AJN staff moved on by police at demo
The flag of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine [PFLP] was flown as part of a pro Palestine demonstration near the steps of Victoria’s state parliament.
Australian Jewish News staff who questioned the flying of the flag of a terrorist organisation at a Melbourne demonstration were told to move on by police.
The flag of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine [PFLP] was flown as part of a pro Palestine demonstration by “anti-Zionist Jews” near the steps of Victoria’s state parliament on Sunday morning.
It was opposed by a crowd of around 200 Jews, organised over social media by the “Lions of Zion” group, who flew Australian and Israeli flags.
Police kept the two sides separate.
AJN photographer Peter Haskin and senior journalist Bruce Hill were told by some people present that they had seen the flag of a terrorist organisation in the pro-Palestinian crowd and went around police lines to check if that was accurate.
It was, and they obtained photographic and video evidence.
But when they approached police on the scene they were told senior officers were aware of the flags’ presence and would make a decision later.
The next day, Victoria Police issued a statement saying “the flag was not identified as a prohibited flag in Australia”.
The PFLP is listed as a terrorist organisation by many countries around the world but not by the Australian government.
After a disturbance broke out nearby, the AJN staff were identified by some in the crowd and were jeered as “Zionist dogs” and “infiltrators” and chased down the street.
Police told the pair to move on, which they immediately complied with.
In fairness to the frontline police involved, they may not have been aware the AJN staff were members of the media.
One of the leaders of the “Lions of Zion” organisation, Yaacov Travitz, said one of the biggest reasons they organised the counter demonstration was, “to stand up against the anti-Zionist Jews who keep purporting to talk in the name of all of the Jews – not in our name. You do not represent us. You do not speak for us”.
He praised Victoria Police for doing an “amazing job” and making sure everyone felt safe.
“Look whether we’re 500 [strong] or 5,000 or we’re standing up for what’s right, nothing can hold us back. I don’t care how many are on the other side, we stand strong, we stand proud, and we stand together,” Travitz said.
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