Lord mayor slammed
'Consistent with the objective of maintaining social harmony, the City should not display any partisan symbols associated with the current conflict'
An international spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has taken aim at City of Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore for blocking a bid to show solidarity for Israel and the Jewish community at Sydney Town Hall.
Liberal councillor Shauna Jarrett had put forward a motion for the council to light Sydney Town Hall in blue and white and fly an Israeli flag “as a mark of respect from the City of Sydney for Israel and the Jewish community”.
But rejecting the motion in a mayoral minute, Moore said, “We stand with the innocent victims of this long-running conflict, in both Israeli and Palestinian communities, who are suffering and have suffered over so many years.
“Consistent with the objective of maintaining social harmony, the City should not display any partisan symbols associated with the current conflict.”
IDF international spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus told ABC Drive radio host Rafael Epstein this week that “one should take sides”.
“If you want to be on the side of the terrorists or on the side of Israel, that is your choice,” he said.
“It’s very clear here. We are not the aggressors. We didn’t start this war. We didn’t go into their communities and execute civilians, women and children. We didn’t go there and take women and children and the elderly and babies and even disabled people hostage.
“We are now defending ourselves. So if you can’t take a stand with that, I think there’s something very wrong with your morals.”
Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein slammed Moore’s decision, labelling her decision as “pathetic” and “amateurish municipal kow-towing”.
“Clover Moore’s obstructionism stands in stark contrast to other civic leaders like New York City mayor Eric Adams, who has given passionate and heartfelt speeches about standing with Israel and the Jewish people,” he said.
“Clover Moore is confused and is engaging in a misguided attempt at neutrality in the face of unmitigated evil … This is about standing up to barbaric genocidal terrorists.”
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