Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says NSW Police must provide a “full explanation” after officers dragged away Muslim worshipers praying during a protest in Sydney against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit.
Speaking on The Sydney Morning Herald’s Inside Politics podcast, Albanese said he was concerned about the incident outside Sydney Town Hall on Monday evening.
“I am concerned about the great pain felt by the Muslim community over the disruption of prayers,” he said.
“I think this is something that needs a full explanation. I know that has caused a lot of suffering.”
More than a hundred Muslim organizations released a joint statement condemning the incident as “completely unacceptable” and calling for a public apology and investigation after footage emerged showing officers pulling several men off the ground as they prayed.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said he had privately apologized to Muslim community leaders for any wrongdoing.
However, NSW Premier Chris Minns has refused to apologise, defending police actions and saying he did not support an independent investigation.
On Friday, NSW’s police watchdog, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, said this investigated the behavior of officers during the meetingincluding “incidents of alleged misconduct”.
NSW Police also revealed a senior officer told others to wait until the prayer was completed before the group could proceed, but the order was not followed.
“The senior officer attempted to relay that message to other officers who were executing a continuation order during a noisy, dynamic and rapidly changing situation,” police said in a statement to SBS News.
Prime Minister defends Herzog’s invitation
Asked whether Herzog’s visit – which was at the invitation of the federal government – had failed to promote social cohesion, Albanese said the Israeli president’s trip was about supporting the Jewish community after the Bondi Beach terror attack.
“People can criticize the Netanyahu government’s actions and [they] have the right to express that,” he said.
Albanians said the majority of pro-Palestinian protesters wanted to express their views peacefully.
But he was critical of the organizers of the Sydney rally, noting they had refused to move the demonstration to Hyde Park as suggested by NSW Police.
“They chose not to come or participate in a sensible way that would have ensured separation by holding the meeting in Hyde Park and then walking, marching to Belmore Park,” he said.
“It is beyond my understanding why that proposal from the New South Wales Police would not be adopted.”
Josh Lees of the Palestine Action Group said earlier this week that the meeting would not be “led out of sight and out of mind to a park”.
The Prime Minister said his electorate office in Marrickville, in Sydney’s inner west, was targeted by some protesters with stink bombs, graffiti and broken windows, which did nothing to advance the Palestinian cause.
He also reiterated his government’s support for a two-state solution.
“There are two paths in the Middle East,” he said.
“One is a passive path of peace and reconciliation, and a settlement that gives Palestinians justice but also recognizes Israel’s right to exist within secure borders to ensure security. [and] the right to defend oneself.”
He said the other path was the “status quo,” which had existed for decades and left Palestinians oppressed and without self-determination.
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