Zionist lobby groups have been in an unholy alliance with complicit media outlets to fabricate antisemitism narratives since the start of the Gaza genocide in order to silence supporters of Palestine.
In the latest episode, a Zionist agitator working with a Daily Telegraph crew tried to provoke staff at Cairo Takeaway in a Sydney inner suburb, on 11 February in an orchestrated attempt to manufacture an antisemitism scandal — one that quickly unravelled under its own weight.
The episode demonstrated that such tactics can be resisted and exposed if handled effectively with the awareness of one’s rights and legislation, and with the help of community and unbiased co-operation by the law enforcement authorities.
Cairo Takeaway, a beloved Egyptian eatery on Enmore Road, Newtown, an inner suburb of Sydney, has long been vocal in its support for Palestine, proudly displaying a mural in the colours of the Palestinian flag on its outer wall.
On an uneventful afternoon on 11 February, a man entered the restaurant wearing a Star of David cap and pendant, ordered a tea, and refused to leave. Then came the bait.
According to chef Talaat Sehia, the man, later identified as Ofir Birenbaum — a known Zionist agitator frequently quoted by News Corp — began making provocative comments to a waitress, pressing her to say “shalom” and accusing her of discrimination.
“I knew he was a provocateur straight away,” Talaat told journalist Alex McKinnon (Everything Is Fine*).
What the restaurant staff didn’t yet realise was that this was no ordinary customer. Just metres away, outside Domino’s, a Daily Telegraph news crew lurked — reporter Danielle Gusmaroli, photographer Rohan Kelly, and video producer Jeremy Span — all waiting for the moment to strike.
As the interaction escalated, the Daily Telegraph crew sprang into action, filming at opportune moments, seemingly ready to capture any misstep that could be spun into a scandal.
Talaat described the scene as “Looney Tunes-level comical,” with the journalist even pressing her face against the restaurant’s window to monitor the exchange.
But the stunt backfired spectacularly.
The waitress, Sam, visibly distressed, stepped outside – only to be met by the waiting Telegraph crew.
Locals who witnessed the scene were quick to intervene, calling out the journalists for their tactics. Even passers-by, including Indigenous community members, confronted them, exposing the operation for what it was: a staged provocation.
As the crowd turned against them, the Daily Telegraph team, along with Birenbaum, made a hasty retreat. But this time, it was the restaurant staff who held the cameras.
This was not an isolated incident.
Birenbaum, a self-styled Zionist activist, has been extensively featured in News Corp outlets.
In December 2024, he was featured on Sky News, claiming he had been “moved on by police” after harassing pro-Palestinian protesters.
He has also been photographed posing as a pro-Palestinian activist, seemingly attempting to infiltrate protests.
The Australian Jewish Association has repeatedly referred to Birenbaum as a “Friend of AJA” in social media posts.
Despite the overwhelming evidence of a co-ordinated setup, neither Gusmaroli nor Daily Telegraph editor Ben English responded to requests for comment from Sydney Morning Herald.
Meanwhile, when police were initially called, they dismissed the incident as a non-criminal matter.
“I said to the police, ‘This seems to be intentional provocation.’ And the cop said, ‘It is, but it’s not criminal,’” Talaat recounted.
But the backlash on social media forced authorities to take a closer look. Within days, detectives followed up with Cairo Takeaway, requesting CCTV footage and further details.
The failure of this operation underscores a growing resistance to these manufactured scandals.
Rather than being smeared, Cairo Takeaway found itself flooded with support from its local community and beyond.
“We are immensely grateful for the thousands of messages of love, wellbeing, and compassion,” said owner Hesham El Masry.
At its core, this incident reveals how Zionist agitators and complicit media outlets work hand in hand to fabricate anti-Semitism.
It also demonstrates that such tactics can be resisted and exposed.
Read full report of what transpired from Cairo Takeaways Instagram
Republished from AMUST, Australasian Muslim times, Feb 14, 2025