The New South Wales (NSW) Government has announced the Sydney Opera House will light up in blue & white in support of Israel at 7:30pm tomorrow night after the Arab-Israeli Conflict escalated when Palestinian militant groups from the Gaza Strip broke through the Gaza-Israel barrier in a major surprise attack on Israel yesterday.
About 500 people have been killed in the conflict since the surprise attack yesterday.
Prior to this evening’s announcement from the NSW Government, the German Government also lit up the Brandenburg Gate with the Israeli flag. This sparked the Australian Opposition Leader this afternoon to lobby the Australian Government via X to illuminate Australia’s Parliament House & the Sydney Opera House:
In the NSW election campaign earlier this year, the Coalition (now in Opposition) promised to light up the Sydney Opera House in recognition of Israel’s 75th Anniversary of Independence.
The Arab-Israeli conflict began in 1948 when the Executive Head of the World Zionist Organisation and Chairman of the Jewish Agency For Palestine, David-Ben Gurion, declared the establishment of the State Of Israel just 8 hours before the British League Of Nations Mandate For Palestine expired, which was when the Declaration would take effect. Hours later, this was followed by an attack on Israel by Iraq, Egypt, Transjordan & Syria, thus beginning the still-continuing Arab-Israeli conflict.
After the Coronation Of Charles III in early May, NSW Premier, Chris Minns, in response to outrage from the lack of an Sydney Opera House illumination for that historic event, revealed a new policy of no new Sydney Opera House illuminations as a response to the marketing/political posturing over-usage of the World Heritage site’s illuminations while also revealing a Government review on Sydney Opera House illuminations is currently (& still) underway.
After significant pressure resulting from clinging to their new policy too tightly, the NSW Government lit up the Sydney Opera House green & gold for the Matildas on the night of a FIFA Women’s World Cup: Australia & New Zealand 2023 match, that they were participating in beyond the Group Stage, in late July/early-mid August.
On Monday, the Sydney Opera House will be lit in solidarity with the Jewish communities of New South Wales & those who may have family currently in Israel.
We are deeply concerned about the horrific attack by Hamas on Israel & those who have been kidnapped.
We will continue to work to ensure that we provide all support possible to those impacted across our state & are monitoring the situation closely to learn if any New South Wales citizens that are currently living in, on holidays or pilgrimage in the Middle East are impacted.
NSW Premier, Chris Minns
Opinion
It seems after a period of just under 4.5 months, political posturing has returned to the Sydney Opera House’s illuminations. This follows:
- the Christchurch mosque shootings (2019)
- the Sri Lanka Easter bombings (2019)
- the Beirut explosion (2020),
- Greece’s 200th Anniversary of Independence (2021),
- Italy’s Republic Day (2021),
- the ANZUS Treaty’s 70th Anniversary (2021),
- the Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022),
- the assassination of Shinzo Abe (2022)
- India’s 75th Anniversary of Independance (2022)
- Indian Prime Minister Visit (late May 2023)
This upcoming illumination will not be considered a ‘Sydney Spectacular’ due to it being related to a conflict.
Sydney Spectaculars 
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