Outrage within Melbourne’s Jewish community over independent candidate Zoe Daniel attending upcoming Israel Independence Day celebrations has resulted in a Shule stopping her and Liberal opponent Tim Wilson from taking part in the festivities.
The former ABC journalist was due to attend a local event on Shabbat on May 7 at the Blake Street Shule at Caulfield South to celebrate Israel’s national holiday, but serious concerns were raised after Ms Daniel recently refused to withdraw her signature from a controversial letter accusing Israel of maintaining an “apartheid regime against Palestinians”.
When The Australian contacted the Shule on Monday both Ms Daniel and Mr Wilson, the incumbent MP, were both due to attend the celebrations, but hours later they were both told they were no longer welcome.
Many members of the Jewish community remain furious Ms Daniel has refused to remove her signature from an open letter she signed in 2021 that states, “Israeli vigilante mobs attack Palestinians and the Netanyahu government has unleashed a new, brutal war against the besieged population of Gaza”.
Blake Street president Andrew Davis told The Australian, “the event that has been organised has developed an unintended political aspect”.
“The politicians who were to attend have agreed that the event will proceed as a celebration without their attendance,” he said.
Read the article by Sophie Elsworth in The Australian.