Tony Abbott has warned of “very dangerous times” as masses take to the streets showing support for Palestine amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The former Australian Prime Minister joined GB News’ Jacob Rees-Mogg to discuss demonstrations that have swept Britain and afar.
Hundreds of thousands have taken to the street in demonstrations that have been branded “hate marches”.
Abbott told GB News Western democracies must be prepared to deal with the matter more effectively.
“It’s also important that we look at these things with moral clarity”, he said.
“That has what has been completely absent on the streets of London, the streets of Sydney and the streets of so many Western capitals over the past few weeks.
“We have seen raucous, sometimes violent mobs illustrating what can only be described as a deep anti-semitism dressed up as anti-zionism.
“It has frankly been nothing less than the most loathsome race hate we have seen, unexpectedly on our streets.”
Abbott’s sentiments have been shared by the likes of Suella Braverman, who branded the marches “hateful”.
She urged officers to take a “zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism” after attending an emergency Cobra meeting chaired by Rishi Sunak on Monday.
Braverman has hit out at protesters
PABraverman also said she “wouldn’t hesitate to act” if a change to law is needed in order to aid the matter.
She urged police to take a “zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism” but said decisions on the ground are for officers to take when asked about the “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” chant.
Ms Braverman has previously branded the chant as antisemitic, while Downing Street went less far on Monday to say it is “a deeply offensive chant to many”.
The phrase to some is a call of support for the Palestinian people, but others interpret it is a demand for the dismantling of Israel.
The chant has been a feature of the widespread marches, with estimates of each of the two taking part over the last two weekends in London being at around 100,000.
Thousands more have taken part in protests in other cities in the UK, including in Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Belfast.
Sunak used Monday’s Cobra meeting to ask the police and security services to ensure they are taking steps to mitigate against the risk of terrorism, a source in No 10 said.
