Anti-Isreal protest in Parramatta tonight.
Protesters in Parramatta last night. Picture: Carlos Furtado.
Protesters in parramatta last night. Picture: Carlos Furtado.
Anti-Isreal protest in Parramatta tonight.
Anti-Israel protesters in Parramatta last night. Pictures: Carlos Furtado
Protesters in Parramatta last night. Picture: Carlos Furtado.
Protesters in Parramatta last night. Picture: Carlos Furtado.
A demonstration against Israel held in Parramatta central business district tonight has ended peacefully.
The protesters were opposed to the alleged support of the Israeli defense force by the owners of chocolate store, Max Brenner.
Protest organiser Patrick Langosch said the store’s owners, the Strauss Group, ‘‘openly support the defense force’’.
‘‘We think it’s unethical considering Israel are an occupying force [in Palestine],’’ he said.
Police issued a warning about the protest earlier today, following the dramatic scenes of police and protesters clashing on the weekend.
About 50 people met in front of Parramatta town hall at about 6pm tonight and marched through Church Street Mall to the chocolate store on Argyle Street in front of Westfield shopping centre.
There were about 30 police officers in the area monitoring the demonstration.
Argyle Street was closed from 6.30pm to 8pm, police said, with traffic diversions in place.
Roads were closed near Argyle Street between Church and Hassall Streets.
Between 100 and 200 people had been expected to congregate for the protest.
Mr Longosch of the Palestine Action Group issued a statement via Facebook yesterday, saying the planned demonstration would go ahead after negotiations with police.
‘‘The peaceful protest in support of Palestine in Parramatta, tomorrow, will be going ahead after discussions between the NSW Police and representatives of the Palestine Action Group today,’’ Mr Longosch posted.
‘‘The two parties met today to discuss arrangements to ensure the protest goes ahead as planned and remains peaceful.
The protest will be in support of the global campaign of boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israeli Apartheid and also commemorating the massacres at the Sabra and Shatilla Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon 30 years ago.’’
Mr Longosch said the protest would target the Max Brenner shop in Parramatta because its parent company, the Strauss Group, ‘‘openly supports units of the Israeli Defence Forces, including the notorious Golani and Givati brigades’’.
But Mr Longosch's claims have been denied by the franchise, which has said the stores are locally owned and operated.
The demonstration comes just five days after a group of about 400 Muslim protesters clashed with police in Sydney.
Police said six officers and 17 other people were injured when protesters threw projectiles and fought with them.
Muslim leaders have since come together to condemn the minority group who acted violently.
But tensions remain, with police and Muslim leaders holding a press conference this afternoon to call for calm.
A statement was issued by police this afternoon warning motorists and shoppers of delays.