A small number of Australian Israelis have protested outside Australia’s embassy in Tel Aviv against the government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state.<\/p>\n
About 30 protesters gathered holding placards and chanting slogans like “Support your mates, not terror states”.<\/p>\n
“The 7th of October (attacks) took place not even two years ago and by giving them a Palestinian state or declaring a Palestinian state, you’re basically saying if you butcher 1,200 people, you’ll get a reward for that,” protest organiser Michael Frumar told the ABC.<\/p>\n
“So I felt it that it’s very important to come here, organise the Aussies here in Israel to say what we feel and to send also message to the Aussies, both Jewish and non-Jewish in Australia and to let them know that they need to be heard.”<\/p>\n
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The protesters gathered at the start of the Israeli weekend in Tel Aviv. (ABC News)<\/p>\n
Some protesters were also upset by a perceived failure to protect Australian Jews from antisemitism.<\/p>\n
“As Jews, as allies, we felt that this is our home, Australia. Now I don’t. I speak to my friends in Australia and I think, why would I go back?” demonstrator Adele Abraham said.<\/p>\n
Her daughter Michelle said footage of the large pro-Palestinian protest on the Sydney Harbour had disturbed Australian Israelis.<\/p>\n
“We were all watching the footage here in Israel, as interested Australians and Australian Jews and we were looking at what was happening on the bridge, the Harbour Bridge … if I had seen one poster that said ‘Save the hostages’ together with people saying ‘save Palestinian lives, give food to Palestinians,’ to save both sides of the argument, we wouldn’t be having this discussion,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Being an Australian is about giving a fair go to every Australian, not just Palestinians and not just Israelis, but both and what we want to see in Australian communities is the ability to represent both.”<\/p>\n
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