Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph has apologised for causing distress to an inner-city eatery and its staff over a stunt described internally at the tabloid as “undercover Jew”.
Pro-Israel activist Ofir Birenbaum entered Cairo Takeaway, a popular Egyptian restaurant in Newtown known for its public support of Palestine, wearing a Star of David cap and pendant. A Telegraph journalist was in tow to capture any reaction.
Documents leaked to online media outlet Crikey shortly after the incident in February last year revealed the News Corp publication had orchestrated the story under the name “UNDERCOVERJEW”.
It was intended to lift the lid on “what it’s like being Jewish in Sydney” and proposed using “video glasses”, an internal planning document said.
The incident caused an immediate stir and prompted a flurry of headlines – for news outlets other than the Telegraph. Video footage emerged of a hospitality worker berating News Corp journalist Danielle Gusmaroli as she left the restaurant with a photographer and videographer.
Birenbaum launched Federal Court defamation proceedings against Cairo Takeaway in August last year over its public comments about the incident. The case was listed for a seven-day hearing from May 18.
Birenbaum had denied the cafe’s version of events, which were posted to its Instagram page. He also denied wearing smart glasses to film the interaction.
In response, the cafe launched a cross-claim against Birenbaum for alleged trespass. Both claims have now been settled “on confidential terms”, according to a joint statement of the Telegraph, Birenbaum and Cairo Takeaway released on Monday.
“On 11 February 2025, Jewish man, Ofir Birenbaum, who was wearing a Star of David cap and pendant, and representatives from the Daily Telegraph newspaper, entered the Cairo Takeaway in Newtown, resulting in an incident with Cairo Takeaway staff,” the statement said.
“All parties are pleased that the legal disputes arising from this incident have now been resolved on confidential terms.”
Cairo Takeaway said it “accepts that Mr Birenbaum was polite to staff when he entered the premises and purchased a drink” and apologised unreservedly to him “for the false and defamatory statements to the media, Instagram posts and comments by members of the public” directed at him on its social media accounts.
“The Daily Telegraph acknowledges that entering the Cairo Takeaway without notice, to see if Mr Birenbaum would be treated differently for the purpose of a news article, caused distress to the staff and owner of the Cairo Takeaway.
“The Daily Telegraph unreservedly apologises to Cairo Takeaway and their staff for causing that distress.”
The statement said all parties were “pleased that these issues have now been resolved in a constructive and satisfactory manner”.
“In doing so, they acknowledge that all Australians should be able to safely express their racial or religious affiliation as well as debate issues in a respectful and dignified fashion. The parties hope that the fact of a resolution can be a positive example for others.”
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
