Pro-Palestine Protest in Westfield Mall Crossed A Line, Says Fearful Israeli Kiwi
A Jewish community member talks the mood on the street, her life as an Israeli-New Zealander, the Pro-Palestinian protest at Westfield (see video) & the direction antisemitism is taking in NZ.
R. said these words are a violent call for the death of the Jews and violence on the land of Israel. She also said a young Jewish girl working in a shop in the mall heard the call and froze, with her manager having to remove her to a backroom.
A member of the Jewish-Israel responds to the Pro-Palestinian protest at Westfield Mall on Boxing Day 2023
On a warm summer’s day, R. and I meet inside a popular central city cafe to talk over coffee.
She is dressed in black, a reflection of her mood since October 7, the day when Hamas crossed the border with Israel, killed more than 1000 locals and kidnapped more than 200 people.
Over the following hours, we talk the mood on the street, her life as an Israeli-New Zealander, the Pro-Palestinian protest at Westfield, and the direction that antisemitism is taking in New Zealand.
Westfield Mall on Boxing Day (Instagram/PSNA_Otautahi)
Above all else, she tells me of her fears that the tolerant, “gorgeous” New Zealand that she has known since she came here in 1990s to start a new life with her husband and three children is changing before her in a disturbing direction.
A walk-and-cycle event on Sunday, marking “100 Days In Captivity” for the Hamas captives
The Pro-Palestinian march through Westfield that came just after Christmas Day was a pivotal event for her. And a foreboding one.
“There was a very vocal demonstration through Westfield Mall, Riccarton Mall. It was, people that were there told me, I was not there…said that was freaky, absolutely freaky. Suddenly a large number of people, a mob that were walking in…, covered in Palestinian flags, Palestinian colours,… and shouting.”
R. had no objection to the clothing that the group were wearing. She also respects the group’s right to freedom of expression. But, in her view, this protest crossed the line.
“In black colour, just marching through the mall, loud, and chanting and chanting the death sentence, ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’. Or ‘Free Palestine’. Free Palestine from whom? Palestine is free. Nobody controls Gaza apart from Hamas. Hamas controls Gaza.”
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