Victorian Premier Slams anti-Israel Boycotts
Ted Baillieu, the Premier of Victoria, has condemned the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaigns targeted against Israel.
BDS organisers today announced their intention to again ‘shut down’ the Max Brenner chocolate shop.
Premier Baillieu called on would-be participants to refrain from joining the planned event.
“This campaign is deeply offensive to the people of Israel, who know better than most the horrors that can follow from prejudice,” Mr Baillieu said.
Mr Baillieu said the Coalition Government strongly supports the right of Israel to exist and the right of Israelis to live their lives free from the constant threat of terrorism, harassment and persecution.
Mr Baillieu said the BDS demonstrators were creating public disorder.
“The Victorian Coalition Government believes that discrimination of this nature is unacceptable,” Mr Baillieu said.
“The targeting of businesses with Israeli ownership is a disturbing development and has no place in a free, multicultural Victoria.”
The boycotters were urging the people to boycott the business.That is all. The business was full of customers a the zionists here pointed out.
Baillieu is perfectly right in stating that the boycotts have no place in a free and multicultural society. But simply saying that such developments are “disturbing” is disturbing. The boycotters have every right to picket any business they like, but they are not free to deny others their democratic right to patronise any establishment they choose. If Baillieu is serious he must use the police to arrest boycotters acting illegally. No society can tolerate groups who impose their ideals on those who do not share them. When that happens, we diminish democracy and ironically, the very swine who presume to get their way by force, are the ones who squeal like stuck pigs if their rights are restricted in any way.