On behalf of New South Wales (NSW) Police, an independent biometric scientist has completed a forensic analysis of “significant volumes” of audio & video files of the pro-Arab Sydney Opera House protest that occurred on the 9th of October last year during an Israeli Solidarity Opera House Western Sails Illumination after the attack on that state by Hamas. They found no evidence the widely reported phrase, “Gas the Jews”, was being chanted throughout the audio & videos.
The analysis was done by Michael Wagner, honorary professor at the Australian National University and emeritus professor at Canberra University. He told The Sydney Morning Herald that the analysis of the 11 reported chants of “Gas the Jews” “has resulted in overwhelming certainty that all…consist of the phrase ‘Where’s the Jews?’.”
As a result of that examination, the expert has concluded with overwhelming certainty that the phrase chanted during that protest as recorded on the audio & visual files was “Where’s the Jews?”. Not another phrase as otherwise widely reported.
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner, Mal Lanyon
The footage purporting to play the “Gas the Jews” chant was first posted online by the Australian Jewish Association. However, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner, Mal Lanyon, clarified NSW Police did not believe the footage was doctored but had been incorrectly captioned. He also said some witnesses had reported hearing the offensive chant, but they had “not been able to ascribe those words to any individual”. Deputy Commissioner Lanyon also said there was evidence that other offensive phrases were said during the protest including the phrase “F–k the Jews”.
NSW Premier, Chris Minns, also said his views had not changed & the protest “was violent and racist”.
Hate speech and racist language have no place in NSW. If those comments were made about any other group, my reaction would be the same.
NSW Premier, Chris Minns
We know what we heard & the world knows what was said. However, the exact words used in these chants is not the core issue. The core issue is that on October 9, before Israel had even commenced its military response, just 2 days after the greatest atrocity inflicted on the Jewish people since the Holocaust, a mob of thugs gathered at one of our nation’s most cherished sites to celebrate the mass slaughter and rape of Israelis, to burn Israeli flags & to chant threateningly towards fellow Australians.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry Co-Chief Executive, Alex Ryvchin
Sydney Spectaculars can find no evidence that the pro-Arab protest “gathered” at the Opera House to “celebrate” but rather to protest the lighting of the western Opera House sails in the colours of the Israeli flag.
NSW Police said in a statement to The Sydney Morning Herald that detectives “continue to investigate the incident”.
In related news from a month ago, pro-Arab protester, Marcel Ghabbar, 31, has been spared conviction of his charge of 1 count of common assault, at the same protest as mentioned above, according to Mosman Daily.
At that time, a 45-year-old man, Anatoly Kirievsky, yelled “You’re all f**king terrorists” allegedly trying to agitate the Opera House protesters. He became involved in an argument with a male group. During the argument, amongst other alleged assaults by other protesters, Anatoly Kirievsky was then shoved by Marcel Ghabbar. Police intervened & the arguers then dispersed and left the Sydney Opera House. Anatoly Kirievsky then reported the alleged assaults to Maroubra Police.
NSW Police later released, on the 17th of October, closed circuit television images of 5 people, 4 male & 1 female, they believe would be able to assist with the investigation into the alleged assaults. Later that day, Marcel Ghabber attended Mosman Police Station where he was arrested & at 11pm, were taken to Day Street Police Station where he was later charged with common assault. The court case begun on November 8 last year.
Photograph: Dean Lewins/Australian Associated Press
Sydney Spectaculars 
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