Next to Parliament House in Melbourne’s CBD a group of anti-Zionist Jews and non-Jews held an anti-Israel rally, denying the validity of the Jewish community’s very strong support for Israel and Zionism. They are a miniscule portion of the Jewish community who are not representative of anything at all except virulent antiZionism that encourages antisemitism. They are a tiny, fringe minority, and their voices should not be mistaken for those of the larger community.
It was time to show up, stand proud, and outnumber them. Lions of Zion are the real Jewish community—unapologetically Zionist, proud of their heritage, and united in support of Israel.
Don’t let the world be fooled. Silence is not an option. They were out bravely making their voices heard!
But where was the rest of the Jewish community?
Are Jews so cowered by the huge uptick of antisemitism in our society?
The pro-Palestinian supporters are out on the hustings every single week showing their grit and determination.
Meanwhile Jewish organisations are forced to meet in protected, secure environments for fear of attack or intimidation.
This is wrong and Lions of Zion are trying to do something about it.
The scene at parliament was also reported by Bianca Hall in The Age:
The 500 metres across the Bourke Street intersection in front of the Parliament of Victoria had never seemed larger. On Sunday, it looked like a gulf.
On one side were several hundred Jewish protesters, waving Israeli, Australian and Lions of Zion flags and blasting music. The atmosphere was upbeat and defiant. One man sported a “Make America Great Again” baseball cap.
On the other side of the divide was a larger, pro-Palestine protest, which called for “anti-Zionist Jews” to stand against genocide and racism. Protesters on that side of the intersection had little time for US President Donald Trump: one man brandished a sign bearing a photograph of Trump pursing his lips, accompanied by an uncomplimentary slur in Greek.
Since October 7, 2023, pro-Palestinian protesters have staged weekly rallies and vigils outside the State Library of Victoria, calling for a permanent ceasefire and for Israel to leave the Occupied Territories.
As protesters gathered on each side of the intersection, separated by police barricades and dozens of police officers, some pro-Israel protesters took it upon themselves to police the event themselves.
Draped in Israeli flags, several young men physically blocked older pro-Palestinian protesters from moving through the crowd towards their own camp, forcing them to walk several blocks around the no-man’s land outside parliament as police watched on.
Lions of Zion member and co-organiser Isaac Balbin said since October 7, Jewish Australians had not felt safe in Melbourne’s CBD. Now, he said, the community had had enough.