Image: Alan Yazbek's restaurant Nomad (left), beside image of him allegedly displaying a Nazi symbol in the colours of an Israeli flag (via Facebook)
High profile restaurateur Alan Yazbek has been charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public during a Pro-Palestine rally last weekend.
The Nomad restaurant co-owner was allegedly pictured holding up a blue and white sign mirroring the Israeli flag, but with a swastika and the words “Stop Nazi Israel”.
The 56-year-old man was taken to Surry Hills station and charged under new state laws enacted in 2022, which carry a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison or an $11,000 fine, or both.
Who is Alan Yazbek?
Yazbek and his wife Rebecca opened Nomad in Sydney over a decade ago. Nomad is described as a restaurant offering a “contemporary dining experience inspired by travels through Spain, Morocco & the Middle East and cooked with fire in Surry Hills.”
The couple also own the French-inspired restaurant Reine & La Rue in Melbourne’s popular Collins St, which opened just last year.
Fans of the restaurants have taken to social media to criticise Yazbek for his alleged actions, with many stating they will no longer dine there.
One user wrote on Facebook “Disgusting, offensive behaviour. We will NEVER be back.”
Another user expressed their disappointment online, “I have loved and visited Nomad multiple times over the years. It has been a favourite restaurant of mine… it would be inconceivable for me return to Nomad.”
Yazbek will appear in Downing Centre local court on 24 October.
Tensions have risen since NSW Premier Chris Minns declared that a planned protest and candlelight vigil for Gaza and Lebanon should not go ahead.
Pro-Palestine advocacy groups condemn Premier Chris Minns over push to ban protests
In a recent interview with 2GB radio, Minns criticised the Palestine protests, stating that taxpayers would prefer NSW police to focus on tackling crime rather than patrolling weekly pro-Palestine rallies, which have cost the state $5 million this year.
Labor MP Anthony D’Adam, who was dismissed from his parliamentary secretary roles after criticising NSW police tactics at a pro-Palestine demonstration earlier this year, condemned Minns’ remarks.
“It’s an incredibly dangerous position that the premier has adopted,” D’Adam told The Guardian.
“It’s actually quite a profound threat to our civil liberties to empower the police to be able to prohibit peaceful protest.”
Australian Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) also condemned Minns “framing of human rights advocacy as a financial burden”.
APAN President Nasser Mashni said in a statement, “Neither justice for Palestine nor our democratic rights on this continent are up for negotiation or compromise.”
“The overwhelming majority of Palestine solidarity protests over the past year have been peaceful expressions of solidarity and justice. By dog-whistling about policing these protests, Premier Minns obscures this reality and tries to criminalise those who are advocating for human rights,” Mashni said.
“The level of policing these protests have faced has been unnecessary and discriminatory,” APAN said.
“Premier Minns must retract his comments and commit – alongside all Australian elected representatives – to protecting the Australian community’s democratic rights, and taking immediate action to end Israel’s genocide and illegal occupation of Palestinians,” APAN added.
