Mayor slams Bondi rally

Waverley mayor Will Nemesh has weighed in on a pro-Palestinian rally planned for Bondi Beach on Father’s Day, describing the event as “deliberately provocative” and designed to cause division.

Nemesh, who is Jewish and is participating in the Combat Antisemitism Movement’s Mayors’ Summit on antisemitism this week, said he had received significant community representations about the proposed “solidarity with the Sumud Flotilla” rally scheduled for 10am on Sunday, September 7.

“I want to assure the community that this proposed event has not been nor will it be authorised by council,” he said this week.

Nemesh said he had alerted council staff, local members of parliament and local police about the planned event last week and made strong representations to the NSW government.

Posters promoting the rally on social media call for attendees to bring keffiyehs, banners, kites and kayaks to the iconic beach.