Anti-Israel post leads to legal showdown
Jewish commodities trader Ronnie Sternberg has accused pro-Palestine activists of using AVOs to stifle open discussion.
A legal battle in Sydney has sparked a broader debate over the use of personal violence orders (PVOs) in public disputes.
The dispute arose after Sternberg confronted restaurateur Pablo Vargas over an Instagram post that stated, “every day is f..k Israel day.” The confrontation led to a PVO being issued against Sternberg, which restricts him from approaching Vargas or his businesses.
Sternberg visited one of Vargas’ restaurants, Taqiza, in Bondi on October 20 to voice his concerns about the post, which had circulated widely among Jewish community groups. Sternberg has denied any violent or threatening behaviour, telling The Australian newspaper, “I’m not an aggressive person. I have no criminal history, no history of violence. I was very angry, certainly very angry … but I’m not doing anything illegal. I’m not threatening anybody.”
In a police statement, Constable Edward Carroll said Vargas alleged that Sternberg had visited both Taqiza and another restaurant, Carbon, and that his actions had intimidated employees. Vargas also expressed fears for his safety, stating, “I am afraid that the male will continue to come to the restaurants looking for me. I believe the male is violent and holds extremist ideologies.”
The case was heard at Waverley Local Court, where Judge Jacqueline Milledge ordered Sternberg to maintain a 20-metre distance from Vargas and his businesses. Sternberg has criticized the decision, claiming that PVOs are being “weaponized” and calling their application in this case “an affront to real victims of domestic violence.” He has indicated his intent to pursue civil action against Vargas.
Sternberg told The Australian that his actions were motivated by outrage at Vargas’ post, which he described as “hateful” and “completely outrageous.” He claimed he did not threaten Vargas or his employees and offered police access to his phone records to verify this.
Vargas, co-founder of the Milpa Collective restaurant group, including La Palma, Bar Lucio and Santa Catarina, has not commented publicly on the matter. The case is set to return to court on February 6, 2025.
