Protesters ‘Asking for Violence’

Jewish community leaders have condemned pro-Palestinian supporters who defaced a government building during a Melbourne protest, labelling it as an “incitement to violence”.

Protesters targeted the ­Department of Foreign ­Affairs and Trade office at 55 Collins St on Monday afternoon, scrawling offensive graffiti on the building.

The graffiti said: “DFAT blood on your hands”.

The small crowd also ­entered the food court in Collins Place chanting: “Free, free Gaza” and “Palestine will be free”.

Laurent Bakery supervisor Sagar Hrestha said he was on his break when he heard the loud shouts.

“I came out and there was a banner hanging over the shop,” he said.

Police moved the protesters out of the busy lunchtime shopping precinct, but they continued down Collins St ­towards parliament, briefly blocking trams and traffic.

Victoria Police said it was investigating the graffiti on Collins St, with no arrests made last night.

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler, who witnessed the protest, condemned the ­actions of protesters.

“This is clearly an incitement to violence,” he said.

“If these things are allowed to continue to occur, then we have a problem.”

Mr Leibler said the Jewish community felt “unsafe” amid protests.

“There is a lot of concern within the community,” he said. “There’s no question of how unsafe they are feeling.

“I heard their chants today and it was violent and ­aggressive speech.”

Jewish Community Council of Victoria president Daniel Aghion said: “It is curious that these protesters said nothing when over 1400 Israelis were murdered and over 200 kidnapped.

“If they really cared for human life, they would ­demand the immediate and safe return of all of the hostages, and call upon Hamas to cease using the citizens of Gaza as human shields.”

It comes after a letter emerged on Monday that ­offered Jewish students at Monash University separate rooms to sit their exams.

The letter, circulated by students and seen by the Herald Sun, said affected students would have the option to undertake an online exam or discreetly change rooms to sit tests elsewhere if they felt ­unsafe.

Monash University said eligible students could apply for special arrangements.

Meanwhile, all of Australia’s remaining living prime ministers, with the exception of Paul Keating, signed a joint statement on Monday condemning the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel and called on Australians to stay united.

The letter, signed by Kevin Rudd, John Howard, Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison, called on Israel to do all it could to protect civilian life.

“We believe we speak for the vast majority of Australians, of all faiths and of none, when we say we stand in solidarity with Jewish Australians at this time,” they said.

“We condemn the cruel and murderous attack on Israeli families by Hamas on October 7. After raining thousands of rockets down on ­Israel, Hamas terrorists ­invaded Israel and kidnapped and murdered 1400 Israelis; young and old, women and men, children – not even ­babies were spared.

“Likewise, we stand too with the Australian Palestinian community whose families are dying. They, too, deserve our love and support. Our nation’s success depends on us not allowing conflict overseas to turn Australians against each other.”

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said police attended the demonstration in Collins St on Monday.

“Our top priority was keeping the peace to ensure the event did not impact the safety of the broader community,” the spokeswoman said.

“We will continue to retain communication with all communities which have a strong interest in events unfolding in the Middle East.

“Investigators will review CCTV in the area.”

Jewish leaders on Sunday condemned pro-Palestinian supporters who held signs ­likening Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler at a rally in Melbourne’s CBD.

About 12,000 pro-Palestinian supporters gathered at the State Library for a third consecutive week on Sunday afternoon, calling for an end to the war.