“We’re just like everyone else, trying to live a life, contribute to society, bring up our families, live in peace and harmony – regardless of one’s view overseas, you just want to treat your fellow Australian as an equal, as a friend, as a colleague. Why the hate? Why the threats?”
Victoria Police have appealed for any witnesses to come forward.
Vandals have defaced a South Yarra synagogue for the second time in 24 hours.
“There is absolutely no place at all in our society for antisemitic or hate-based symbols and behaviour,” they said.
On Sunday afternoon, demonstrators gathered on the steps of the State Library on Swanston Street in the CBD to protest US and Israeli strikes on Iran and the ongoing war in Gaza.
After this article was originally published, the South Yarra synagogue was vandalised again with “Free Palestine” on a different side of the building.
Nathanson said CCTV also captured this incident, which occurred on Sunday night.
The congregation has been in this building – which has a heritage overlay – since 1930. It moved there from its Bourke Street building, which dates back to 1844 and was Melbourne’s first synagogue.
Police have appealed for any witnesses or people with vision of the vandals to make a confidential report to Crime Stoppers.
With Alexander Darling
Read the full article here
