Morrison addresses Christian rally against antisemitism
Scott Morrison says he will continue praying for a miracle in the Middle East as the former prime minister joined fellow Christians and Sydney’s Jewish community to rally against anti-Semitism.
Protestors hold placards during a rally against antisemitism in Sydney, Sunday, February 18, 2024. (AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi)
Religious songs and hymns at the Never Again is Now event on Sunday bookended speeches referencing the horrors of Nazi Germany and highlighting a rapid rise in anti-Semitism since October.
Beginning his speech by saying the date of Hamas’s October 7 attack five times, Mr Morrison said peace was impossible while the Palestinian cause was championed by terrorists and those prepared to excuse acts of terrorism and anti-Semitism.
“But I’ve always believed in miracles,” he told the crowd of a few thousand people in The Domain.
“And I will continue to always pray for a great miracle in the Middle East.”
Anti-Semites came in many forms including by denying the Jewish people their right of self-determination by claiming the existence of Israel is a racist endeavour, Mr Morrison said.
Those living under the freedom of Australia’s democracy had also called for the extinction of the state of Israel “from the river to the sea”.
“That’s anti-Semitism,” he said.
Warren Mundine stressed the close relationship between Australian Aboriginal people and Australian Jewish people, going back to the brave action of William Cooper in 1938, to the close involvement of Australian Jewry in the Aboriginal Land Rights movement, especially the Mabo case involving Ron Castan OBM.
Jacqui Lambie received the greatest acclamation with her strident support of Australian Jewry in the face of antisemitism posing as antiZionism. She criticised the Federal Government’s equivocation over the conflict and got a prolonged ovation with her statement: “the only good terrorist is a dead terrorist!”
Drawing supportive booing, federal MP Julian Leeser attacked the far left for a perceived ideological hostility towards people of all faiths and pointed to worsening anti-Semitism on university campuses.
“This isn’t a faraway land, this isn’t the 1930s, this is Australia in 2024 and it’s not the Australia that gives me hope.”
Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie received a warm welcome from those attending the rally.
Inspired by the UK’s Christian Action Against Antisemitism, the organisers of Never Again is Now include Anglican pastor Mark Leach, who has Jewish heritage.
Reports of anti-Semitism in Australia jumped eight-fold in the months after the October 7 attacks, when Hamas-backed militants burst into southern Israel from Gaza, killing more than 1200 people according to Israeli authorities.
For centuries Christians were anti Jews.
My guess is that there were more Jews than others at the rally – not very reassuring!
Did you notice that no parliamentarian from the ALP spoke?
What’s that telling us?
( Eric Roozendahl is an ex-politician )
But it was a well-managed peaceful event – at last. It’s about time the Christians stood up to be counted and involved. Appreciated. Thank you for a very good rally. Even nature cooperated with ideal weather.
And a big thanks to the police.
Well who was actually invited from the ALP or any Teals to speak at this event??