A restaurateur accused of carrying a sign with the Nazi swastika on an Israeli flag has “unreservedly apologized” after facing massive backlash against his businesses.
Alan Yazbek, the owner of Nomad restaurants and Reine & La Rue, was charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public after officers caught him with the sign at a pro-Palestine protest in Sydney on Sunday.
Yazbek was one of around 10,000 protesters who took to the streets in the CBD, a day before the anniversary of the October 7 attacks last year, in which Palestinian terror group Hamas attacked neighboring Israeli communities.
The sign with which Yazbek is accused read ‘Stop Nazi Israel’ next to the large swastika.
Images have since emerged of him also holding a green and gold flag in the colors of Hezbollah with a Ned Kelly-like figure.
In response to the hateful images and texts, several customers have vowed never to return to Yazbek’s restaurants.
On Friday, Yazbek “unequivocally apologized” for his actions during the meeting.
He said the sign he allegedly carried at the pro-Palestinian rally was “deeply offensive to the Jewish community.”
Alan Yazbek was charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public after officers caught him carrying a swastika sign during a protest in Sydney on Sunday.
The partnership between Yazbek, who runs the restaurant chains with his wife Rebecca (pictured), and French champagne brand GH Mumm during this year’s Spring Racing Carnival has also been jeopardized by the allegations.
‘You can be sure of that [I] I will do everything I can to regain the trust of my amazing staff, our loyal customers and the wider community,” he said in a statement seen by The Australian.
‘Friends and acquaintances who know me – both Jewish and non-Jewish – know that I am not an anti-Semite.
“They also know how passionate I am about supporting diversity and equality, both in my personal life and within the NOMAD Group.”
Mr Yazek said he was “traumatized daily by the continued bloodshed” in the Middle East – in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon – and vowed that “we must make this stop”.
“Once again I apologize unreservedly,” he said.
“To the broader Jewish community, and especially to my Jewish friends, employees and guests of NOMAD, both past and present, I offer an olive branch of peace and love.”
His apology came too late for at least five Melbourne businesses that have withdrawn bookings for events at Reine & La Rue, while others are considering venue changes. Herald Sun reported.
The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association (ARCA) said on Friday that Nomad Group would be removed from its organisation.
“There is no place for racism and anti-Semitism in the hospitality industry, and the ARCA Board of Directors has, in accordance with the ARCA Constitution, begun the process of revoking Nomad’s membership,” an association spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, the partnership between Yazbek, who runs the restaurant chains with his wife Rebecca, and French champagne brand GH Mumm at this year’s Spring Racing Carnival has also been jeopardized by the allegations.
Some customers took to Nomad’s social pages to express their frustrations.
‘We have just canceled our booking. Never again. Shalom,” someone said.
‘I loved this restaurant until today. I won’t be back… spatchcock served with a hint of hate,” wrote another.
‘Do all your dishes have an anti-Semitic side? I’m asking for a friend,’ said another.
‘Owner is a raging anti-Semite. I’m going to eat at a Jewish restaurant, thanks!’ another wrote.
The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association (ARCA) said on Friday that Nomad Group would be removed from its organisation.
Images have since emerged of Yazbek also holding a green and gold flag in the colors of Hezbollah with a Ned Kelly-like figure (pictured)
The staff of the luxury restaurants, which are often fully booked eighteen months in advance, were called to a meeting at around 11 a.m. on Wednesday and were trained in how to deal with questions about Yazbek.
Officers who spotted Yazbek’s alleged sign on Sunday arrested him and took him to Surry Hills Police Station.
He was charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public and granted bail.
‘Many of us have family in the region. Every loss of life is a tragedy. We are in mourning,” Yazbek told the newspaper Daily Telegraph.
As part of his bail conditions, Yazbek is not allowed to be within 2km of City Hall, where he was arrested, unless he is visiting his restaurant or office for work.
The meeting was largely peaceful, apart from the arrests of the Yazbek and Jewish man Osher Feldman, who was detained for allegedly breaching the peace in a separate incident.
Yazbek will appear at Downing Center Local Court on October 24.
He faces 12 months behind bars or an $11,000 fine if convicted.