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.<\/p>\n
British trip-hop group \u2018Massive Attack\u2019, known for its onstage activism and 1998 hit \u2018Teardrop\u2019, has landed in Australia just one week after being booted from the southeast Asian country for unfurling a Palestinian flag and joining a \u201cFree Palestine\u201d chant on stage.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cmass anti-Israel rally\u201d where Jewish fans are left feeling \u201cblamed, hated, isolated and unsafe\u201d.<\/p>\n
At the centre of the band are musicians Robert \u201c3D\u201d Del Naja and Grant \u201cDaddy G\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s freedom. <\/p>\n
On social media and during performances, Massive Attack has called for western nations to \u201cun-recognise Israel\u201d, and cancel trade agreements with and impose sanctions on the Jewish homeland, claiming the Netanyahu government is responsible for \u201cgenocide\u201d and \u201cethnic cleansing\u201d.<\/p>\n
Sheina Gutnick, daughter of Bondi hero Reuven Morrison who was murdered while confronting the terrorist gunmen, told the Herald Sun it was \u201cdisappointing\u201d that a band with a record of stoking tensions would be given a platform in Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s disappointing to see another international tour come to Australia carrying a message that risks fuelling division rather than respectful dialogue,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSupporting 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dr Dvir Abramovich said concerned Jewish fans had contacted him, fearing they would be \u201ctrapped inside an ambush\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn a city where antisemitism is already burning too hot, Massive Attack should choose music over provocation and incitement,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cMassive Attack have a choice. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey can give Melbourne a concert, or they can turn a packed arena into a political furnace.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy message to Massive Attack is this: Do not import the conflict.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou will fly out. The fallout stays.\u201d<\/p>\n
Australian-Israeli and longtime fan of the band Asaf called on Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to cancel their visas, fearing they\u2019d fire up tensions once again.<\/p>\n
He said he\u2019d bought tickets for Tuesday\u2019s concert but would no longer be going.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t listen to that and other Jewish fans shouldn\u2019t have to either,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is Australia, my country.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo this in your country, do whatever you want in your own country, but don\u2019t come here and stir tensions among religious and cultural groups.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Jewish Melburnian said Singapore was \u201csmart to kick them out\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cTony Burke should do the same,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Herald Sun has contacted Massive Attack and Mr Burke\u2019s office for comment. <\/p>\n
In a statement after being booted from Singapore, the band said chants of \u201cFree Palestine\u201d had \u201corganically\u201d rung out from the crowd. <\/p>\n
\u201cFor 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,\u201d it read. <\/p>\n
\u201cOn 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.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"An anti-Israel 90s band expelled from Singapore and campaigning for the release of a convicted Palestinian terrorist 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