In a disturbing incident that raises serious questions about journalistic ethics, a team from News Corp Australia has been accused of deliberately attempting to provoke an antisemitic response from staff at a popular Middle Eastern restaurant in Sydney’s inner west suburb of Newtown.
The confrontation unfolded on Tuesday at Cairo Takeaway, a restaurant known for its vocal support of Palestine on social media. According to owner Hesham El Masry, reporters from The Daily Telegraph engineered a setup designed to elicit an inflammatory reaction from his employees.
The Alleged Setup
CCTV footage from inside the busy restaurant shows a man wearing a Star of David cap and necklace entering the premises around midday. While the individual was served tea without issue, his subsequent actions raised alarm among the staff.
After receiving his order, the man moved to one side of the café and “lingered” there for several minutes, his presence unsettling employees. A waitress then walked outside, where she encountered a Daily Telegraph reporter, photographer, and cameraman who appeared to be anticipating a newsworthy development.
Confrontation and Accusations
A heated verbal altercation ensued between the waitress, the cap-wearing customer, and the assembled journalists. “That is out-and-out intimidation,” the staff member is heard saying in footage of the incident that was later shared on social media. “Who comes into a restaurant and asks me a question about this gentleman who I don’t even know?”
As the argument escalated, the waitress directly called out what she perceived as an egregious breach of ethics: “You wanted to make antisemitic statements up here? Look at you in shame, look at you, tails between your legs. You picked the wrong restaurant to try this shit in.”
“I’m pretty certain that it was a planned operation.”
– Hesham El Masry, Cairo Takeaway owner
Accusations of Intimidation
According to Fahad Ali, a University of Sydney geneticist and Palestine Action Group member who spoke to witnesses, the man in the Jewish skullcap asked the waitress: “Do you have a problem with me because I’m Jewish?” He allegedly continued, “You’re intimidating me, you’re making me feel unsafe,” after the server expressed shock at his question.
Restaurant chef Talaat Sehia stated that police had interviewed both him and the waitress, who was left “distraught” by the unsettling encounter. El Masry asserted his belief that the cap-wearing individual had entered the establishment with the intent of stirring up trouble, suggesting it was “a planned operation” by the media.
Newsroom Disgust
The allegations have reportedly sparked outrage within the ranks of News Corp itself. One company source, speaking on condition of anonymity, conveyed the disgust felt by many in the newsroom. “There appeared to be zero consequences,” the insider said of the incident, which they suggested may have been carried out with approval from higher-ups.
As of the latest reports, The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia, and journalist Danielle Gusmaroli have all declined to comment on the controversy despite multiple media inquiries. The lack of an official response has only intensified scrutiny of the media giant’s tactics and ethical standards.
Broader Implications
This disturbing incident comes at a time of heightened tensions around the Israel-Palestine conflict and growing concerns over media responsibility in covering sensitive issues. It raises troubling questions about the lengths some journalists may go to in pursuit of a sensationalized story, even at the expense of vulnerable communities.
As the controversy continues to unfold, it underscores the vital importance of ethical journalism and the need for media organizations to hold themselves to the highest standards of integrity. The use of provocative tactics to manufacture outrage risks inflaming prejudices, sowing division, and eroding public trust in the press as a whole.
For Cairo Takeaway and its staff, the incident represents an unacceptable violation of their establishment and an affront to their principles. As Newtown rallies around the beloved restaurant, the broader media landscape must grapple with the implications of this alleged breach of ethics and its potential to further undermine confidence in journalism during these polarized times.
