Restaurant Owner Issues Apology for Offensive Anti-Israel Sign
A high-profile restaurateur has apologized for displaying a swastika on an anti-Israeli protest placard, stating that his Jewish friends are aware that he is not anti-Semitic.
Al Yazbek, the co-owner of the Nomad Restaurant Group, was captured holding a sign with the symbol during a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney on Oct. 6. The sign featured the words “stop Nazi Israel” and the colors of the Israeli flag.
The 56-year-old has been charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol without a reasonable excuse and is scheduled to appear in court later this month. The offense in New South Wales carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison or an $11,000 (US$7,400) fine.
He was also photographed holding a flag in the colors of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is considered a terrorist organization in Australia.
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Following public and industry backlash, Yazbek issued a public apology on Oct. 11 for carrying a sign that was deemed offensive to the Jewish community.
In a statement, he expressed, “Friends and acquaintances who know me, both Jewish and non-Jewish, are aware that I do not hold anti-Semitic views.” Yazbek mentioned being deeply affected by the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, stating, “We must put an end to the violence in Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon.”
To the broader Jewish community and specifically to his Jewish friends, employees, and guests at Nomad, past and present, he extended an olive branch of peace and love.
Yazbek’s company operates the highly acclaimed Nomad restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne, along with the French-themed Reine & La Rue.
The Sydney protest on Oct. 6 saw a large turnout despite police initially attempting to block a permit for the event, a legal move that was later shelved following a compromise on the march’s route.
The protest coincided with the one-year anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel, resulting in approximately 1200 deaths and 250 hostages. In retaliation, Israel’s military actions in Gaza have reportedly led to the death of at least 41,000 people, according to Palestinian officials.
