Australian landmarks light up in solidarity for Israel
Australian landmarks will be lit up in blue and white in solidarity with Israel after Islamist group Hamas launched the bloodiest attack on the country in decades.
Mockup: The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies
NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed the Sydney Opera House would be lit up on Monday night to support the Jewish community and those who have family in Israel.
“We are deeply concerned about the horrific attack by Hamas on Israel and those who have been kidnapped,” he said in a statement.
Hamas fighters rampaged through Israeli towns on Saturday, killing hundreds and injuring thousands.
It’s the deadliest incursion since Egypt and Syria’s attacks in the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago.
At least 700 people, including children, had been killed, Israeli media reported. Israel has not released an official toll.
Gazan authorities say more than 400 people, including 20 children, have died in Israeli retaliatory strikes.
Mr Minns said his government was monitoring the situation closely to see if any NSW citizens were affected.
Brisbane’s Story Bridge was lit up in Israel’s national colours of blue and white on Sunday night.
South Australian landmarks including Parliament House and Adelaide Oval will be lit up on Monday, as will the Melbourne Cricket Ground, National Gallery of Victoria and Old Treasury Building.
Victorian Deputy Premier Ben Carroll, who visited Israel in March, said his state joined the rest of Australia in condemning the Hamas attacks.
“Now is the time to stand with our local Jewish community,” he told reporters on Monday.
“Now is the time to stand with the people of Israel and do everything we can to support them in their hour of need.”
The Palestine Action Group Sydney will hold a rally at the Sydney Town Hall on Monday evening calling for a free Palestine.
The group has urged the federal government to cut ties with Israel.
AAP
I am writing to you regarding the mess created in Sydney last night surrounding the so-called gesture of solidarity with Israel following the atrocities of the last few days.
I am a non-aligned member of the Jewish Israeli community. I spent 14 formative years in Israel from the age of 11 to 24, including two years in military service.
I have been very emotional since the start of the war; my mum, sister and brother live in the city’s centre and of course I have many friends and former in-laws.
Tragically my kids’ beautiful 27 yr old cousin was killed in battle on Sunday and buried yesterday in a kibbutz in the north where the family was from. Ido was a major in special forces, an absolute rising star, recently married and about to become a father for the first time. My 29 yr old daughter now living in London has been particularly affected by the death of her ‘favourite’ cousin.
I was encouraged and touched to learn yesterday that Sydney was following in the footsteps of Germany and the US and intending to light up the Opera House with the Israeli flag,
There was indeed a mock up of how it would look in the press yesterday afternoon and I decided to head in myself.
When I arrived by ferry from Rose Bay at about 7 there was still plenty of light and ample time to walk around to the forecourt. There were many people holding Palestinian flags congregating and as
I got closer to the concourse I saw the very rowdy Palestinian solidarity march coming down Macquarie Street,
Of course I found it quite daunting but felt secure due to the very large police presence on the forecourt and surrounds.
I started looking for some Israeli faces and flags but there were none. As more and more Palestinian protesters arrived I was relieved that there weren’t any Israeli flags. While waiting for the lights I met about 15 Israelis and we were all standing in a group on the western side of the forecourt, directly opposite from where the protesters were amassing at the the direction of the police. As time went on and the protest became rowdier (chants for the destruction of Israel; burning of the Israeli flag; rocket fireworks that spooked the police horses…)we huddled together as more and more Palestinian protesters left their rallying area came to our side.
At about 7.45pm we realised that the Opera House sails remained unadorned. We were expecting a huge reaction from the thousands of Palestinians but they started to lose steam.
We felt extremely disappointed that City of Sydney decided to allow itself to be intimidated and did not go ahead with the solidarity projection of the Israeli Flag.
I was relieved however that there hadn’t been an Israeli presence with flags as I feel the situation would have escalated to a dangerous level.
I note from your letter yesterday that you were delighted that COSydney had decided to go ahead with the projection and that you had advocated for this heartwarming gesture.
I am so disappointed and disheartened at the way this emotion charged situation was mishandled by CoS, the NSW Government and the NSW Police.
Philippa Jacks
Darlinghurst, Sydney NSW
+61 (0)438 466271
philippajacks@mac.com
Come on Melbourne – what about you? The Australian city with the most Holocaust survivors and the largest Jewish population …
Brisbane lit up the Storey Bridge – blue. Now the Opera House … what about you?