David Condemns Anti-Semitic Behaviour

David Condemns Anti-Semitic Behaviour

David has long been active in opposing the extremist anti-Israel ‘Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions’ (BDS) movement. Protesters from this movement aim to delegitimise and attack Israel by impeding trade. Demonstrators have been involved in protesting outside Israeli owned small business retailers in Melbourne, particularly the Melbourne franchises of the Max Brenner Chocolate Shop. This has had a serious detrimental impact upon the businesses involved and neighbouring retailers. The protesters plan to once again target Max Brenner as well as a number of other businesses on Friday evening.

In response to this behaviour, David tabled a petition bearing almost 750 names on Wednesday 8 February, calling upon the Baillieu government to continue its great work in cracking down upon the BDS protesters.

“The BDS movement is racist and anti-Semitic, as it targets businesses because of their connections to Israel and the Jewish community, and it must be stopped,” David said during his speech to Parliament on the issue.

David is also particularly concerned by recent reports that members of the BDS movement plan to demonstrate outside a synagogue during Saturday services in the coming weeks. “Actions like these would clearly be extremely worrying for members of the Melbourne Jewish community,” David said.

In addition to the BDS movement, David also expressed his strong condemnation of the public display of a Nazi and SS flag outside the house of a flag seller in Carrum.

On Thursday, David tabled a notice of motion in Parliament condemning Robert Boot, the flag seller, for his “utter contempt for the pain” his actions had caused. The notice also “calls on all Victorians to vote with their feet by not purchasing products from a business with such blatant disregard for the enormous community of Holocaust survivors living in this state” and “congratulates the Member for Carrum for working with the City of Kingston to apply pressure to have this flag removed”. David is hopeful that the local council will be able to modify its bylaws to prevent the future display of similarly offensive material.

To download the petition click here