Melbourne – Police have pepper-sprayed protesters in Melbourne after angry clashes over the Gaza conflict exploded into ugly scenes and forced the evacuation of a synagogue.
Tensions erupted after a pro-Palestinian burger store was set alight in Caulfield at 4 am on Friday, prompting 100 pro-Palestinian protesters to gather in a park across the road from the synagogue during a Shabbat service at around 7pm this evening.
Police have insisted the blaze was not politically motivated and cautioned against “assumptions”.
But angry scenes erupted after police closed Hawthorn Road as pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters gathered on either side of the road.
Just after 9pm, pro-Palestinian protesters stormed a police line and pepper spray was deployed to stop the chaos.
Liberal Senator James Paterson criticised Victorian police for allowing the protest to go ahead.
“Of all the places in Melbourne to hold a pro-Palestinian rally, they chose Caulfield. In a park next to a synagogue. This is a calculated attempt to intimidate the Jewish community with predictable consequences,’’ he said.
“And on Shabbat. Victoria Police never should have allowed this protest to proceed and must use the full force of the law to crack down on those responsible for these violent scenes.”
Former federal Labor MP for Melbourne Ports Michael Danby told theHerald Sunthe police should not have allowed to the protest to proceed.
“It was outrageous this demonstration was allowed to take place tonight in a small park directly opposite the synagogue in Maple St, Cauflield,” he said.
“Worse on advice from Vic Pol. The rabbis and the congregants have had to abandon regular Friday night Shabbat service and were sent home for their own safety.
“Many Australians will wonder what this country is coming to.”
Tensions had been building in the community all day after the fire at Burgertory, a popular burger restaurant.
The popular gourmet burger chain was founded by Hash Tayeh, 32, a prominent supporter of Palestine who recently wrote an open letter to the Jewish community explaining why he was filmed leading anti-Israel chants.
Mr Tayeh led chants of “Shame, shame USA, how many kids did you kill today”, and “from the River to the Sea” sharing the footage on his Instagram page.
The social media posts quickly sparked controversy forcing the entrepreneur to clarify the remarks.
“At no stage have I ever called for harm to any individual, and I want to emphasise that I have deep and meaningful friendships with members of the Jewish community,” he said.
Victoria Police Inspector Scott Dwyer urged people to stop making assumptions and linking the fire to the conflict in the Middle East.
“I’d like to point out, at this stage, there is nothing to indicate that this incident is related to any religious or political involvement,” he said.
“I am confident that this is not religiously or politically motivated.
“This incident, again, is a criminal act, it’s a suspicious fire that’s been linked, I would warn people not to make assumptions or draw lines of inquiry that aren’t there between this incident and anything else that is occurring.
“We are treating this as a stand-alone incident, and I would encourage the community to treat it as such.”
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan urged the community to “show each other love, care and support in these difficult times”.
“It is our diversity that makes us great, and our compassion that unites us – there is never any place for antisemitism or Islamophobia in Victoria,” she said.
