Sydney Mayor Clover Moore has decided to cancel the “Globalise the Intifada” event on the first day of hearings at the Royal Commission into the Bondi terror attack.
Ms Moore “pulled the pin” on the controversial event, which was set to take place in a government building on Tuesday night, blaming the media and its “discourse of division” for stopping the event.
The event was advertised as “why it’s right to say: globalize the Intifada”.
Due to “grave concerns” from the Jewish community and mounting backlash from community leaders, as well as former prime minister Tony Abbott, Ms Moore caved to the pressure.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the forum was demanding the right to say the slogan “Globalise the Intifada” after a NSW Parliamentary Inquiry recognized it as a call to violence against Jews.
Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said it was “entirely appropriate” that the City of Sydney Council had refused to provide a venue for the event.
“The mayor’s decision is the right one, particularly in light of further inflammatory and dangerous social media activity today from one of the event’s scheduled speakers,” he said.
“The phrase “Globalise the Intifada” has been recognised by a NSW Parliamentary Inquiry as a call to violence against Jewish Australians. It essentially means kill or maim a Jew wherever you find one.”
In a statement, Ms Moore said her priority was to work to ensure everyone “feels welcome” in Sydney.
“That work has been all the more challenging as the impact of violence in the Middle East has left many hurting and afraid,” she said.
“Antisemitism, Islmaophobia and anti-Palestinian racism has risen. Unthinkable evil terrorised Bondi.”
Ms Moore said she marched across the Harbour Bridge in support of “people’s rights” and condemned the use of “excessive force” used by NSW Police against protestors.
To support grieving communities, Ms Moore said she had visited mosques and synagogues, “paused Christmas celebrations”, and used New Year’s Eve to “promote reflection”.
“With the first hearing block of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion in Australia, it is essential that public events do not contribute to hostility and fear,” Ms Moore said.
Ms Moore then blamed the media for pushing her to shut down the event which sought to call for violence against Jewish Australians.
“In recent weeks, we have seen a persistent media campaign by the Murdoch media press against this event,” she wrote.
“The coverage has exploited trauma, painting complex issues in black and white and, in bad faith, demanded our communities take sides.”
Ms Moore accused the media and certain outlets of engaging in a “discourse of division” which made her “extremely concerned”.
Sky News host Sharri Markson congratulated The Daily Telegraph editor Ben English on the successful campaign against the event.
Markson said Mayor Moore had “resisted” calls to cancel the event and that it took a “dedicated campaign” to change her mind on the “dangerous” slogan.
“Clover Moore has caved and it will not go ahead,” Markson said.