The BDS Movement and Antisemitism: Statement by Executive Council of Australian Jewry

As reported by J-Wire, Australian Jewry's umbrella organisation, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, has issued a statement regarding the odious BDS campaign and reactions to it.  I think the statement is worth reproducing in full.  I've added a video, complete with Jewish socialist - or "useful idiot," as some would say.

'There has been widespread criticism of the recent BDS protests against Max Brenner outlets in Sydney and Melbourne.  The criticism has come not only from Labor and Coalition members of parliament, Federal and State, but also from some of their Greens colleagues.   The ECAJ thanks all of them for their efforts in opposing and speaking out against the Australian arm of the global BDS campaign against Israel.
The Max Brenner chain is a legitimate, privately owned business that operates in accordance with Australian law.  It provides employment to approximately 750 Australian workers and pays taxes that contribute to the public revenue.  Its alleged "crime" is to be connected in some way to a company that supplies chocolate and other food products to the Israeli army.

Recently, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) was asked by the Victorian government, with the near unanimous support of the Australian Senate (excluding the Greens), whether the BDS campaign against Max Brenner outlets constitutes a secondary boycott in contravention of section 45D of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.  The ACCC concluded that thus far there has been no contravention because the BDS campaign is unlikely to have had the effect of causing substantial loss or damage to the business of Max Brenner, as would be required to constitute a breach of section 45D.
Whilst in some respects that conclusion is disappointing, it highlights how ineffectual and unsuccessful the BDS campaign has been in persuading the Australian public not to patronise Max Brenner shops.  Indeed, the BDS campaign has, if anything, succeeded in alienating broader public opinion in Australia and engendering sympathy and support for the target businesses.


The ECAJ is, however, concerned about some of the rhetoric that has been deployed by both sides of the public debate concerning BDS.  On occasions, some of those supporting BDS have lapsed into both overt and implicit antisemitism, and some of those opposing BDS have inappropriately likened Greens leaders to "Nazis".  Neither infracyion excuses the other.  We note that no member of parliament, Federal or State, on wither side of the debate, have engaged in these extreme forms of rhetoric.

All expressions of antisemitism are repugnant not only to the Jewish community but also to the vast majority of Australians.  An ancient and pernicious form of antisemitism is known as the “blood libel”, a vicious and revolting smear to the effect that Jews as a group habitually shed and consume human blood.  (In point of fact, this is the exact opposite of Jewish teaching, which holds human life to be sacrosanct, a belief that has been inherited by both Christianity and Islam).   In the BDS campaign against Max Brenner, the ancient blood libel is revived in the protesters’ chants:

There’s blood in your hot chocolate.
You support genocide.
Max, Max murderer.

It is of course ludicrous to describe someone who merely sells chocolate products as a "murderer".  Yet in our view, it is no accident that the BDS protesters choose to make their points in these specific ways, which tap into an historical reservoir of anti-Jewish tropes.  They could make their points in other ways.  True moral leadership requires our political representatives to repudiate this sort of deeply racist rhetoric, regardless of where they stand on the BDS issue.
One aspect of the BDS campaign that is particularly troubling is that the boycotts are aimed at businesses with Jewish owners.  Thus, Max Brenner is targeted, but Intel or Microsoft or any other similar company, which operates significantly in Israel and supplies the Israeli Defence Force, is not targeted.  It is entirely legitimate to draw attention to this disparity and to question the motives of BDS leaders.

There is further antisemitism in the implied denial of the Jewish people’s right of national self-determination.     [My emphasis]

Another frequent anti-Israel chant is:

From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

This implies that all of the land situated between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea is "Palestine".  Of course, part of that land consists of Israel.  What is thereby advocated is the end of Israel as a sovereign State and its replacement by "Palestine".   [My emphasis]

Distinguishing between political comment and inappropriate rhetoric

The ECAJ does not suggest that all criticisms of Israel are antisemitic.  Israel is a vibrant pluralist democracy and its citizens (Jews, Bedouin, Palestinians and Druze) are often its most incisive critics.  But it is also false to suggest that no criticisms of Israel are antisemitic.   There is clearly an overlap, as the foregoing examples illustrate.

The existence of an overlap was also acknowledged in the Working Definition of Antisemitism developed by the European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC), which monitors racism and xenophobia in the 31 countries and candidate countries of the European Union, in collaboration with key NGOs and representatives of the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
The EUMC, now called the European Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), adopted the definition in 2005 and distributed it to all its national monitors. In September 2006, the definition was adopted by the United Kingdom All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Antisemitism.  It is also employed by units of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), representing about states. The definition has been translated into 33 languages including Arabic and Turkish.  In February 2009, it was adopted in the London Declaration on Combating Antisemitism.  The working definition includes the following:

Examples of the ways in which antisemitism manifests itself with regard to the state of Israel taking into account the overall context could include:

•         Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour.
•         Applying double standards by requiring of it a behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.
•         Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.
•         Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
•         Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.

The way to combat these more contemporary and subtle forms of antisemitism is not, in our view, to fight fire with fire.  Whilst hyperbole is to be expected in any free-flowing political discussion in Australia’s robust democracy, special care is needed to avoid comparing any Australian political leaders or members of parliament to "Nazis" or comparing any political party in Australia to the former Nazi regime in Germany.   There is, thankfully, nothing in Australia’s history and experience that is even remotely comparable to the unique evil and horror of the Hitler period in Germany and Europe.
Yet the use of inappropriate analogies with Nazism has crept into political discourse in Australia with increasing frequency.  This has the effect of trivialising Nazi totalitarianism, particularly in the thinking of younger people who have no personal point of entry into understanding the realities of life under the Nazi jackboot.

For this reason our organisation some years ago adopted an express policy against inappropriate Holocaust rhetoric (see http://www.ecaj.org.au/ under 'ECAJ Platform').  The ECAJ: recognised that the Holocaust, the Nazi program of genocide, was a unique historical event; noted that the Holocaust is generally recognised as the benchmark of the most extreme case of human evil; and deplored the inappropriate use of analogies to the Nazi Genocide in Australian public debate.

The ECAJ is concerned that some of the media discourse has resorted to rhetoric that has been less disciplined than it should be. In particular we seek to discourage the use of imprecise analogies with the Nazi regime.  One must acknowledge that there are significant historical differences between rag-tag groups of BDS protesters outside Max Brenner outlets in Australia and a campaign backed by the Nazi state and enforced by state-sanctioned Nazi thugs who picketed shops owned by Jews in Germany in the 1930’s.   Yet Nazis commenced their campaign as purportedly private action before there was government sanction for it.

In another context which has nothing to do with the BDS issue cartoons were recently published in a syndicated newspaper depicting Greens leader Bob Brown as a book-burning Nazi, complete with swastika arm-band, Gestapo cap and SA (Sturmabteilung) uniform.  Prime Minister Julia Gillard was similarly portrayed.   Even allowing for the usual latitude accorded to political cartoonists, nothing can justify comment of this nature.  Political leaders are fair game for all kinds of criticism, but this exceeds the bounds of fairness and diminishes the uniquely evil character of the Nazi regime and the Holocaust.

Some BDS supporters have also been guilty of making inappropriate comparisons with the Nazi era.  It is not uncommon to see placards at their demonstrations which depict the Israeli flag with a swastika at its centre in place of the Star of David or contain other images which, as referred to in the Working Definition of Antisemitism, draw comparisons between Israel and the Nazis.   Clearly, BDS leaders and supporters are in no moral position to accuse others of lacking rhetorical virtue.

Rejecting inappropriate comparisons between the BDS campaign and Nazi Germany does not require us to accept the claim that the BDS protesters are merely opposed to Israeli government policies and actions with regard to the Palestinians, but are not in any way animated by anti-Jewish prejudice.  The BDS protests do not have to rise to the level of seriousness of the Nazi era in order, on occasion, to qualify as antisemitic.

Further, the BDS campaign is calculated to orchestrate public hatred, an ugly and unworthy tactic regardless of the alleged target.  The fact is that an unusually high percentage of Australian Jews are survivors of the Holocaust.  Nobody should callously dismiss the reaction of Australian Jews to the sight of Jewish-owned shops once more being picketed by chanting, aggressive demonstrators many of whose faces are contorted in hate, as can be seen on YouTube and other recordings of BDS events.   Even though the parallels to Nazi Germany are an historical over-statement, those who have suggested that that reaction is contrived should be ashamed of themselves.  The reaction is entirely genuine and understandable. [My emphasis]

Nevertheless, the ECAJ is asking all of our political representatives who count themselves as supporters of Israel and opponents of BDS, and the media, to refrain from the inappropriate use of analogies to the Nazis, and to provide moral leadership to others to exercise restraint in their rhetoric.  This is the right thing to do even if it is a vain hope that supporters of BDS will exercise a reciprocal responsibility to eliminate express or implicit antisemitism from their rhetoric.'

BDS Demos Not In Breach Of Australian Federal Law - ACCC Ruling

In a characteristically brilliant new article (be sure to read it!), the great British columnist Melanie Phillips well describes the Israel Derangement Syndrome thus:

"[T]he demonisation of Israel is of a nature and type extended to no other country.

While atrocities by tyrannies and rogue states provoke almost total indifference, Israel is treated as in a class apart: apparently the very worst country in the entire world, a kind of global blight which has to be expunged altogether from civilised society if not from the face of the earth.

.... Part of the madness is that we are totally forbidden to identify what this actually is - a prejudice directed solely at the Jewish people, who in this latest manifestation are uniquely demonised as usurpers in their own historic homeland."  http://www.thejc.com/comment-and-debate/columnists/54423/camerons-dismissal-israel

She's talking about Israel Derangement Syndrome in Britain, but of course the passage refers perfectly to Israel Derangement Syndrome elsewhere in the Western World, including Australia.

A month ago, following mob protests outside the Max Brenner chocolate shop in Melbourne, the Victorian state government of premier Ted Baillieu asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to investigate calls for a consumer boycott of Max Brenner in order to determine whether the BDS campaign is in breach of Commonwealth of Australia law.  The ACCC has now ruled that there is no breach - and the demonisers are crowing.

Here's a consequent report, complete with Israel-demonising Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon, from Iran Press TV's Sydney reporter: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xkxw0s_accc-upholds-right-to-protest-israeli-owned-companies_news

Meanwhile (hat tip reader Shirlee) here are two interesting related items.

The first reports that New South Wales Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham has split with his party over the BDS issue, which he labels "counterproductive to the cause of peace and human rights in the Middle East."

The second reports that Victorian Trades Hall Council assistant secretary David Cragg has slammed the BDS drive. He cites the  "totally repugnant history" of boycotting Jewish businesses, and observes:

"If the strategic goal of BDS is not just to end the settlements in the West Bank but to change the demographic composition of Israel, it is clearly a racist and frankly ludicrous enterprise at odds with the global consensus, which has always recognised Israel's right to exist specifically as the state of the Jewish people legitimately created under international law and the UN Charter.

Israel, as it is currently, would no longer exist if BDS achieves its goals."

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/antiisrael-boycott-opens-fresh-split-in-greens-20110908-1jzy7.html
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/unionist-slams-ludicrous-and-racist-anti-israel-drive/story-fn59niix-1226132637719

For Your Viewing Pleasure: Pro-Israel Crowd in Brisbane Confronting "Anti-Semitic Socialists"

You've read the report* Now see the pictures! (Each piece of footage is brief)
*http://daphneanson.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-sweet-it-was-brisbane-anti-semitic.html

How Sweet It Was: Brisbane "Anti-Semitic Socialists" Routed By Counter-Protesters Outside Max Brenner

The antisemites of the BDS movement and their running dogs (described by an eyewitness as "enraged with hate and envy") were out in Brisbane on 27 August, to scream the usual lies and insults associated with Israel-demonisers everywhere and the BDS movement in particular.

This lot, targeting the city's Max Brenner franchise, were a mainly 20- and 30-something mix of students, the inevitable Greens (aka the Watermelons, "green on the outside and red within"), GetUp, and Justice for Palestine, plus some Muslim women in hijabs.  A few Palestinian flags were carried.

What the so-called Justice for Palestine group demands is, in their own words (http://www.justiceforpalestinebrisbane.org/), "an end to the occupation of all Arab lands and the dismantling of the Apartheid Wall" plus " the right of return for all Palestinian refugees" [emphasis theirs].  The willful ignorance of the history of the conflict, any semblance of empathy for an Israeli population under constant attack from ruthless terrorists, any concession to the notion that the Israeli government has the right and obligation to defend its citizens, is of course entirely missing. The clear aim of "Justice for Palestine" - as of the entire BDS movement - is the eradication of the world's only Jewish State.

There's a video (I'll tell you where to see it, presently) of the squalid near-hysterical speech in that vein to the rag, tag and bobtail assemblage by one of those strident carbon copy far-left feminists (funny peculiar, that, isn't it?) who seem to be so much in evidence in Israel-bashing circles:

To quote Ari Heber, reporting for J-Wire, the protesters

'bleated their inane anti-Israel slogans as if in a street theater production of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”.

A crowd of about 130 multicultural multifaith supporters rallied against the demonstrators drowning them out with jeers and generally positive messages.

Hot Chocolate, dancing and a sense of camaraderie made it an enjoyable afternoon.

In an email to the community this week Q[eensland] J[ewish] B[oard of] D [erputies ]President Jason Steinberg had asked supporters not to engage with the protesters and not to provoke them.

Many supporters at the protest felt that there was a need for the community to do something to challenge these protesters and not ignore them.

In the time it took to order a hot chocolate the protesters gave up and moved on down the street claiming a “moral victory” over democracy and free thought.'

And who were those counter-protesters that had the BDSers on the run?  They were an assortment of well-intentioned individuals ranging in age from teens to senior citizens, with input from members of the Australian Tea Party.

One of the architects of the counter-protest was a University of Queensland student, Danielle Keys, who is National Plan Campus Director for the Conservative Leadership Foundation, although the counter-protest was not linked to that organisation.

She has said:

"It is offensive and reminiscent of the 1930’s that a private business should come under attack because of either the origin of the business itself or the origin of the business’ owners.

In a liberal democracy like Australia where freedom of religion, freedom of association and free enterprise is embraced, it is very disturbing to me to consistently see the prejudiced and violent behaviour of groups like the Socialist Alliance.

To aggressively protest and blockade entrance to a private business because of its Israeli origin and association is intolerant and unacceptable."  http://www.menzieshouse.com.au/2011/08/counter-protest-against-socialist-alternative-anti-semitic-thuggary-in-brisbane.html

And of the good work on 27 August she comments:

'When the Socialist Alliance marched down to Southbank they were not counting on being outnumbered by ordinary Australians telling them to go home and that their intolerance was not welcome. They quite seriously didn’t bank on it and were very upset about it (ha-ha!). I recognised quite a few faces from university so I look forward to whatever retaliatory aggression they will have for me in the coming weeks at the University of Queensland....

It was amazing to see the Socialist Alliance and Justice for Palestine outnumbered and placed into a nice little contained area. There were stacks of people and in particular many young people out to stand up against the Socialist Alliance. Unlike in other cities, the Socialist Alliance were kept away from the Max Brenner store (as they would have had to get through 10 police officers and 70 regular Australians who were fed up). Max Brenner Southbank was really busy and business was booming for them. We had random people off the street so disgusted by the Socialist Alliance that they went and bought some chocolate then stood with us.

This rabble of socialist sycophants were chanting about Max Brenner’s support for genocide and how it has blood on it’s hands. I found this particularly disturbing as Jewish people have been systematically persecuted and subjected to genocidal attacks for thousands of years. The conduct of the Socialist Alliance yesterday made it clear their attachment to violent, aggressive and fundamentally anti-Semitic behaviour.

We responded with many different chants and songs, but I think one of the most amazing ones was when a Max Brenner staff member came up to join us before his shift started and chanted about how he loves the company he works for. I was happy to give that guy the megaphone for a welcome break… everyone’s vocal chords have taken a beating!

Anyone who was there would have seen how much fun it was. Everyone there was laughing, chanting, getting stuck into the SA, drinking hot chocolates and dancing around. The Socialist Alliance eventually walked away. Shamed into oblivion. They went and stood in a park somewhere continuing their little rant, where no one could hear them and no one could call them to account. This is unsurprising and indicative of their cowardice.

All fun and exciting times aside, there was a really powerful and beautiful element to this counter-protest movement. I was really humbled and overwhelmed by people from the Jewish community voicing their thanks for the support. It sounds insane but I never really thought of the Brisbane Jewish community when it came to organising this. I was so busy thinking of the political and ideological principles that I didn’t properly see how personally vilified and offended the Jewish community felt over this. They came out in force to stand up for Max Brenner and say no to Socialist Alliance abuses. I met so many wonderful Jewish people and I felt so touched when they said how surprised and happy they were to see non-Jewish people standing by them in an event like this....

As a young idealist and libertarian I got lost in the principled machinations of what is happening surrounding the BDS. What is really important for all people to remember is that there is a huge personal element to these things. Because ordinary Australians stood up and said no to the Socialist Alliance’s intolerance and hatred, the Jewish community has felt a level of support that I am not sure they felt was there before....

If there is an anti-Max Brenner protest in your own towns, I encourage you to gather your friends together and stage a counter-protest!'

 Says David Goodridge, of the Australian Tea Party:

'The Australian TEA party and many other less vocal groups were happy to support Max Brenner’s  We understand not wanting to get closely involved with these anti semitic socialists but they have to be defeated and their actions and message must be defeated.Ordinary Australians are righteously indignant to this outrageous BDS campaign. The TEA Party believes that evil must be confronted and opposed.. and if that means staring them down , shouting back at their bully boy attempts and responding to their chants with "We love chocolate"..and "Go home Nazis!" SO BE IT!…the result??? they gave up , slinking off with their tale between their legs… defeated.... [W]e were all there and ready for them they were unable to get anywhere near Max Brenner’s. The chocolate shop was able to operate normally … victory.!!

 The sight of fear and confusion in these extreme leftists eyes when they realised not only that they were outmatched in numbers but in passion….was priceless.

 If our Jewish friends feel uncomfortable in standing up we will ! This is Australia ..protesting Jewish shops under false pretences about things they have obviously no influence over is 1930′s Germany ..NOT Australia.'

And another comments:

"Yesterday was a real low point for Queensland as the Anti-Semitic socialist BDS campaigners turned their attention to the Brisbane Max Brenner outlet.

As a member of The Australian TEA Party, which as an organisation was influential in organising yesterdays counter protest, and as someone who has zero connections with Judaism or Israel, I must say it was was an absolute pleasure defending free enterprise and the rights of Israelis and Jews alike to go about their peaceful business without fear of persecution or hatred.

Yesterday's counter protest was the first time the socialist BDS campaigners had actually come up against any real opposition on street level, and we did most certainly take them by surprise. After a 30-40 minute loud hailer exchange, the Green/Socialist Alternative BDS protesters retreated to lick their figurative wounds and possibly reexamine there vile campaign which up until now has met little street level opposition.

What yesterday really demonstrated was the support for Israel and Jews from outside of the Jewish/Israeli community and it was a real privilege as an Australian TEA Party member to take part.

Despite yesterdays success, we must always remain mindful that the BDS has defacto support from the Jullia Gillard government as she voluntarily formed a coalition with the Australian Greens who at a NSW level openly support the BDS campaign and at a federal level refuse to support Sen. Ron Boswell’s motion condemning the BDS campaign.

Clearly this situation needs to change, and of course it will when this government either collapses or is voted out next election."

Read (and see) more: http://www.jwire.com.au/news/brisbane-bds-demo-a-fizzler/18703/comment-page-1#comment-9439

As for the routed anti-Israel mob, they are furious, and even calling foul the slogan "Never Again!" raised by the protesters.  Personally, I think it's entirely appropriate to use that slogan against those who would facililitate the destruction of the State of Israel.  This is an extract (notice the disingenuous reference to "semites" in an attempt to wriggle out of the charge of being antisemitic, when as every honest person knows the term antisemitic was coined by Wilhelm Marr to refer not to Arab "semites" but specifically to antipathy towards Jews):

'As we assembled in the park with our 'Tear down the Apartheid Wall' banner intact we were confronted by a mix of Zionists, people mobilised by Max Brenner and University of Qld Liberal club. They were heavily supported by the Australian Patriotic Defence Movement (APDM), a fascist organistion here in Australia. With no irony they shouted slurs like 'racists' 'anti-semites'(curious because some of us are semites) and 'traitors'(to what, the Israeli flag they carried?). Some held up placards of the Australian Flag.'

Read the angry-as-a disturbed-nest-of-hornets piece here (and see that video I refer to above): hat tip Shirlee http://workersbushtelegraph.com.au/2011/08/24/boycott-israel-protest-in-brisbane/ 

Update: See earlier footage of counter-protesters below, and for glimpses of them at the 27 August rally see http://daphneanson.blogspot.com/2011/08/for-your-viewing-pleasure-pro-israel.html

Anti-Israel Mob Marches On Max Brenner In Newtown, New South Wales (videos)

Newtown is an inner-suburb of Sydney.  About 100-strong, the Israel-haters appear to have added a new chant to the familiar cacaphony.  But a pro-Israel crowd of about 60 was enjoying Max's goodies, and some of them went outside to give the moronic mob a not-so-hearty welcome ...

Hat tip: the redoubtable Shirlee!
Update: Reports Jenny Hillman for J-Wire:

'The shop was full at the time with a significant number of pro-Israel supporters among the customers. When the demonstration started, the police formed a line outside the store making entry and exit difficult. There were about 60 boycott supporters standing on the opposite side of the street and there was no way they had planned a peaceful demonstration as they had at least four megaphones and were screaming "from the river to the sea".  But more upsetting than that were placards displaying "Max, Max Murderer" and "Stop Mixing Blood in Your Coffee"… This goes beyond democratic rights of freedom of speech and becomes, in my opinion,  defamatory.

These protestors were screaming for genocide.

I had a women screaming at me with such hatred and venom that I believe I was looking at the worst kind of anti semitism.

It was a wake up call: we are dealing with something extremely ugly.

There were no arrests and the demonstration lasted around half an hour.'

More Anti-Israel Propaganda From Down Under (videos)

First, here's more footage of moronic chanting demonstrators at that recent Max Brenner protest in Melbourne that was dealt with firmly by Victoria's police.

Secondly, here's a video full of distortions that those involved have made in reprisal.

On Max Brenner see also:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/israeli-boycotts-accc-called-in/story-fn59niix-1226110465124
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/pro-palestinian-leader-condemns-violence-at-brenner-boycott/story-fn59niix-1226115526356
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/targeted-chocolatier-max-brenner-a-man-of-peace/story-e6frg6nf-1226114075710
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/not-the-way-to-make-the-point/story-fn558imw-1226114808915

Ugly Hate-Filled Demo Against Israel In Melbourne (video)

This 15-minute video, which has to be seen to appreciate fully the extent of the hatred and defamatory lies against Israel by the intimidatory mob that marched from outside the State Library of Victoria to the Max Brenner premises on 29th July, opens with, and frequently repeats, the strains of the "Freedom For Palestine" song pimped by Lush UK.

Incitement-provoking slanders abound in hate-filled cacaphonous tones - "open air prison" ... "apartheid" ... "genocide" ... "colonial entity" ...

And as reported below, the Jewish communal leadership in Melbourne has not hesitated to describe the demonstration as antisemitic. 

J-Wire reports:

'The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) and Zionist Council of Victoria (ZCV) have expressed their concern at the continued attempts by BDS demonstrators in Melbourne CBD to target Jewish owned businesses.

The most recent event took place last Friday, 29th July, and followed on a demonstration four weeks earlier that saw 19 protesters arrested.

JCCV President John Searle said:

 “it was distressing to see yet another anti-Semitic BDS demonstration taking place on the streets of Melbourne last Friday evening. What we witnessed at both Melbourne Central and QV Centre was another example of intimidating, harassing and disruptive behaviour that caused distress to Melbourne’s shopping public, traders and shop employees.”

Searle note that

“you could see the look of discomfort on shoppers’ faces as they were confronted with the large crowd of rowdy protesters carrying placards and chanting anti- Semitic slogans.”

Amongst the demonstrators were some who had previously been arrested and who were apparently in breach of bail conditions that restricted their access to the site and their participation in anti-social behaviour of this type. Searle called upon the police

“to take appropriate action and arrest the offenders so they can be brought before the Courts. The people of Victoria do not expect the Law to be flouted in this way.”

ZCV President Sam Tatarka added that

“it was disturbing that management of the shopping centres – despite having affixed posters warning against trespassing – did not seek to have the police restrain the demonstrators from coming on to their property and acting in this totally unacceptable manner”.

Anti-Israel Fanatics DemonstrateTheir "Fascism" Again In Melbourne (videos)

On Friday evening a vast intimidatory throng of possibly as many as 500 screaming anti-Israel fanatics (the "Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid," spearheaded by Students for Palestine and radical leftists including Socialists, Greens, and some trade unionists), angry as hornets and perhaps four times times the number that the police recently dispersed from the same location http://daphneanson.blogspot.com/2011/07/cops-get-tough-with-anti-israel.html, descended again on the Max Brenner premises in Central Melboune, to screech their grotesque vitriolic lies against what one female speaker called "the vile and repressive state of Israel".

They also shrieked their indignation against federal parliamentarian Michael Danby's support of Max Brenner http://daphneanson.blogspot.com/2011/07/prejudiced-fanatics-who-should-look.html
Whether they recognised themselves in Danby's apt characterisation of those who support boycotts against Israel as "fascists" (see the following video) is unrecorded.

This time, unlike the last, when three police officers were injured, there were no arrests, but there was a heavy police presence, including several mounted officers.

An eye-witness, Michael Burd, told the antipodean J-Wire service:

"My estimate of numbers is between 300-400 protesters and  80-100 police involved between the State Library and the two Max Brenner outlets.

The  bulk of protesters  displayed banners and balloons and distributed  propaganda. Protesting were Socialists, Muslim Arab community members including Palestinians, Sudanese, Somalis, Ethiopians and a group of multicultural activists.

Some of the speakers had been arrested a few weeks ago at the  first Max Brenner protest and were out on bail. Some said  they were quite proud that they had been in jail and  brazenly told reporters  how badly they had been treated by the police and how they were being silenced by the Zionists. One of the main instigators, James Crafti,  a radical anti- Zionist Jew who works very closely with the Palestinian activists told the audience how evil Israel and Zionism were....

The protest started outside the Victorian State Library at 5 pm in a party atmosphere complete with balloons in Palestinian colours and speeches from the organisers. Maritime Union secretary Kevin Bracken, Sarah Harris,  Students for Palestine, James Crafti,  and South  African activists who compared Israel with apartheid South Africa. Muslim singers and entertainers also spoke about the evil Israelis....

Some  of the Pamphlets  and posters read "Max Brenner proudly supports the Displacement Torture and genocide of Palestinians".

After about one hour at the Library the protesters marched to the first Max Brenner store  where police were waiting.  They spent  around 30 minutes chanting their slogans before leaving for the second Max Brenner store around the corner where they did the same thing. This caused major disruption to both Melbourne Central and Q[ueen]V[ictoria] shopping centres.

Police handed out pamphlets which warning that would  arrest troublemakers.  Their pamphlet was titled Boycott Apartheid  Israel Rally.

There were no violent incidents

The good news was  both Max Brenner stores were full of customers and remained very busy regardless.'

More good news is that in Sydney recently a number of well-known Aussies, including columnist Gerard Henderson, comedian Austen Tayshus, and broadcaster Jana Wendt, joined Michael Danby and members of the Jewish community at Max Brenner to enjoy hot chocolate and show support.  Referring to the protest against Max Brenner, Warren Mundine, an Indigenous Australian and formerly president of the Australian Labor Party, described the BDS movement as "anti-Jewish," and trade union official Paul Howes observed:

"The violence outside the Melbourne outlet earlier this month shocked me. The violence I witnessed in our media after the anti-Israel BDS mob targeted a Jewish-owned business  was far too reminiscent of Hitler-era mobs targeting Jewish businesses in Berlin.... There is simply no excuse for the Extremist Far Left seemingly mimicking the behaviour of the Nazi thugs...."

For an earlier pro-Israel speech by Howes see http://daphneanson.blogspot.com/2010/10/australian-trade-union-chief-speaks-up.html

Hat tips: J-Wire and reader Shirlee 
Update: For even more of that demo: http://daphneanson.blogspot.com/2011/08/ugly-hate-filled-demo-against-israel-in.html