A restaurateur charged over carrying a sign with the Nazi swastika superimposed on an Israeli flag has ‘apologised unreservedly’ after facing massive backlash to his businesses.
Alan Yazbek, the owner of Nomad restaurants and Reine & La Rue, was charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public after officers allegedly caught him carrying the sign at a pro-Palestine protest in Sydney on Sunday.
Yazbek was one of some 10,000 demonstrators who took to the streets of the CBD one day before the anniversary of last year’s October 7 attacks, which saw Palestinian terrorist group Hamas attack bordering Israeli communities.
Alongside the large swastika, the sign Yazbek is accused of carrying had the words ‘Stop Nazi Israel’.
Footage has since emerged of him also holding a green and gold flag in the colours of Hezbollah with a Ned Kelly-like figure.
In response to the hateful imagery and text, several customers have vowed to never return to Yazbek’s restaurants.
On Friday, Yazbek ‘apologised unequivocally’ for his actions at the rally.
He said the sign he allegedly carried during the pro-Palestine rally was ‘deeply offensive to the Jewish community’.
Alan Yazbek was charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public after officers allegedly caught him carrying a sign with a swastika at a protest in Sydney on Sunday
A partnership between Yazbek, who runs the restaurant chains with his wife Rebecca (pictured), with French champagne brand G.H. Mumm at this year’s Spring Racing Carnival has also been put at risk by the charges.
‘You can be sure that [I] will do all I can to regain the trust of my wonderful staff, our loyal customers, and the broader community,’ he said in a statment seen by The Australian.
‘Friends and acquaintances who know me – both Jewish and gentile – know that I am not an anti-Semite.
‘They also know how passionate I am about supporting diversity and equality in both my personal life and within the NOMAD Group of businesses.’
Mr Yazek said he was ‘traumatised daily by the ongoing bloodshed’ in the Middle East – in Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon – and vowed that ‘we must make it stop’.
‘Again, I apologise unreservedly’ he said.
‘To the wider Jewish community, and in particular my Jewish friends, staff and guests of NOMAD both past and present, I offer an olive branch of peace and love.’
His apology came too late for at least five companies in Melbourne who have pulled bookings for events at Reine & La Rue while others are considering venue changes, the Herald Sun reported.
The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association (ARCA) said on Friday that Nomad Group would be removed from its organisation.
‘There is no place in the hospitality industry for racism and antisemitism, and the ARCA board has begun the process, per the ARCA constitution, to revoke Nomad’s membership,’ an association spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, a partnership between Yazbek, who runs the restaurant chains with his wife Rebecca, with French champagne brand G.H. Mumm at this year’s Spring Racing Carnival has also been put at risk by the charges.
Some customers took to Nomad’s social pages to vent their frustrations.
‘We have just cancelled our booking. Never again. Shalom,’ one said.
‘Loved this restaurant up until today.. won’t be coming back… spatchcock served with a side of hate,’ another wrote.
‘Do all your dishes come with a side of antisemitism? Asking for a friend,’ another said.
‘Owner is a raging antisemite. I’ll eat at a Jewish owned restaurant thanks!’ another wrote.
The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association (ARCA) said on Friday that Nomad Group would be removed from its organisation.
Footage has since emerged of Yazbek also holding a green and gold flag in the colours of Hezbollah with a Ned Kelly-like figure (pictured)
The staff at the luxurious restaurants, which are often booked as far as 18 months in advance, were called for a meeting about 11am on Wednesday and trained on how to deal with questions about Yazbek.
Officers who spotted Yazbek’s alleged sign on Sunday arrested and took him to Surry Hills Police Station.
He was charged with with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public and granted bail.
‘So many of us have family in the region. Every loss of life is a tragedy. We’re in mourning,’ Yazbek told the Daily Telegraph.
As part of his bail conditions, Yazbek is prohibited from being within 2km of Town Hall, where he was arrested, unless he is visiting his restaurant or offices for work.
The rally was mostly peacefully aside from the arrests of Yazbek and Jewish man Osher Feldman who was detained for allegedly breaching the peace in a separate incident.
Yazbek will appear before Downing Centre Local Court on October 24.
He faces up to 12 months behind bars or an $11,000 if convicted.
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