Former Prime Minister John Howard has criticized Anthony Albanese’s ‘pussy’ response to anti-Semitic protests in Sydney following the Hamas terror attacks in Israel.
Around 700 pro-Palestinian protesters were seen chanting ‘gas the Jews’ and burning the Star of David outside the Sydney Opera House on Monday evening as part of a rally organized by the Palestine Action Group in Sydney.
The horrific actions were condemned by leaders at all ends of the political spectrum, but Mr Howard, who led Australia after the September 11 attacks, said the prime minister’s denunciation did not go far enough.
‘Mr. Albanese should make some clear statements, just like the Foreign Minister”, he said The Australian.
“Instead there is pussy and lukewarm punishment. Then you have the Attorney General of New South Wales (Michael Daley) saying that everyone should keep quiet and go home.
“How can you stay calm when the demonstrators are mentioning the memory of the Holocaust? People remain calm in this?
“I never thought we’d be crushed in this… We need leadership from the top, we’re not getting that right now.”
Former Prime Minister John Howard has criticized Anthony Albanese’s ‘pussy’ response to anti-Semitic protests in Sydney following Hamas attacks in Israel.
About 700 pro-Palestinian protesters (above) flooded the Sydney Opera House on Monday night and were seen chanting ‘gas the Jews’ and burning the Star of David
On Tuesday, Mr Albanese called for de-escalation of the conflict between the Israeli and Palestinian communities in Australia.
“We have to lower the temperature,” he said.
“I don’t want to see conflict here in Australia and I don’t want to see the kind of scenes I saw last night … they certainly have no place.”
Mr Albanese earlier used time on 2GB to call on pro-Palestinian protesters to abandon the Opera House protest, saying there was “nothing to celebrate from the loss of innocent lives”.
“I find it disgusting and it should be punished, but without doubt from everyone,” he said.
NSW Labor and Police Minister Yasmin Catley has faced separate backlash for allowing the protest to go ahead.
More than 100 officers were seen in a ring of steel along the steps of the Opera House, but did not intervene in the protests, even as flames were thrown.
In another case, a Muslim preacher was seen taunting the crowd by applauding the militant group Hamas for the massacre of at least 1,000 Israeli civilians.
Protesters (above) on Monday night were not arrested by police, despite some throwing fireworks at officers present
The horrific actions were condemned by leaders across the political spectrum, but Mr. Howard said the denunciation of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not go far enough.
‘I’m smiling and I’m happy. I am happy”, Sheikh Ibrahim Dadoun shouted.
‘It is a day of courage. It’s a proud day. It is a day of victory. This is the day we’ve been waiting for!
“It brings pride to the heart, it brings joy to the heart, my brothers and sisters… you and I, standing in Australia, we support our brothers and sisters in Palestine.”
In stark contrast, a handful of people with Israeli flags were arrested on sight in a move police said was for their own protection.
Assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke said police were looking at CCTV footage of the rally to make arrests.
However, Commissioner Catley refused to apologize for a controversial email sent to Jewish leaders warning the community to avoid the CBD.
“NSW Police is asking the community not to attend the Sydney Opera House or City Hall this evening,” the NSW Board of Jewish Deputies said in an email to members.
“Community members already in the CBD should be alert as protesters are likely to seek to march from the Town Hall to the Sydney Opera House.
“Tonight’s events may pose a risk to the safety of members of the community and you are strongly encouraged not to attend.”
Robert Gregory, CEO of the Australian Jewish Association said “Australians should be very concerned”.
“The police issued a warning to Jews not to enter the area,” he said.
‘Think about it. Imagine if there were mobs hunting blacks or gays in the Sydney CBD.
Pictured: Pro-Palestinian supporters are seen at the Opera House rally
Mr Howard said after the protest (above), “We need leadership from the top, we’re not getting it at the moment”.
“Imagine if the police warned blacks or gays off the Sydney CBD.”
Mr Howard applauded NSW Premier Chris Minns for appropriately condemning the actions of the protesters.
“You can have strong views, you can argue about the Middle East, but for people to remember the most horrific crime in humanity, the extermination of six million Jews in the gas chambers, is horrific,” Mr Howard said.
“It’s completely beyond the pale as far as I’m concerned. … To have people singing that stuff, it’s a catastrophic descent from civilization that I never thought I’d see.’
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