Sydney Pro-Palestine Rally Sun 11th August- The irony
Speeches under the Sydney colonial coat of arms: "I take but I surrender"
Synopsis
🇦🇺🇵🇸❤️🪧📢 Pro-Palestine Rally Sydney Sun 11th August
A well attended march today.
I always take notes during the speeches - considering salient events discussed and things that occur to me…. a lot going on today so decided to write.
Some shocking examples of where the media has been caught out in manipulation of events that gives you an idea how complicit and enabling these outlets are in Australia.
Shortcut - Jump to start reading article:👉 click here
(link to jump past preliminary sections inc. version history & contents page to start of the article to begin reading)
Video Synopsis
⚠️ NOTE: ⚡️ LIVING Article: As with many Sleekit Scotsman articles - this will be updated post date of original publication with an edit history below.
This reflects the addition of new information as it comes to light and is intended to keep the article relevant, up to date and more importantly a comprehensive reference with quoted public sources for pro-Palestine advocates to build on.
🙏 My only request is that you quote Sleekit Scotsman ☮️🏴 as a reference if re-using information or images: 🔗🌳👉 https://linktr.ee/sleekitscotsman
‼️Article Updated
Article updated: Mon 12th Aug 2024 (Sleekit Scotsman ☮️🏴 articles are updated periodically to add latest information on the subject of the article for relevance)
Monday 12th Aug 2024:
Added further detail on acknowledging past genocides at the pro-Palestinian rallies: Media misrepresentation: look a yellow flag!
SUMSA clarification of flags at protests: Melbourne 3AW/Herald Sun: “Hamas” flag - FALSE claim, inflammatory language - and no apology
News Corp defamation case on anti-Israel rhetoric: A legal challenge to News Corp
Sky News Australia - systemic pro-Israel bias - and a good reason why: Sky News Australia: Historical Bias
News Corp: call for a Royal Commission. Two former PMs speak out - and contrast this with the current call for a Royal Commission essentially on the pro-Palestine protests actually being considered by Parliament (as more important)- News Corp: Criticism from two Australian former PMs from both sides of the political spectrum and the wrong Royal Commission
Contents
🇦🇺 🪧 At Town Hall - under a colonial symbol
Rather than Hyde Park, at Town Hall because of the City To Surf race (call out for the pro-Palestinian who hung a banner over the Edgecliffe tunnel saying "400 Palestinian athletes murdered by Israel").
Much better at this location with a march around the centre and I believe more will take place at Town Hall.
It was my first march at Town Hall (been away either overseas, exams) and it took place on a "Buckingham Palace" style balcony. The speaker noted that above her was a statue of a “colonial master” and an Aboriginal native with the words "I take but I surrender". The irony was not lost.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore on investigating at a Council Meet in 2019 stopped wearing the chains of office which had the same crest1:
"The motto ‘I take but I surrender’ was not explained in 1857. Some say it may have been a tacit acknowledgement of Aboriginal dispossession. But in the NSW Government Gazette No. 50, 30 December 1908, it is described as “The English naval landing party took possession from the Aborigine, and in turn surrendered it to that growing nationality of which the settlement of the City of Sydney was the foundation”.
This true explanation that supercedes some BS the right-wing Institute for Public Affairs tried to come out with to attack Moore's decision.
A pro-Palestine protest under a potent symbol of Australian colonialism.
What an awful week….
The week before was "JUST" assassinations - Hezbollah leader, and Hamas chief peace negotiator in Tehran during ceasefire negotiations.
This week…
The most AWFUL massacre in al-Tabin school: 100+ killed whilst praying… bodies destroyed beyond belief… and the most sickening detail of WEIGHING body parts to provide estimates of death numbers…. What world is this?
Shocking footage of Palestinian prisoners being gang-raped in prison by Israeli soldiers .. and an Israeli politician:
being outraged that someone filmed it,
rather than the actual rape….
Parallels with our politicians
being outraged at anti-genocide protest and ordering investigations ad-naseum by pro-Israeli interests
rather than the genocide itself…..
One of the speakers - a normally strong Palestinian woman with a steady voice - began crying on the podium - noting that out of everything she had seen in the last ten months the rape of the prisoners was the most upsetting.
Not childrens deaths, not massacres … the rape of helpless men …. Innocent men (imprisoned for no reason) in an Israeli torture prison.
And then the guards going on Israeli television to defend their actions … whilst Israeli politicians debate and deduce "everything is justifiable".
How can any Western politician look at themselves in the mirror whilst supporting these madmen…?
Rules-based Order? There are no rules…
I'm writing more emotively myself - because I just cannot believe the details here….. What would someone from another planet think if it was explained to them what was happening here… contrasting with the treatment of another conflict in Ukraine not a year previous?
There's no "rules based order" because that visitor could simply not work out "the rules" from the hypocritical treatment of Israel.
🇯🇵 Some things are sacred - but not to the US..
Japan's annual Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Memorial SHAME. This is an annual peace ceremony in Nagasaki attended by Ambassadors from all countries. The Mayor has discretion to uninvite warlike countries - and has uninvited both Ukraine and Belarus last two years.
This year he uninvited Israel …. And in response to this … a move for PEACE not POLITICS - the G7 took the political route and all Ambassadors refused to attend.
This is utterly shocking.
🇺🇸 The greatest shame of all is for the USA - who of course dropped the bomb.
Just the same way that 🇩🇪 Germany quite rightly has a special obligation to Israel as perpetrators of the Holocaust ( Staatsräson- "reason of State"2) - the US has important obligation and frankly world nuclear proliferation responsibilities to attend this.
To pull out for a cheap political reasons - in the face of a genocide - is absolutely disgusting, petty, irresponsible - and just plain wrong.
🇺🇸 And after the shame of boycotting the Nagasaki Memorial, and failing to condemn the Gaza Massacre …. ANOTHER $3.5Bn of weapons funding is given to Israel - plus a shipment of 6,500 JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munitions) bombs - "dumb" non-guiding - indiscriminate damage….
Right to "defend" ? ….. No words.
Media misrepresentation: look a yellow flag!
There was a yellow flag with a large hand on it today - and I have to say I had no idea what it was.
Turns out it’s a memorial flag for the 11th Anniversary of the Egyptian Rab'a Massacre 14th August 2013 (3 days time) when Egyptian security forces killed over 1000 protestors. Human Rights Watch produced a shocking report on the massacre calling it "one of the world's worst killings of protestors in a single day".3
But what do you think the Australian Press will do? See a flag with yellow on it and suggest it is Hezbollah… watch this space.
Update 12/8/24: Some more info on the yellow flag thanks to a note from Ali Tab 🙏☺️
It actually says “R4bia” and was originally associated with the Muslim Brotherhood protestors, but has since expanded to a broader protest against tyranny. According to German political scientist Thorsten Gerald Schneiders the flag repreents:
a symbol of freedom.
a movement for justice, freedom and conscience
a protest against tyranny and dictatorship
On marking dates at the pro-Palestine rallies - similarly a few protests back on Sunday 7th July there were a number of Bozniaks attending wearing shirts saying “Remember Srebenica” - the massacre of over over 8000 Muslim men and boys, ahead of the 11th July UN Day of Remembrance.4
It is appropriate in the face of a live genocide to remember those of the past - showing the world has not learned…
Silencing Al Jazeera: Pro-Israeli Lobby call in Australia
Media misrepresentation was a specific theme again today. As we marched past the front of Town Hall and a lady held a sign “Israel & USA’s Mass Murder on Al Jazeera live” - I was reminded the pro-Israeli lobby here - before Israel even considered it - wanted Al Jazeera shut down in Australia!
Control the media you control the narrative.
Here are two recent exposés of the manipulation of the Australian Media and deliberate fomenting by the Murdoch Press.
Melbourne 3AW/Herald Sun: “Hamas” flag - FALSE claim, inflammatory language - and no apology
Here’s a perfect example of the collusion between the pro-Israeli Lobby and The Australian Press - over a flag again, exposed on ABC Media Watch. This shocking behaviour happens here all the time - it's no wonder anti-Islamic sentiment is fomented with this appalling commentary.
So here's what happened…
Mid-July, Dr. Dvir Abramovitch - the CEO of the pro-Israel "Anti-Defamation Commission" called in to 3AW and the Herald Sun reporting a Hamas Flag at a pro-Palestine rally - and then whipped up a frenzy calling it "a declaration of war".
3AW and Herald Sun ran with the headlines - with equally fomenting Islamophobic headlines and commentary.
However - the flag was actually the Sh'ia Ashura religious festival flag, an Islamic flag flying at these festivals over the world - and from a religious procession in Melbourne that very day!
There was no apology from 3AW, the Herald Sun or ignorant instigator Dr. Dvir Abramovitch.
In fact - Muslims bring these religious flags to pro-Palestine marches - the same way Christians would bring crosses or icons - to normalise the celebration of their religion and claim it back from the Islamic terrorists who used their own twisted versions of these proud flags. Noted by Sydney Uni Muslim Students Association (SUMSA) - educating in the face of media bias:
Ignorant people equate Arabic language with terrorism. Idiots.
So this is one example of catching out a lie. But this happens every day with the Australian Press at the beck and call of the pro-Israeli lobby. The smallest things are cooked up with salacious demonising fear-mongering commentary.
Sky News Australia: overseas footage misrepresentation and racist commentary - but a global laughing stock
ABC Media Watch also caught out Sky News Australia 3 weeks ago. They commented on footage in Paris of a victory parade where there were no French flags and a sea of Palestinian flags. The discussion turned to immigration, anti-Muslim rhetoric and then … “but we’ll see this HERE too soon…”
Except the footage was from a month earlier, in a different city, at a Pro-Palestinian rally, hence the flags.
Sky News Australia were called out internationally for this idiocy…. but shows any excuse to funnel the narrative to that old … “we’re seeing it here”…
A legal challenge to News Corp
If you consider the outcome of spreading malicious rumours in the UK from the awful events at the children’s dance class - and subsequent Islamophobic riots - this behaviour by the Australian mainstream media is grossly irresponsible - and quite possibly inciteful through repeated examples - and therefore illegal.
Noting the common thread to the above media channels as below:
Finally lawyer Adam Houda is taking legal action against News Corp’s Sky New Australia for referring to him as a a “Jew Hater” on a program on 23 January this year. Sky issued a brief apology for the implication on his ability to act as a lawyer almost two months later5 but not for the slur.
Noting that the Murdoch outlets parrot the tactics of the pro-Israeli lobby - extrapolating the pro-Palestine anti-Israel State commentary to a protest against the whole of Judaism which it is not - noting many Jewish people attend and speak at global pro-Palestine rallies including here in Sydney.
On 8th August Houda took legal action against the broadcaster for their comments - in the face of parallel multi-outlet attacks on him through sexual harassment allegations (whether true or not tbc - but treat separately from the action).6
Interested to follow the case - in the face of a mass of News Corp’s lawyers plus also the pro-Israeli lobby in Australia whose management are all lawyers who often act pro-bono against the slightest criticism of Israel.
Sky News Australia: Historical Bias
Sky News Australia is utterly pro-Israeli in its reporting. Together with The Australian newspaper (also News Corp) - they are almost exclusive mouthpieces for the pro-Israeli lobby - and DAILY dedicated opinion pieces defending Israel’s actions are printed or broadcast.
And they contain these inflammatory and irresponsible comments and commentary on social cohesion.
One just had to look around today’s rally to see yet again all ages, all races and walks of life to see the very definition of social cohesion.
In the UK Sky news was sold from News Corp and despite retaining the name has a contrasting reporting style compared to Sky News Australia. Here is the reporting on exactly the same rally in London back in February this year:
And the bias of journalists? The pro-Israel lobby regularly flies out MPs and journalists on all-expenses paid trips to Israel, locking them in onside. In particular in 2015 there was a junket of journos in the earlier stages of their careers. Their roles today are a direct correlation from the influence to the pro-Israeli reporting we see.
News Corp: Criticism from two Australian former PMs from both sides of the political spectrum and the wrong Royal Commission
There is a long-standing campaign to have a Royal Commission into the Murdoch Media Empire in Australia. Australians for a Murdoch Royal Commission now targeting the successor Lachlan.
In 2021 two former Australian Prime Minster’s gave it both barrels in a supporting event:
Turnbull’s comments in particular scathing:
“the Murdoch Media has done extraordinary damage to the countries in which it is most influential”
“I don’t think there is any individual in the US today who has as an individual done more damage over the years to American democracy than Rupert Murdoch”
“he [Murdoch] has normalised lies, he has normalised conspiracy theories..”
“… culminating in the January 6th assault on the Capital which could not have happened without Fox News normalising that divisive, conspiracy laden environment”
A Murdoch Royal Commission is somewhat more urgent than a pro-Israeli driven call for a Royal Commission into antisemitism currently accepting submissions in the Senate and given serious consideration.
Introduced by MP Julian Leeser - also co-Chair of one of the 11 Parliamentary “Friends of Israel” groups and notably on the all-white Board of the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation - criticised for sponsoring education in a blinkered colonial view of society (and quite a cast on that Board!).7
Despite the Government performing its own inquiry into antisemitism at Universities Leeser pushed for an actual Royal Commission - in consultation with extremist groups driving an agenda.
Again - incredible that
a) Parliamentary time spent scrutinising protest at a genocide rather than the genocide itself
b) Serious consideration for a Royal Commission on this subject - when an investigation already going on - over a much needed Murdoch media Royal Commission.
Vested interest much?
BDS - A small win!
Finally - a small win. I’ve managed to find again a local supplier to continue buying my non-Sodastream gas from local Aussie company Soda King. Little steps.
BDS Sodastream: https://bdsaustralia.net.au/category/latest/action-alert/
Alternative Soda King Australia: https://www.sodaking.com.au
Vote with your soda!
Sleekit Scotsman ☮️🏴 Social Media
Sleekit Scotsman ☮️🏴 also publishes on a number of social media channels - please also consider subscribing to these:
✍️ Substack SleekitScotsman: this publication
📺 YouTube @SleekitScotsman : https://www.youtube.com/@SleekitScotsman
👤 Facebook @sleekit.scotsman2 : https://www.facebook.com/sleekit.scotsman2
🆇 X (formerly Twitter) @SleekitScotsman : https://twitter.com/SleekitScotsman
📸 Instagram: @sleekit.scotsman https://www.instagram.com/sleekit.scotsman/
🎶 TikTok: @sleekit.scotsman https://www.tiktok.com/@sleekit.scotsman
Central landing page to all of the above: 🔗🌳 https://linktr.ee/sleekitscotsman
REFERENCES
City of Sydney Council Meeting 9 Sep 2019 - “Item 3.3: Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral Chains File No: S051491“ - https://meetings.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/documents/s33957/Mayoral%20and%20Deputy%20Mayoral%20Chains.pdf
Der Spiegel 24 Jan 2024 “The True Story Behind Merkel's Promise to Israel“ - https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/reason-of-state-the-true-story-behind-merkels-promise-to-israel-a-00563b9e-0c66-4717-9331-e0bbb4cc8f88
Human Rights Watch Rab’a Massacre Aug 12 2014 “All According to Plan: The Rab’a Massacre and Mass Killings of Protesters in Egypt“ - https://www.hrw.org/report/2014/08/12/all-according-plan/raba-massacre-and-mass-killings-protesters-egypt
UN News 23 May 2024 “UN establishes International Day of reflection for Srebrenica genocide“ - https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/05/1150156
Sky News Australia 21 Mar 2024 - “Apology to Adam Houda“ - https://www.skynews.com.au/opinion/andrew-bolt/apology-to-adam-houda/news-story/84e5d291ad2c3fcfeaa1f59a113b90ed
Adam Houda X 8 Aug 2024 https://x.com/lawyeradamhouda/status/1821392971956400583
Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation website: Our Board - https://www.ramsaycentre.org/about-us/our-people/our-board/