Jews protest against play
Photo: Michael Board
Jews, extreme leftists clash in Australia over anti-Israel play
Heated exchange reported between Jewish students, audience of play comparing Israel's policy in Gaza to Nazi regime; Jewish Agency envoy to Melbourne: Red line was crossed, we had to respond
Jewish university students in Melbourne, Australia clashed with members of extreme Left parties on Monday during a performance of the play "Seven Jewish Children," which compares Israel's policy in Gaza to that of the Nazi regime during the Holocaust.
The affair began about a week ago, when Jewish students came across leaflets advertising the play and decided to hold a protest at its next showing at Melbourne's State Library.
"We realized that a red line had been crossed and that we must respond, so we decided to hold a demonstration outside the venue," Tal Dror, the Jewish Agency's envoy to Melbourne told Ynet.
"We distributed flyers explaining why the play is anti-Semitic, and students waved signs reading "You support terror - racists, anti-Semites."
'Red line crossed.' Rally outside library. (Photo: Michael Board)
According to Dror, the audience consisted mainly of members of extreme Left parties and Arab speakers. "The situation heated up when the audience began provoking the dozens of Jewish students, who shouted back 'You support the Holocaust'. There was one guy who shouted in Arabic 'We will throw all the Jews to the sea'. At a certain point police were forced to intervene and separate the groups."
He said the local Jewish community, which numbers some 100,000 people, was surprised that the play was performed in Melbourne, but praised those who "made their voices heard."
Last week a 38-year-old man from the west coast city of Perth was charged with posting anti-Semitic videos on YouTube, and on Monday, as part of the wave of protests in the aftermath of the IDF's Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, left-wing activists in Buenos Aires rioted and reportedly beat Jews who were marking Israel's 61st anniversary. Five people were arrested.
