Premier Peter Malinauskas told the ABC this morning that the “message couldn’t be clearer to those people intent on attending the protest” planned for Sunday in support of Palestine.

Organised by Students for Palestine Adelaide and Adelaide Campaign Against Racism and Fascism, the “Solidarity with Palestine” rally follows similar movements interstate, including in Sydney where pro-Palestinian protestors gathered on the steps of the Opera House on Monday night.

Images and video of anti-Semitic chants being shouted and flares being set off on the steps of the Opera House while it was lit up on Monday night in the colours of the Israeli flag were beamed around the world.

Sunday’s Adelaide rally will see pro-Palestinian protestors congregate at Parliament House, calling for the end of “Israeli apartheid, the occupation, the siege of Gaza”, to “Free Palestine” and demanding “Australia cuts ties with Israel” according to the event’s Facebook page.

It comes amid a deadly war between Israel and Palestine following an incursion from militant group Hamas last weekend. That led to Gaza in Palestine being bombarded by Israeli jets this week while the Hamas attack continued on the ground into Israeli territory.

As reported by The Advertiser today, the executive director of the nation’s peak Jewish community group Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council Colin Rubenstein has called for the protest to be banned.

But speaking to the ABC this morning, the Premier said he won’t intervene and the rally will go ahead, albeit with a police presence.

“In South Australia there is an absolute right for people to be able to express their political views freely in the form of protest,” he said.

“Of course, we have to do that in a way that complies with the law. We’ve been in touch with South Australian Police who we’re satisfied are completely abreast of the situation.

“There will be a police presence at the protest on Sunday evening which one would expect.”

He said “the message couldn’t be clearer… we will not be tolerating any acts at the protest that are contrary to the law”.

“It is the expectation that South Australian police will uphold the law at every opportunity they get – that’s their responsibility,” the Premier said.

“People have a right to protest. As a government, you’ll remember that we’ve sought to pass legislation with political opposition support to beef up laws to make sure that people who are engaging in protest do it in such a way that doesn’t completely disrupt the lives of others and it’s done in a thoughtful way; in an organised way.

“That’s what we expect to occur on Sunday.”

Earlier this year, the Premier introduced controversial protest laws – swiftly passed by Parliament – that lifted a fine for public obstruction from $750 to $50,000 or three months in jail.

Australian Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni said what happened on Monday night at the Opera House was unacceptable but he defended the group’s right to protest.

“The reality of people coming together to express concerns about situations is that, at times, unwanted people come along and provoke unnecessary and unwanted actions,” he told Nine’s Today program.

“Violence is never going to be an answer, as anti-Semitism is never the answer.

“As human beings, we are sharing the pain and suffering, not only of the deaths of Israelis, we should also be feeling the pain of Palestinians.”

Malinauskas’ position on the rally was backed by Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, who told The Advertiser that police would have “active engagement” with rally organisers to ensure a safe and peaceful protest.

“Police encourage anyone attending to put their personal safety first and ensure people have the right to protest safely and peacefully, regardless of their personal views,” he said.

“Police will be present, and as with all rallies, they will display a level of tolerance consistent with community values surrounding peaceful, lawful, protest.”

State opposition leader David Spiers told the ABC today that “people’s right to protest” was “part of living in a liberal democracy”.

“I hope that [the protest] occurs in a peaceful fashion,” he said this morning.

“I think our Palestinian community and those of Palestinian heritage in South Australia have a history of behaving quite differently than their counterparts interstate.

“What we saw in Sydney was awful. The chants against Jewish people were anti-Semitic in the most extreme. If anything like that happens in South Australia, I would expect the police to step in right away.”

– with AAP