An anti-Israel 90s band expelled from Singapore and campaigning for the release of a convicted Palestinian terrorist is set to perform in Melbourne, outraging Jewish leaders and the daughter of a Bondi terror attack hero.
British trip-hop group ‘Massive Attack’, known for its onstage activism and 1998 hit ‘Teardrop’, has landed in Australia just one week after being booted from the southeast Asian country for unfurling a Palestinian flag and joining a “Free Palestine” chant on stage.
Their three-state Australian tour has angered some Jewish leaders and prominent community members who fear their performance at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday night will become a “mass anti-Israel rally” where Jewish fans are left feeling “blamed, hated, isolated and unsafe”.
At the centre of the band are musicians Robert “3D” Del Naja and Grant “Daddy G” Marshall who have been calling for the release of Marwan Barghouti, convicted in Israel of five counts of murder over a series of terror attacks in the early 2000s.
Many Palestinians and their advocacy groups claim Barghouti was not given a fair trial while opinion polls consistently find him to be the most popular Palestinian leader.
The Victorian Labor Party also recently passed a motion at their state conference that called on the Albanese government to advocate for the serial murderer’s freedom.
On social media and during performances, Massive Attack has called for western nations to “un-recognise Israel”, and cancel trade agreements with and impose sanctions on the Jewish homeland, claiming the Netanyahu government is responsible for “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing”.
Sheina Gutnick, daughter of Bondi hero Reuven Morrison who was murdered while confronting the terrorist gunmen, told the Herald Sun it was “disappointing” that a band with a record of stoking tensions would be given a platform in Australia.
“It’s disappointing to see another international tour come to Australia carrying a message that risks fuelling division rather than respectful dialogue,” she said.
“Supporting the campaign to free Marwan Barghouti, a man serving multiple life sentences over terrorist attacks, should concern anyone who believes terrorism should never be normalised, regardless of the cause.”
Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dr Dvir Abramovich said concerned Jewish fans had contacted him, fearing they would be “trapped inside an ambush”.
“In a city where antisemitism is already burning too hot, Massive Attack should choose music over provocation and incitement,” he said.
“Massive Attack have a choice.
“They can give Melbourne a concert, or they can turn a packed arena into a political furnace.”
“My message to Massive Attack is this: Do not import the conflict.
“You will fly out. The fallout stays.”
Australian-Israeli and longtime fan of the band Asaf called on Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to cancel their visas, fearing they’d fire up tensions once again.
He said he’d bought tickets for Tuesday’s concert but would no longer be going.
“I can’t listen to that and other Jewish fans shouldn’t have to either,” he said.
“This is Australia, my country.
“Do this in your country, do whatever you want in your own country, but don’t come here and stir tensions among religious and cultural groups.”
The Jewish Melburnian said Singapore was “smart to kick them out”.
“Tony Burke should do the same,” he said.
The Herald Sun has contacted Massive Attack and Mr Burke’s office for comment.
In a statement after being booted from Singapore, the band said chants of “Free Palestine” had “organically” rung out from the crowd.
“For our part, we did not imagine that merely holding up the flag of a sovereign state recognised by 157 countries (Palestine) would violate any law,” it read.
“On reflection, we are proud to have made this impromptu expression with our fans in Singapore who clearly felt a moral imperative to show solidarity with the people of Palestine in their ongoing reality of illegal occupation, apartheid and genocide, and we salute their courage in doing so.”