Leaders of Jewish community have condemned Melbourne's Friday Night attacks
A synagogue in Melbourne's east was hit by an arson attack, as well as pro-Palestine protestors stormed a busy Israeli restaurant, Miznon, in Melbourne's CBD.
Mr Ryvchin released a statement saying, 'these events are a severe escalation directed towards our community and clear evidence that the antisemitism crisis is not only continuing, but getting worse'.
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The Age
3 hours ago
- The Age
The inside story of how Australia's moment to shine in the arts world went horribly wrong
The historic grip of major galleries over Australia's representatives had been broken, and the newish selection process seemed to be serving Australia well. On December 16 last year, Collette and Creative Australia's head of visual arts, Mikala Tai, conferred and the pair's selection was confirmed, the decision tightly held in the organisation for weeks for fear it would leak. Among the select few with knowledge of the successful team, the decision was regarded as 'bold' or 'courageous' – Sabsabi's Lebanese heritage and public pro-Palestinian stance connected him to the Middle East at a time when conflict in that region was emotive and polarising. But a week before the planned February 7 announcement, police lobbed their own explosive device into this febrile mix, going public with their investigations into a caravan loaded with explosives in north-west Sydney. The incident was quickly labelled a 'terrorism threat', although later the Federal Police would describe it as 'a criminal con job'. By then, a federal election was imminent and polling showed voters were starting to turn against Labor. Loading Two days after the caravan discovery, Creative Australia briefed Minister for Arts Tony Burke on its upcoming announcement. Mention was made in the ministerial dispatch that Sabsabi, along with other artists, had withdrawn from the Sydney Festival in 2022 in protest after the festival accepted funding from the Israeli Embassy, 'out of solidarity with the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause'. But the minister's office was not alerted to historical works which would later be raised in the Murdoch press and in parliament, including You (2007), a multichannel video and sound installation featuring imagery of the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in the collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art. 'That the work was seen as highly ambiguous, and already nearly 20 years old … appears to have given staff confidence that any controversy connected with the work could be managed,' the report says. A staff member later left a message with Burke's office alerting them to the work's existence but appears not to have followed that call up. A 'questionable' matter The board of Creative Australia was backgrounded on the winning team but played no direct role in the selection process. Members were not alerted to any potential controversies. Days after the team's announcement, as its sister tabloid paper defended allegations it tried to entrap a Sydney cafe in an antisemitic sting, The Australian described Sabsabi's use of imagery of Nasrallah as 'ambiguous' and 'questionable'. Collette and senior members of his team were unaware of a second sensitive work, Thank you very much (2006) featuring imagery of the 9/11 attacks and US President George W. Bush, until Senate question time two days later when the Coalition's then-shadow arts minster Claire Chandler rose to her feet. By all accounts, Chandler's questions sparked panic. Soon after, around 3pm, the CEO, chair and head of public affairs held a call with Creative Australia's external communications advisers, who concluded the negative media narrative around the artist and his prior artworks posed a significant risk to the reputation of Creative Australia if the stories continued to run. Burke then called Adrian Collette at 3.30pm asking why he was not alerted to the contentious artwork. He later insisted he did not demand Sabsabi's head. The report found that the minister's statement was consistent with the information received by the panel during its review. Loading Collette later recalled in testimony to Senate estimates: 'We anticipate always that the selection of the Venice artist will be controversial. It has been from time immemorial. 'Everyone has a view on the artist, on the art. We don't resile from any of those decisions; we haven't in the past. But what happened at that moment was a recognition by me and the board that this entire process was going to be mired in the worst kind of divisive debate.' At 6.05pm an emergency meeting of the board had been convened, and it was determined to offer the artistic team the opportunity to withdraw from the project under threat of sacking. The board did not seek the advice of the head of visual arts or its head of communications, and did not allow the artist to present his case. It was beyond the panel's terms of reference to judge the legitimacy of the board's decision, but it's clear the board acted hastily without drawing breath. The board could have announced a review of the team's selection. Instead, it brought a gun. 'Nobody except those involved can ever know how fraught and heartbreaking that meeting was,' board member and artist Lindy Lee later recalled. She resigned the next day. Officially, the board said it acted to avoid the unacceptable risk to public support for Australia's artistic community of a 'prolonged and divisive debate'. The panel found the board felt compelled by 'a strongly negative narrative [that] was expected in the media around the artworks and the artist, and the decision to select the artist had become a matter of political debate'. Another factor that may have been weighing on some board members was the potential for the controversy to be used as a battering ram to reduce the funding and independence of Creative Australia. With an election imminent, Creative Australia faced an existential threat from cuts, real or imagined, as conservatives made every noise they would follow the playbook of Donald Trump in stirring up the culture wars. Notably, it is in a more benign political environment with Labor securing a thumping majority that Sabsabi and Dagostino have now been reinstated. In any event, at 7.41pm on February 13, Collette contacted the artistic team and advised them of the board's decision. Sabsabi and Dagostino refused to resign. Forty minutes later, after the board's statement was prepared, Collette made three unsuccessful attempts to contact them. Sabsabi and Dagostino later recalled being stunned by the turn of events: 'The Venice Biennale is one of the biggest platforms in Australian art,' Sabsabi told this masthead. 'To be selected and then have it withdrawn was devastating. It was heartbreaking and has caused ongoing anxiety. It's had a serious impact on my career, my wellbeing and my family's wellbeing.' By 6pm the following day the Herald had broken the news that philanthropist Simon Mordant had resigned, along with Mikala Tai and program manager Tahmina Maskinyar. Petitions and protests followed, the outrage lasting four months until the board voted two weeks ago to rescind its decision. Had Creative Australia been as well-prepared for the public announcement as it should have been, it is possible that its senior leadership and board may have reached a conclusion that any controversy around both works could be sensibly managed, the report concluded. The organisation was caught between its conflicting desire to do right by the artists and political realities. Ultimately, the entire mess could have been avoided if cooler heads had prevailed and due processes were followed. Changes afoot Former publisher Louise Adler is not the only commentator to draw parallels between the Sabsabi debacle and Antoinette Lattouf, the radio broadcaster who was last week awarded $70,000 after a Federal Court found she was unfairly sacked by the ABC for her political opinions concerning the war in Gaza. Like Lattouf, Sabsabi's pro-Palestinian views were well known at the time of his appointment, and complaints flooded Creative Australia as soon as the appointment was publicised, cheered on by the Murdoch media. Holding or expressing a political opinion was held by the federal court as not a valid reason for terminating Lattouf's employment, even at the national broadcaster. Sabsabi and Dagostino had been selected by an open expression of interest process, by an organisation founded on the principle of artistic independence. Both stand as an abject lesson to the dangers of knee-jerk reactions to pressure tactics. Sabsabi and Dagostino speak of a sense of renewed confidence that allows them to move forward with optimism and hope after a period of significant and collective hardship. The arts world feels vindicated by their intervention. Loading It's likely there will be changes to the Venice selection process, and there is every indication that Collette, an experienced arts administrator, will seek to make things right, and then make a diplomatic exit. 'At the end of the day, Adrian became the kingmaker,' said one campaigner. 'He brought the recommendation to the board. The buck stops with him.' Mikala Tai made a rare statement via social media after a period of media silence in which she said she had come to learn why she wanted to work in the arts industry. 'I have also learnt a lot about cultural leadership. That we have conferred leadership on administrators and that this is a distraction from the fact that artists remain the heart of the industry and that the moment we forget the artist, we sacrifice the industry.'
The Age
4 hours ago
- The Age
For the children, the system must change
Just meaningless As much as I admire Kate Halfpenny, this time she is just plain wrong. The wedding was hyper meaningless and gross. Frank Flynn, Cape Paterson Racialised hate Friday night's events in Melbourne mark a terrifying turning point. An Israeli restaurant was targeted. A synagogue was set alight. This is racialised hate. It does nothing to help Palestine. In fact, it makes Palestinian dignity more elusive. Some on the terminally-online far left will claim it's 'anti-Zionism', not antisemitism. But when Jewish businesses are attacked and houses of worship are burning, that excuse collapses. 'Zionist' has become a socially acceptable slur – a veil for bigotry. The far right plays the same game: when Donald Trump said 'Shylocks and bad people,' he claimed it was just a literary reference. Elements of the far left now launder hatred with the same trick. This is what happens when politicians aren't censured for saying Jews have 'tentacles,' when parties like the Greens scapegoat entire populations, when people get their news from TikTok, when unrepresentative fringe groups are given a megaphone again and again, and when even legacy media platforms platform the same predictable polemics, afraid to break ranks or admit moral complexity. What begins with euphemism ends with fire. This isn't about Israel. It's about whether Jews in Australia can walk the streets and live without fear. Say it, and say it clearly: this is racism. Simon Tedeschi, Newtown, NSW The deeper currents The article ″ Radical Israeli settlers fan the flames of hatred in West Bank ″ (5/7) is deeply disturbing. We are told these settlers are 'radical,' 'extremist,' 'fanatical.' But what if they are not? A recent Penn State University poll, reported in Haaretz, revealed that 82 per cent of Jewish Israelis support the forced expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, and 56 per cent support their expulsion from all of historical Palestine. Two-thirds believe Palestinians are a modern-day incarnation of Amalek – an ancient enemy God commanded to be 'blotted out' – and most of those believe that command still applies today. Given these findings, one is forced to consider that when settlers torch olive groves, shoot at farmers, , they may no longer be outliers, but echoes of a deeper current. It is not enough to be horrified. We must speak, act, withdraw support, and refuse to take part in the machinery that allows this to continue. Fernanda Trecenti, Fitzroy A big ugly bill There is nothing beautiful about Donald Trump's big beautiful bill. It is a disgraceful and inhumane outcome for the nation and most of its citizens. Mary Fenelon, Doncaster East The Wright stuff Tony Wright's piece (″ Why a treaty is key to better future ″, 5/7), illustrated by the beautiful images of Justin McManus, should be read by all, not just those of us with a conscience and a heart. Vikki O'Neill, Ashburton History's echoes Eva-Jo Edwards' recollection of her and her siblings' forced removal from their Swan Hill family struck an uncomfortable chord with me. In 1969, I visited Burwood Boys' Home and observed the presence there of some Aboriginal children. Without a doubt two of them would have been Eva-Jo's brothers; not for one moment did I wonder why they were there. Now we all know that trauma for our First Peoples isn't just something from centuries-old history, but has occurred, and continues to occur in our own lifetimes. If white children were legislated to be taken from their families, if young white people died in disproportionate numbers in, and out of custody, if blue-eyed people like me had to endure constant enmity and discrimination, heaven and earth would be moved to redress the inequity, and the iniquity. The Yoorrook Justice Commission's recommendations must be supported in full. David Johnston, Healesville Negative profit Private enterprises are supposed to be more efficient than government-run organisations but, how often does the pursuit of profits result in poorer services? Michael Brinkman, Ventnor A sinking feeling I am afraid the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal will go the way of all our sub deals – binned just like the Japanese and French plans.
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
Hamas says ready to start Gaza ceasefire talks ‘immediately' ahead of Trump and Netanyahu meeting
Hamas says it is ready to start talks 'immediately' on a proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza. The announcement on Friday (local time) came after it held consultations with other Palestinian factions and before a visit on Monday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington, where US President Donald Trump is pushing for an end to the war, now in its 21st month. 'The movement is ready to engage immediately and seriously in a cycle of negotiations on the mechanism to put in place' the terms of a draft US-backed truce proposal received from mediators, the militant group said in a statement. Hamas ally Islamic Jihad said it supported ceasefire talks, but demanded 'guarantees' that Israel 'will not resume its aggression' once hostages held in Gaza are freed. Mr Trump, when asked about Hamas' response aboard Air Force One on Friday, said: 'That's good. They haven't briefed me on it. We have to get it over with. We have to do something about Gaza.' The conflict in Gaza began with Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked a massive Israeli offensive aimed at destroying Hamas and bringing home all the hostages seized by militants. Two previous ceasefires brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have seen temporary halts in fighting, coupled with the return of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Mr Netanyahu earlier on Friday vowed to bring home all the hostages held in Gaza, after coming under massive domestic pressure over their fate. 'I feel a deep commitment, first and foremost, to ensure the return of all our abductees, all of them,' he said. Mr Trump said on Thursday he wanted 'safety for the people of Gaza'. 'They've gone through hell,' he said. 60-day truce proposal A Palestinian source familiar with the negotiations told AFP earlier this week that the latest proposals included 'a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release half of the living Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip' – thought to number 22 – 'in exchange for Israel releasing a number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees'. Out of 251 hostages seized by Palestinian militants during the October 2023 attack, 49 are still held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. Nearly 21 months of war have created dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has recently expanded its military operations. The military said in a statement it had been striking suspected Hamas targets across the territory, including around Gaza City in the north and Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south. Civil defence says aid-seekers killed Gaza civil defence official Mohammad al-Mughayyir said Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least 52 people on Friday. The Israeli military said it was looking into reports, except for a handful of incidents for which it requested coordinates and timeframes. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency. In a separate statement, the Israeli military said a 19-year-old sergeant 'fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip'. Mr Mughayyir said the Palestinians killed included five shot while waiting for aid near a US-run site near Rafah in southern Gaza and several who were waiting for aid near the Wadi Gaza Bridge in the centre of the territory. They were the latest in a spate of deaths near aid distribution centres in the devastated territory, which UN agencies have warned is on the brink of famine. The US- and Israeli-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distanced itself from reports of deadly incidents near its sites. Displaced civilians Mr Mughayyir told AFP that eight people, including a child, were killed in an Israeli air strike on the tents of displaced civilians near Khan Yunis on Thursday. The civil defence official said eight more people were killed in two other strikes on camps on the coast, including one that killed two children early Friday. The Israeli military said it was operating throughout Gaza 'to dismantle Hamas military capabilities'. The Hamas attack of October 2023 resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 57,268 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The United Nations considers the figures reliable.
