Back in August the Australian ran a piece about this. They wrote, "MAX Brenner says he is a man of peace who hates all forms of violence. So how has this chocolate maker become the target of anti-Israeli protesters in Australia who accuse him of being complicit with the Israeli military?
It's a claim which has outraged many who see the campaign against the 24-store Max Brenner chocolate chain in this country as an ugly echo of the anti-Semitism of 1930s Germany when Jewish businesses were targeted...In 2001, the Max Brenner chain became part of the much larger Strauss Group, Israel's second-largest food and beverage company. But Strauss also provides food and care packages to Israeli soldiers. This, in the eyes of anti-Israeli activists, justifies a boycott.
Ms Bullimore, the co-ordinator of the protest campaign in Australia, denies that activists are simply targeting an innocent chocolate-maker. "We are trying to highlight Israel's human rights abuses,' she told The Weekend Australian."
After heated debate today in NSW Parliament, Fred Nile reported to his people as follows: "The NSW Green Party has attempted to defend its support for the Anti-Jewish BDS in a heated Parliamentary exchange that lasted over 2 ¼ hours.
The BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) is a campaign which targets Jewish businesses, academia, arts and culture around the world in order to damage the international image and the financial position of the Democratic State of Israel, as stated by the Palestinian manifesto issued in 2005. That manifesto also states the ultimate objective of the BDS is to end the Jewish "occupation and colonization of all Arab lands", echoing the Hamas rally call for the complete destruction of Israel "from the river to the sea". In Australia, the BDS has been championed by the NSW Green Party and the Socialist Alliance.
The Rev Hon Fred Nile MLC, Leader of the Christian Democratic Party, joined a multilateral condemnation of the BDS and the Green Party in the NSW Upper House yesterday. The Hon Shaoquett Moselmane MLC, Parliament's only elected Muslim Member, was the only non-Green individual to defend the BDS." (For Media Interviews contact:
Rev Fred Nile (02) 9230 2478 or 0418 619 731 Research Assistant: David Copeland (02) 9230 2978)
Fred had already written his people earlier: "I wish to speak on a serious development: the boycott of Jewish businesses, particularly of the Max Brenner chocolate and coffee shop in Melbourne's QV Centre. In July members of the Socialist Alternative organisation demonstrated at the Max Brenner coffee and chocolate store because they said the Jewish-owned franchise company had aided the Israeli army, a claim that I reject totally", said Rev Fred Nile.
"Thirteen men and six women were taken into custody after an altercation with police, and sixteen were charged and bailed. The charges included assaulting police, riotous behaviour, besetting the premises and trespass. Jewish Labor member of Parliament Michael Danby called the protest "stupid"."
I recommend you read Jeff Sparrow of the ABC on his blog from last week (9/9) The Drum Opinion He does his bit of evaluation and ranting about ranters. Always a good exercise. And it's all prompted by the Max Brenner situation. He does say, "Australia's fascists are tiny and ineffective. Yes, they have sent people to the Brenner rallies in Brisbane and Sydney but they're incapable of mobilising serious numbers."
Of course, not everyone likes Nile or Sparrow. Note the anonymous commenter on the blog WhiteLawTowers. Anony takes the blade out against the Jews and Sparrow together. Not very kindly, either, I might add.
All that said, please, please let's all go to Max's and get a hot choco. Let's continue to stand for honesty and openness. Let's stand for free trade and freedoms of religion and speech. And leave Max alone. Protest a cafe? Puh-leazzzze.
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