Tension escalates as Palestinian and Israeli communities collide in Caulfield

Unprecedented scenes unfolded in Caulfield overnight as a pro-Palestinian protest, initially organised to show support for a Palestinian-owned burger restaurant that had recently burned down, escalated into tense clashes with the local Jewish-Israeli community.

Victoria Police have labeled the fire that destroyed the restaurant owned by a Palestinian businessman as suspicious. However, they clarified in a statement that, at present, there is no evidence of political or religious motivations.

From my observations, the protest received significant promotion from left-wing activist groups, despite the restaurant owner's earlier call for its cancellation. This led to the assembly of protest groups at a nearby park, adjacent to a synagogue, resulting in a standoff between the two communities that endured for several hours.

I interviewed members of the public from both sides and provided a comprehensive overview of some of the major incidents from the protest's initiation to its conclusion.

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