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Israeli diaspora affairs minister Amichai Chikli says slogans shouted in a massive pro-Palestinian march on Sydney Harbour Bridge fomented a climate that led to a massacre on Chanukah, criticising Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
At a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack where 15 people were killed by father-and-son gunmen on Sunday, Mr Chikli said it was not a surprising turn of events.
Israel’s Minister for Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli is embraced by a Rabbi at a floral tribute near the Bondi Pavilion on Tuesday.Credit: AP
“The writing was on the wall in big letters, the warning signs had been flashing for the past two years,” he told a congregation of Jewish-Australians at Chabad Bondi on late Wednesday.
He particularly took aim at phrases such as “Globalise the Intifada” and “From the River to Sea”.
Mr Chikli also claimed the presence of Palestinian flags on the bridge alongside Islamic State and Hamas flags, which have been outlawed, were problematic symbols.
“We’ve heard zero condemnation from the [Australian] prime minister ... on the contrary what we’ve seen is a recognition of a Palestinian state,” Mr Chikli said.
“It was a horrific terror attack, but it was well predicted ... that’s a direct result of statements on Sydney’s (Harbour) Bridge and previous assaults.”
Pro-Palestine protesters march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on August 3.Credit: Getty Images
The Israeli minister said Mr Albanese had shied from naming extremist Islamist terrorist as the cause for the atrocity and was cowering behind gun reforms instead.
“The problem is the ideology not the weapons ... it’s time to wake up,” he said.
Surviving terrorist Naveed Akram was charged with 59 offences on Wednesday, four days after his father Sajid Akram, 50, was killed in a shootout with police.
AAP
