Anti-Israel Protests in Melbourne and Adelaide

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MELBOURNE 000006

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL IS AS
SUBJECT: Anti-Israel Protests in Melbourne and Adelaide

REF: A) 08 SYDNEY 285, B) 08 Canberra 909, C) 08 Melbourne 117

Summary
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1. (SBU) Melbourne-based "Women for Peace" intends to hold a small
vigil in front of the consulate building on January 9 to protest
events in Gaza. So far, protesters have organized four rallies
elsewhere in Melbourne and Adelaide over the past ten days
condemning Israeli airstrikes and ground attacks. Pro-Israel
supporters staged their own rally, calling for an end to "Hamas
terror." All protests have been peaceful so far and have generally
refrained from targeting the United States. Tasmania and the
Northern Territory remain quiet. Although Melbourne is home to more
than 100,000 Muslims, the motivating force behind the anti-Israel
rallies has been non-religious organizations. End Summary.

Melbourne
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2. (SBU) Victoria Police notified post on January 8 that the "Women
for Peace: No Weapons, No War" organization plans to hold a
seven-person vigil in front of the U.S. Consulate on January 9 from
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The vigil is intended to express concern for
women and children who have been injured or killed in Gaza.
According to their website, Women for Peace is a Melbourne-based
women's organization formed in 2002 in response to the 9/11
terrorist attacks and ensuing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
They condemn all "war, acts of terrorism and manufacture of
weapons." The group has conducted several peaceful protests in
front of the consulate building in the past. Post will follow up in
cable or email format if the January 9 vigil occurs.


3. (SBU) Approximately 1,000 people gathered in Melbourne's central
business district on January 4 to protest Israeli airstrikes and
ground incursion in Gaza, according to the Victoria Police. While
the protesters generally avoided expressing anti-U.S. sentiment,
they dismantled a Star of David and burned it along with an Israeli
flag. Protesters called for a free Palestine and held posters
depicting bloodied corpses of children. A similar 500-person, non
violent protest was held in Melbourne on December 28 accompanied by
Hezbollah flags and condemnation of Israeli military action.
According to Victoria Police, the Socialist Alternative, a
university based spin-off of the International Socialist
Organization, organized both Melbourne rallies.


4. (U) Melbourne's Imams reportedly hosted the "biggest ever cry for
Gaza" in the city's Broadmeadows suburb on January 4. Protesters
again criticized Israeli military action in Gaza while religious
leaders made speeches and invoked prayers.


5. (SBU) Pro-Israel protesters also staged a rally in front of
Victoria's Parliament house with banners stating: "no more terror"
and "Hamas uses human shields." Speakers at the pro-Israel rally
reportedly included the federal Parliament's only Jewish member,
Michael Danby, and Liberal Party Senator from Victoria, Mitch
Fifield. An article in Melbourne's daily Age noted that Jewish
organizations, schools and synagogues have been the target of
abusive phone calls and letters since Israel commenced attacks in
Gaza. Jewish people have also reportedly been verbally abused on
the streets. (Note: There is no Israeli consulate in Melbourne.
End note.) According to Victoria Police, all gatherings in the
state have been conducted peacefully with the full cooperation of
law enforcement authorities.

Adelaide and Elsewhere
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6. (SBU) On December 30, approximately 80 people gathered on the
steps of the State Parliament building in Adelaide to protest
Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Police told post that they did
not observe any anti-U.S. sentiment during the rally. According to
contacts in South Australia's police force, the protest was peaceful
and organized by the "Australian Friends of Palestine." The group
defines itself as a "voluntary, not-for-profit organization which
has as its primary object the promotion of peace in Palestine based
on international law and relevant UN resolutions." Law enforcement
contacts in the Northern Territory and Tasmania report that there
have been no significant anti-Israel rallies in those states.

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Comment
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7. (SBU) Although Melbourne is home to more than 100,000 Muslims,
the primary motivating force behind the anti-Israel protests have
been non-religious organizations. This is at least partially
because Melbourne's Muslim community, similar to Sydney's, is
heavily divided along ethnic lines. Turks comprise the largest
majority of Melbourne's Muslim community, accounting for more than
70,000 residents. Lebanese, Somali, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Eritrean,
Baltic European, Iranian, Afghan, Pakistani and Iraqi Melbournians
make up the remainder of the community. While controversial issues
such as the Benbrika terror trial (refs B and C) have temporarily
united these disparate groups, Melbourne's Muslim communities remain
divided and are primarily motivated by individual ethnic concerns.

GRANT