needs to be open to doing more, but we can't legislate away bigotry and hatred. Each of us have a responsibility to look at what's happening around us. And that starts with listening to affected communities. When my office was firebombed in June last year, it was an incident that we thought was as far as escalations could go. At the time I said I would have done it myself if it would bring peace to the Middle East. That point remains. How we confront these issues in Australia matters, and it too often descends into the opposite of the future we desperately want to realise. Despite the alleged attacks on the Jewish community, there are still places for us to find hope. And this was demonstrated by the response of the staff from Max, the Lebanese owned restaurant neighbouring Miznon on Friday night. Standing in the doorway, it was the staff of Max, who stood in front of Miznon and copped the brunt of the alleged abuse, hurling of tomatoes and the alleged smashing of the shop windows. Because for those of us who come from multicultural and multifaith communities, we know that an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. And that the future should be one of respect, togetherness and sharing food, especially on a Friday night. Josh Burns is the federal member for Macnamara
Al Jazeera
6 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Three charged after protest at Israeli-owned restaurant in Australia
Three people have been charged with assault and other offences allegedly committed during a pro-Palestinian protest at an Israeli-owned restaurant in Melbourne, Australia. A 50-year-old man and two women, aged 48 and 28, were charged with assault, affray, riotous behaviour and criminal damage, Victoria Police said on Tuesday. Police allege that several people were involved in an altercation in which chairs were thrown and a glass door was damaged after about 20 protesters converged on the city-centre restaurant Miznon on Friday. Police said investigations into the incident were ongoing. The Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance, an activist group, said after the incident that the restaurant had been targeted as a 'site for direct action' due to its ownership by Shahar Segal, an Israeli businessman who has served as a spokesperson for the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. 'If a person openly supports the terrorist state of Israel, especially what Amnesty International describes as their 'deadly, dehumanising and ineffective militarised aid scheme', they and their business are a fair target,' the activist group said. A separate statement posted on social media by a person or people describing themselves as a 'group of autonomous individuals' denied instigating violence and blamed the altercation on employees from another restaurant in the vicinity. The GHF, which is backed by the United States and Israel, has received widespread condemnation amid numerous reports of Israeli forces killing Palestinians in the vicinity of its distribution centres. The Gaza Health Ministry said on Saturday that at least 743 Palestinians had been killed and more than 4,891 others injured while seeking assistance at the distribution sites. Segal said in a social media post on Saturday that he had departed from his 'temporary' and 'volunteer' role with GHF. He did not provide a reason. Miznon said in a statement on Tuesday that Friday's incident had had a 'profound impact' on its staff. 'The actions of a few, caused much distress to our customers and to neighbouring restaurant patrons and staff,' the statement said. 'While others have chosen to speak about who we are and decided we are a legitimate target for protest, we want to be clear about who we are, in our words. We are a restaurant, a place of hospitality, of warmth and welcome,' the statement continued. 'Our greatest joy is to feed people from every background and viewpoint and to see the joy on people's faces as they enjoy our food and each other's company. That is our purpose and our objective.' Separately, Victoria Police on Sunday charged a 34-year-old man with a series of offences related to a suspicious fire at a synagogue in inner-city Melbourne on Friday. Authorities have said they have not established any link between the incidents.
ABC News
6 days ago
- ABC News
Three charged over altercation at Israeli-owned restaurant Miznon in Melbourne CBD
Three people have been charged with assault, riotous behaviour and criminal damage after a group of protesters converged on an Israeli-owned restaurant in Melbourne's CBD on Friday night. The group was a part of a larger cohort which had gathered on Swanston Street to protest the need for police presence at public demonstrations. Police said about 20 people left that group about 8:15pm and went to the Miznon restaurant in Hardware Lane where patrons were having dinner. Police allege several people in the group were involved in an altercation, where chairs were thrown and a glass door was damaged. Three people — a 50-year-old man from Richmond, a 48-year-old woman from Footscray and a 28-year-old woman from Essendon have been charged with assault, affray, riotous behaviour and criminal damage. The incident occurred on the same night as a string of antisemitic incidents. On Friday night the door of a synagogue in East Melbourne was set alight while 20 congregants were inside. Angelo Loras, 34, has been charged over that incident. A business in the north-eastern suburb of Greensborough also had three cars torched about 4:30am the next day. Police said on Monday no links between any of the incidents had been identified. In a statement posted to social media, the group behind a No Police at Protests movement said it targeted the restaurant because it was part-owned by Israeli businessman Shahar Segal. Mr Segal is a spokesperson for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an Israeli and US-backed organisation that has been criticised for how it distributes aid in Gaza. But the group denied that incident was linked to the attack at the synagogue. "Pro-Palestinian activists have never attacked places of worship, and we condemn such attacks," the statement read. A statement released by Miznon on Tuesday said the events on Friday had had a "profound impact" on staff. "We are a restaurant, a place of hospitality, of warmth and welcome. Our greatest joy is to feed people from every background and viewpoint and to see the joy on people's faces as they enjoy our food and each other's company. That is our purpose and our objective," the statement read. "All our staff and customers are coming from different background and cultures. We respect everyone's right to their own nationality and religion. We ask for the same. "All we wish to do moving forward, is to keep feeding anyone who comes through our doors with love, attention and care while supplying a safe working space for our employees."
The Advertiser
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
New taskforce to tackle hate after anti-Semitic attacks
NEW ANTI-HATE TASKFORCE * Assigned with tackling hateful behaviour and looking at the bigger picture across Victoria * Members will include the premier, police minister, Victoria Police, the Melbourne lord mayor and Jewish community voices, with more stakeholders to be added * Initial meeting this week will be about getting advice from Victoria Police on how anti-vilification laws will be put into operation * Taskforce will update the premier on progress from local meetings with the Jewish community * It will also update on the progress of community consultations and legislation for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest * It will build on anti-vilification laws, greater police powers to come into effect and the work on legislation to ban masks at protests MELBOURNE'S ALLEGED ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS: East Melbourne Hebrew Synagogue * Firebombed on Friday night with 20 worshippers inside for a Shabbat dinner * A man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door and set it alight * Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old from Sydney's west, was arrested in Melbourne, with detectives investigating his intent and ideology * He was charged with reckless conduct endanger life, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon CBD Israeli restaurant * A group who splintered off from an earlier protest allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables and threw chairs outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD on Friday night * Protest organisers said the restaurant was targeted because it was part-owned by Israeli businessman Shahar Segal, a spokesman for a food aid group backed by Israel and the US * A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons * Police chief commissioner Mike Bush will examine the police response to the protest outside the restaurant Greensborough business * Three cars and a wall were spray-painted outside a Greensborough business in Melbourne's northeast in the early hours of Saturday * One vehicle was destroyed and two damaged after being set alight * There were "inferences of anti-Semitism" and the business has been subjected to pro-Palestinian activity in the past year, police said Elsternwick business * Offenders used stencils to allegedly spray paint offensive images on pillars at a busy intersection and on walls in Elsternwick on Sunday * Police have not established links between the incidents NEW ANTI-HATE TASKFORCE * Assigned with tackling hateful behaviour and looking at the bigger picture across Victoria * Members will include the premier, police minister, Victoria Police, the Melbourne lord mayor and Jewish community voices, with more stakeholders to be added * Initial meeting this week will be about getting advice from Victoria Police on how anti-vilification laws will be put into operation * Taskforce will update the premier on progress from local meetings with the Jewish community * It will also update on the progress of community consultations and legislation for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest * It will build on anti-vilification laws, greater police powers to come into effect and the work on legislation to ban masks at protests MELBOURNE'S ALLEGED ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS: East Melbourne Hebrew Synagogue * Firebombed on Friday night with 20 worshippers inside for a Shabbat dinner * A man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door and set it alight * Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old from Sydney's west, was arrested in Melbourne, with detectives investigating his intent and ideology * He was charged with reckless conduct endanger life, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon CBD Israeli restaurant * A group who splintered off from an earlier protest allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables and threw chairs outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD on Friday night * Protest organisers said the restaurant was targeted because it was part-owned by Israeli businessman Shahar Segal, a spokesman for a food aid group backed by Israel and the US * A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons * Police chief commissioner Mike Bush will examine the police response to the protest outside the restaurant Greensborough business * Three cars and a wall were spray-painted outside a Greensborough business in Melbourne's northeast in the early hours of Saturday * One vehicle was destroyed and two damaged after being set alight * There were "inferences of anti-Semitism" and the business has been subjected to pro-Palestinian activity in the past year, police said Elsternwick business * Offenders used stencils to allegedly spray paint offensive images on pillars at a busy intersection and on walls in Elsternwick on Sunday * Police have not established links between the incidents NEW ANTI-HATE TASKFORCE * Assigned with tackling hateful behaviour and looking at the bigger picture across Victoria * Members will include the premier, police minister, Victoria Police, the Melbourne lord mayor and Jewish community voices, with more stakeholders to be added * Initial meeting this week will be about getting advice from Victoria Police on how anti-vilification laws will be put into operation * Taskforce will update the premier on progress from local meetings with the Jewish community * It will also update on the progress of community consultations and legislation for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest * It will build on anti-vilification laws, greater police powers to come into effect and the work on legislation to ban masks at protests MELBOURNE'S ALLEGED ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS: East Melbourne Hebrew Synagogue * Firebombed on Friday night with 20 worshippers inside for a Shabbat dinner * A man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door and set it alight * Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old from Sydney's west, was arrested in Melbourne, with detectives investigating his intent and ideology * He was charged with reckless conduct endanger life, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon CBD Israeli restaurant * A group who splintered off from an earlier protest allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables and threw chairs outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD on Friday night * Protest organisers said the restaurant was targeted because it was part-owned by Israeli businessman Shahar Segal, a spokesman for a food aid group backed by Israel and the US * A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons * Police chief commissioner Mike Bush will examine the police response to the protest outside the restaurant Greensborough business * Three cars and a wall were spray-painted outside a Greensborough business in Melbourne's northeast in the early hours of Saturday * One vehicle was destroyed and two damaged after being set alight * There were "inferences of anti-Semitism" and the business has been subjected to pro-Palestinian activity in the past year, police said Elsternwick business * Offenders used stencils to allegedly spray paint offensive images on pillars at a busy intersection and on walls in Elsternwick on Sunday * Police have not established links between the incidents NEW ANTI-HATE TASKFORCE * Assigned with tackling hateful behaviour and looking at the bigger picture across Victoria * Members will include the premier, police minister, Victoria Police, the Melbourne lord mayor and Jewish community voices, with more stakeholders to be added * Initial meeting this week will be about getting advice from Victoria Police on how anti-vilification laws will be put into operation * Taskforce will update the premier on progress from local meetings with the Jewish community * It will also update on the progress of community consultations and legislation for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest * It will build on anti-vilification laws, greater police powers to come into effect and the work on legislation to ban masks at protests MELBOURNE'S ALLEGED ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS: East Melbourne Hebrew Synagogue * Firebombed on Friday night with 20 worshippers inside for a Shabbat dinner * A man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door and set it alight * Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old from Sydney's west, was arrested in Melbourne, with detectives investigating his intent and ideology * He was charged with reckless conduct endanger life, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon CBD Israeli restaurant * A group who splintered off from an earlier protest allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables and threw chairs outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD on Friday night * Protest organisers said the restaurant was targeted because it was part-owned by Israeli businessman Shahar Segal, a spokesman for a food aid group backed by Israel and the US * A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons * Police chief commissioner Mike Bush will examine the police response to the protest outside the restaurant Greensborough business * Three cars and a wall were spray-painted outside a Greensborough business in Melbourne's northeast in the early hours of Saturday * One vehicle was destroyed and two damaged after being set alight * There were "inferences of anti-Semitism" and the business has been subjected to pro-Palestinian activity in the past year, police said Elsternwick business * Offenders used stencils to allegedly spray paint offensive images on pillars at a busy intersection and on walls in Elsternwick on Sunday * Police have not established links between the incidents
Perth Now
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
New taskforce to tackle hate after anti-Semitic attacks
NEW ANTI-HATE TASKFORCE * Assigned with tackling hateful behaviour and looking at the bigger picture across Victoria * Members will include the premier, police minister, Victoria Police, the Melbourne lord mayor and Jewish community voices, with more stakeholders to be added * Initial meeting this week will be about getting advice from Victoria Police on how anti-vilification laws will be put into operation * Taskforce will update the premier on progress from local meetings with the Jewish community * It will also update on the progress of community consultations and legislation for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest * It will build on anti-vilification laws, greater police powers to come into effect and the work on legislation to ban masks at protests MELBOURNE'S ALLEGED ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS: East Melbourne Hebrew Synagogue * Firebombed on Friday night with 20 worshippers inside for a Shabbat dinner * A man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door and set it alight * Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old from Sydney's west, was arrested in Melbourne, with detectives investigating his intent and ideology * He was charged with reckless conduct endanger life, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon CBD Israeli restaurant * A group who splintered off from an earlier protest allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables and threw chairs outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD on Friday night * Protest organisers said the restaurant was targeted because it was part-owned by Israeli businessman Shahar Segal, a spokesman for a food aid group backed by Israel and the US * A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons * Police chief commissioner Mike Bush will examine the police response to the protest outside the restaurant Greensborough business * Three cars and a wall were spray-painted outside a Greensborough business in Melbourne's northeast in the early hours of Saturday * One vehicle was destroyed and two damaged after being set alight * There were "inferences of anti-Semitism" and the business has been subjected to pro-Palestinian activity in the past year, police said Elsternwick business * Offenders used stencils to allegedly spray paint offensive images on pillars at a busy intersection and on walls in Elsternwick on Sunday * Police have not established links between the incidents
