Scott Morrison speaks at Never Again is Now anti-Semitism rally in Sydney

Scott Morrison has told a gathering of around 10,000 people that some Palestinian supporters who chant phrases such as “from the river to the sea” are “ignorant” of the meaning of those words and are anti-Semitic.

Speaking at the Never Again is Now rally in Sydney on Sunday at The Domain, the former prime minister suggested there had been cases of anti-Semitism in Australia following the Hamas attack on October 7, rather than support for Israel.

“Instead of support, we have seen those who live in this country under the freedom of democracy calling for the extinction of the State of Israel, from the river to the sea,” he said.

Mr Morrison drew cheers when he said people were “ignorant of the true meaning of those words” and of the “violent and anti-Semitic nature of those statements”.

“Our presence here today is to witness these acts of anti-Semitism, to denounce them and to express solidarity with the Jewish people across Australia and around the world,” Mr Morrison said.

'To strip away the cloak of sentiment, self-proclaimed respectability and claimed moral superiority, and reveal the dark heart of anti-Semitism that lingers beneath the surface, both here in Australia and elsewhere.'

Mr Morrison also advocated a two-state solution, but said both states must be “competent and focused on the well-being, freedom, security, progress and flourishing of their own people.”

“Peace is not simply the absence of conflict, which we all want to see for both Israelis and Palestinians, but the presence of freedom, of justice and security, behind secure borders, where people can live their lives without oppression, fear and persecution. ,' he said.

Responding to Mr Morrison's speech, Friends of Palestine WA's Nick Everett told NCA NewsWire: 'The slogan 'from the river to the sea' is a demand for equal rights and justice for Palestinians living in historic Palestine, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.”

Groups such as Friends of Palestine and Unionists for Palestine have consistently said that they are not calling for Israel's extinction, but rather an end to the country's occupation of Gaza.

Unionists for Palestine spokeswoman Grace Brooks said last month that there must be justice and human rights for all

The Palestinian people must achieve a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict.

“The decades-long occupation and apartheid regime in Israel-Palestine must end,” she said.

“As trade unionists, we will fight for equal rights and self-determination for all people, regardless of their faith or ethnicity.

“Until there is peace and justice, we will continue the campaign for a free Palestine.”

Political activist and businessman Warren Mundine also criticized the handling of the Sydney Opera House protests, which followed the October 7 attacks.

While initial reports said protesters chanted “F**k the Jews” and “Gas the Jews”, NSW police later said an expert investigation found those in attendance actually chanted, “Where are the Jews?”

Mr Mundine said that while he was a “strong supporter” of the police, he was “shocked” that the event was allowed to go ahead.

“To see the police standing there and doing nothing almost broke me,” he said.

“Anyone who has looked at history for even a second knows that when a society tolerates an angry mob that turns against the Jews, it will lead society down an ugly and destructive path.”

The NSW MP's 'tentacle' comments were lashing

Politicians from both the Labor and Liberal Parties also criticized comments from NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong in which she spoke of the “tentacles” of the Jewish lobby and unwittingly referenced a historic anti-Semitic cartoon.

The Newtown MP has since apologized for the 'inappropriate description'.

Julian Leeser, representing opposition leader Peter Dutton, also said politicians in the Greens and the far left had an “ideological obsession” with hostility towards people of faith.

Referring to Ms Leong's comments, he said they were an example of people questioning “the right of their fellow Australians to participate in the life of this nation”.

NSW Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes said the comments from the far left were divisive.

“They are trying to divide us, they are trying to bring anti-Semitism into our communities, into our schools and into our parliament,” she said.

Eric Roozendaal, former NSW treasurer and co-founder of Labor Friends of Israel, echoed the criticism.

“There are politicians who want to exploit the divisions in our society and who openly show contempt for Jewish Australians,” he said.

He also called out “influencer” and feminist author Clementine Ford for sharing a list of the names and details of Jewish creatives on social media.

“Now we have a so-called influencer like that awful Clementine Ford,” Mr Roozendaal said.

“She posts lists and tells haters exactly where to find the Jews. That's what we've come to.”

About 10,000 people attended the demonstration on Sunday.

NAIN co-founder Mark Leach said the event was in response to a A 738 percent increase in the number of reported anti-Semitic incidents across Australia.

The figures were reported in December by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which said it was aware of 662 incidents in October and November last year.

“We want to mobilize the Christian and general Australian rally to push back on the anti-Semitic hatred we see across Australia,” said Mr Leach, who is also a senior Anglican minister.

“We want to build a cohesive and strong society where everyone, including our Jewish friends, can flourish in peace.”

Tasmanian speaker Jacqui Lambie, NSW Senator Hollie Hughes, Australian Christian Lobby director Michelle Pearse, senior Anglican minister Mark Leach and former Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson will also speak at the event.

Before the 1979 revolution, the compound was filled with people waving flags, including the Australian flag, the Israeli flag and the Iranian flag.

George Citer, 77, said he believed Australians needed to “come together”.

“I mean, this is just so important: the Australian community stands together against anti-Semitism,” he said.

“You have people from the wider community all coming together. This is the Australian way.”

A NSW Police spokeswoman said the meeting was a planned authorized gathering and would be attended by a highly visible police presence.

“The community can be assured that we will provide a safe environment for all and that appropriate policing measures are in place,” they said.