Melbourne rallies for peace

A SEA of blue and white swept across the steps of Melbourne’s Parliament House on Sunday as more than 2500 people came to show their support for Israel.

Organised by a number of Jewish communal organisations, as well as synagogues and youth movements, participants waved placards calling for peace alongside both the Israeli and Australian flags.

Between speeches and messages of support, members of the community both young and old sang various songs and danced to Oseh Shalom, Yachad and Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu.

Zionist Council of Victoria (ZCV) president Sam Tatarka gave voice to the message of the rally when he opened proceedings stating, “We have come today to show our solidarity for the only democracy in the Middle East. All we long for is to live free in our homeland. Australia understands freedom and democracy, so does Israel”.

The sentiment was echoed by president of the Zionist Federation of Australia Danny Lamm. “We are here to let the world know we stand with Israel,” he said. “That this war was not initiated by Israel and that Israel did everything it could to avoid this war.”

Noting that “since 2001 more than 15,000 rockets have been indiscriminately fired at Israel,” Lamm stressed that Israel wants “peace”, and has accepted each ceasefire proposal whereas “Gaza has broken every ceasefire”.

Nina Bassat of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria said, “If Hamas stops firing their rockets there will be instant peace and if Israel stops defending herself she faces destruction”.

Underlining the message, Caulfield Hebrew Congregation’s Rabbi Ralph Genende said, “Israel believes in the sanctity of life and protects the rights of all”.

The sombre reality of the conflict was brought home to the crowd when they heard from Eliyakim Dahan, an Israeli living in Melbourne who has lost three of his close friends in the conflict.

Attendants paid their respects with a minute’s silence held for victims on both sides of the war.

Other speakers to address the rally included Colin Rubenstein of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, and politicians David Southwick and Michael Danby.

Messages of support from Premier Denis Napthine and Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews were also read out.

ZOE KRON

Israeli flags and placards of peace were seen along Spring Street in Melbourne on Sunday as more than 2500 people showed their solidarity with Israel. Photo: Ren Rizzolo

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