Pro-Palestine protest outside Jewish school

A Pro-Palestinian supporter has been arrested outside Perth’s only Jewish school as a group of people protested near the school’s entrance on Monday.

The group were photographed carrying signs and waving Palestinian flags outside of the school with police present.

A WA Police spokesperson said a number of move on notices were issued about 9.50am and the man who was arrested was later released without charges, pending an investigation.

The protest was slammed by the Australian Jewish Association, which released a statement on social media stating Jewish children had been targeted.

“Outside Carmel School, Perth’s only Jewish school,” the statement read.

“‘Free Palestine’ hate has swept across Australia as Labor governments have stood by. How low will they stoop?”

Australian Jewish Association president Dr David Adler told NewsWire protests had spread far and wide to totally inappropriate targets.

Dr Adler said a Jewish school and community centre where children come and go was not the place for a political protest.

“Sometimes, not in this case, the protests have become ugly and violent,” he said.

In the last 48 hours, Dr Adler said monuments and war memorials had been targeted, along with beachgoers at Bondi.

“It is getting out of hand and very disruptive, it is inappropriately widespread and it does nothing to help resolve things in the Middle East conflict,” he said.

“All it does is create disruption and division in Australia.”

Dr Adler said threats had forced Jewish schools and community centres in Australia to increase their level of security.

“This is the environment in which the Jewish community now functions,” he said.

“It is un-Australian … and not normal Australian values.

“Normal Australian values allow people a variety of opinions but that should not extend to disrupting and threatening others.”

Dr Adler said Australia needed more effective leadership from politicians and law enforcement in dealing with this sort of disruption.

“The federal government, unfortunately has been fairly weak dealing with this and what has happened to the Jewish community in Australia since October 7.”

Perth Rabbi Daniel Lieberman said while people had the right to protest, the fact they chose to protest outside of a school was inappropriate.

“We are aware there are people in the world who do not like us and we are aware that those people are also in Western Australia,” he said.

“I think it is a horrible choice of a place to protest, you should not be protesting outside of a primary school.

“Politics does not have a place in primary schools.

“Protest where protests are held and leave children alone.”

Rabbi Lieberman said it was unlikely to effect the Jewish school community, which were very proud and resilient.

“Our children are strong in their own identity and are not afraid of anyone,” he said.

Social media user Nom Cee said it was infuriating and scary.

“As if schoolchildren are the target audience for people who hate what the Israeli government is doing,” she said.

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