‘Deeply disappointed that a single judge granted approval to the march’

I am currently overseas but, like the rest of our community, I have been closely monitoring and engaging with the concerning international and local developments this week.

The push to prematurely recognise a Palestinian state (which Hamas has claimed as “one of the fruits of October 7” and has led it to withdraw from ceasefire negotiations) and the tidal wave of media coverage and criticism of Israel in relation to the provision of aid into Gaza are worthy of separate analysis but for now I wanted to focus on today’s march across the Harbour Bridge.

Please know that since first becoming aware of the proposed march at the beginning of the week, we have engaged at the highest levels to make our community’s concerns about the location of this protest well known. We welcome the fact that the State Government and NSW Police opposed this demonstration and all of our messaging and activities over the past few days have been geared to supporting their efforts. Despite this, we are surprised and deeply disappointed that a single judge of the Supreme Court yesterday granted approval to the march.

There is no question that allowing this protest to take place on the Harbour Bridge, and effectively paralyse our city, sets a very troubling precedent. At a time of already-strained social cohesion, an iconic Australian symbol and key arterial road should not be used to bring a divisive foreign conflict onto our streets.

Moreover, protest organisers have already threatened to “take the Harbour Bridge again” which demonstrates once again that these groups cannot be satisfied or appeased. Even if Australia were to recognise a Palestinian state as the Federal Government plans to, it would not be enough and they would quickly move on to their next demand.

I have personally spoken with the NSW Police Deputy Commissioner overseeing today’s march and made it clear that the march cannot be a platform for some of the hate we have previously seen at weekly demonstrations in the CBD. There are a variety of measures being taken to monitor for, and take action against, incitement and hate speech and we will hold the authorities accountable in this regard.

To anyone in our community considering activities in response to the protest, please always bear in mind that any single action may be taken as a reflection on our community as a whole and it’s therefore important to be considered and deliberate at all times in our conduct.

I know that it will be extremely difficult to see the images today of protesters making their way across the Bridge. This is particularly the case given the recent release of chilling hostage videos of Rom Bravlaski and Evyatar David, who are both clearly emaciated in the footage and in the case of Evyatar, has been made to dig his own grave in the cramped tunnel in which he is being held. We are making representations to local publications, including to the Sydney Morning Herald, about why these videos have not received any coverage to date.

Neither Ron or Evyatar, or any of the other 48 hostages, will likely be mentioned today at a self-described march for humanity. Instead, all the vitriol, libels and pressure will be directed at Israel – ignoring the fact that Hamas could immediately end the suffering for all innocent civilians by releasing the hostages and laying down its arms.

Finally, it is perhaps only fitting that today is also Tisha B’Av – the saddest day of the Jewish calendar when we mourn the tragedies which have befallen our people over the millennia. In years gone by, it may have been challenging to connect with the sadness of the day but certainly not this year.

To those fasting, I wish you an easy fast. In the words traditionally recited by Jewish communities on Tisha B’Av, may today’s sorrow quickly turn to joy.

David Ossip is the president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. This was an email update he sent to the NSW Jewish community on Sunday morning.