Australia: Airport refuses to put up Chanukah menorah because of ‘right extremist’ threat, then relents
Dec 21, 2024 12:00 pm
By Robert Spencer
8 Comments
The airport ultimately relented, but the menorah will be in a secure area, albeit “visible from the public part of the airport.”
In any case, the threat to this menorah display would not have come from “right extremists,” but from anti-Israel, pro-jihad leftists. The airport officials, however, don’t dare refer to those people, because they’re leftists, who have total cultural hegemony in Australia, and Muslims, who are always and everywhere a protected class with spurious victimhood status.
“Launceston Airport menorah back up,” by Bruce Hill, Australian Jewish News, December 19, 2024:
Launceston Airport in Tasmania has reversed it’s [sic] decision not to host a menorah during Chanukah this year.
In a letter seen by the Australian Jewish News, an airport official had earlier apologised for reneging on the agreement with Chabad of Tasmania, citing security concerns.
“Our security review of risk over our busiest period highlighted … that due to the current political climate of the unrest regarding right [sic] extremist activity poses a threat to our staff and visitors.
In a statement later on Thursday, an airport spokesman said, “Following discussions with federal and state agencies, the local Jewish community and other Australian airports we are now comfortable we can safely display the Menorah in the terminal during Chanukah, as we have for the past two years. We apologise for the confusion and wish all of our travellers a happy holiday.”
The AJN understands the menorah will now be erected in a secure area, but will be visible from the public part of the airport….
Previous correspondence with Chabad of Tasmania indicated that Launceston Airport tried to not host the menorah on the grounds it was taking “an inclusive approach” this year by not referencing any religious affiliation…. |
