There's a strange kind of patriotism on display when people wrap themselves in the Australian flag while trampling on Australian values. At Coogee this weekend, I came across the end of a peaceful protest - of mostly elderly women and Jewish community members standing for Palestinian human rights - who were bullied by pro-Israel agitators carrying a bizarre hybrid flag: the Australian flag visually overwritten with the Israeli flag.That matters. The Australian Government’s own flag protocols say

Because if the law comes down hardest on those calling for Palestinian freedom, while looking away when Zionists intimidate peaceful protesters and deface the national flag, then this was never really about antisemitism or public order. It was about power.

And the flag shaggers at Coogee this weekend just proved it.

Oh, and just a reminder, calling this out is not anti-Semitic. It’s pro-human.