Yazbek will face court on Thursday after NSW Police alleged he held a sign comparing Israel to the Nazis and displayed the Israeli flag with a swastika at a rally in Sydney on October 6.
Photos from the 10,000-strong protest appear to show a man, allegedly Yazbek, holding a sign mirroring the Israeli flag, but with a swastika in place of the Star of David with the words “Stop Nazi Israel”.
A man believed to be restaurateur Alan Yazbek at the pro-Palestine rally in Sydney.Credit: Facebook
Yazbek this month said he apologised “unequivocally” for carrying a sign “that is deeply offensive to the Jewish community”.
”Friends and acquaintances who know me – both Jewish and gentile – know that I am not an antisemite, and they also know how passionate I am about supporting diversity and equality in both my personal life and within the Nomad group of businesses,” he said on October 11.
Yazbek also called for an end to the war in the Middle East and said the conflict had left him traumatised.
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Rebecca Yazbek said Nomad Group had for more than a decade operated on the basis of “inclusivity, integrity, respect, dedication and excellence”.
“This remains unchanged,” she said in the statement. “Our actions in response to Al’s behaviour demonstrate our commitment to honouring these values.”
She said she had every confidence that her “incredible team” would continue to provide “outstanding guest experiences” for diners in Sydney and Melbourne.
Following the backlash of the rally, the two Nomad venues and Reine & La Rue were dropped from The Age and Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Food Guides.
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Good Food head Sarah Norris said at the time:“We feel in light of the recent news, we can’t recommend these venues to our readers.”
The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association – which is backed by hospitality heavyweights Chris Lucas and Neil Perry – also said Nomad Group would be removed from its organisation.
In the current Good Food Guide issue, Nomad Sydney holds a hat, while Reine & La Rue – which opened last year in Melbourne’s former stock exchange – holds two hats.
