James Crafti is detained by police near the intersection of Orrong and Inkerman roads on Monday night.Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui
The most serious confrontation on Monday night occurred a few hundred metres east of the synagogue,where hundreds of Israel supporters surrounded about 10 pro-Palestine activists.
The larger group chanted “bring them home” and “get a job”,some calling the protesters “cowards” for wearing masks. The pro-Palestine group mainly chanted “free,free Palestine” while some members blew bubbles.
Police scrambled to separate the groups at the intersection of Testar Grove and Inkerman Road,which was blocked in both directions. The crowd dispersed at about 8pm when the Palestinian supporters walked away.
Outside the synagogue,Israeli music blared until about 9pm as the pro-Israeli crowd continued waving flags at cars passing by.
Free Palestine Coalition Naarm described its cancelled action as “a peaceful protest called by Jewish anti-Zionists,many of whom grew up going to synagogues,and do not acquiesce to our religion being weaponised as a tool of genocide”.
Former Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked was slated to attend the AIJAC event,but the Australian governmentdenied her a visa last week on character grounds. Shaked made headlines last year after calling for all Gazans to be deported and the Palestinian city of Khan Younis,in the southern Gaza Strip,to be turned into a soccer field.
Caulfield North resident Julian Millman said he joined the pro-Israeli crowd because he wanted to support the local Jewish community.
“I don’t believe they’re here to try and protest,” Millman said of the pro-Palestinian activists. “I think they’re here to cause trouble.”
AIJAC executive director Joel Burnie said it was “deeply upsetting and sad” that the Jewish community still had concerns about “safety and protection in our own community”.
“Governments need less words and more action,” he said.
The tiny group of pro-Palestinian protesters on Inkerman Road on Monday night.Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui
Victoria Police said approximately 150 people attended the protest.
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