Threats and confrontations

Thousands March in Melbourne Nakba Day Rally

Witnesses reported verbal abuse directed at the Jewish counter-protesters, including throat-slitting gestures.

Victoria Police formed a ring around the Lions of Zion counter protestors as the Nakba Day March passed. Photo: Lions of Zion.
Victoria Police formed a ring around the Lions of Zion counter protestors as the Nakba Day March passed. Photo: Lions of Zion.

Several thousand demonstrators participated in a “River to the Sea” Nakba Day march from Melbourne’s CBD to St Kilda beach on Sunday afternoon, while a small group of counter-protesters faced threats and verbal confrontations on Princes Bridge.

A crowd of several thousand set off to march from the State Library of Victoria to St Kilda Beach. Photo: Bruce Hill.

The Lions of Zion group, numbering fewer than 50, gathered on the bridge over the Yarra River and were surrounded by a police cordon as the much larger pro-Palestinian march passed by.

Witnesses reported verbal abuse directed at the Jewish counter-protesters, including throat-slitting gestures and threats.

Lions of Zion spokesperson Yaakov Travitz described a tense 45-minute standoff when marshals from the main march attempted to block their position further down St Kilda Rd near the US consulate.

Photo: Supplied

Travitz criticised what he sees as a lack of Jewish community unity in facing such demonstrations.

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