This sign has been on the Advision window for two weeks. Photo: Supplied.
A controversial Wagga Wagga store window has sparked fresh criticism after displaying a sign stating: “Israel does not have the right to exist”.
The sign, displayed at graphic design studio Advision, has the statement in large lettering, followed by smaller text which reads:
“Neither does Australia, New Zealand or in fact any other country. No country has the right to exist. People have the right to exist not countries.”
Wagga businessman Richard Moffatt posted a photograph of the sign on Facebook, calling the message “hate speech”.
“I strongly urge you to not support this business and report this hate speech to Wagga Police. It’s disgraceful and has no place in our regional city.”
Mr Moffatt told Region he had not yet reported the sign to police, but believed it was bordering on hate speech.
“What he’s done is make a bold statement that Israel doesn’t exist; the small print on the bottom is just a way of buying a defence,” he said.
“I wholeheartedly support free speech. But this doesn’t pass the pub test.
“When these sort of comments become acceptable, then big things start.
“I can tell you that Hitler and his supporters would’ve said that Israel doesn’t have the right to exist. We have a responsibility to protest vulnerable communities.”
Advision owner Michael Agzarian defended the sign.
“It’s hardly controversial,” he said.
“If you click on the QR code on the sign, you’ll get all the facts related to the statement. I’m saying no country has the right to exist.
“The sign has been up for two weeks; I haven’t had anyone come to me and complain. But obviously someone now has.”
He said he was not aware of Mr Moffatt’s criticism on social media, but rejected claims of hate speech.
“I don’t know of any hate speech that has killed people, but I do know of armies that have killed people. So work that out,” Mr Agzarian said.
Israel was established as a state in 1948, following decades of growing Jewish migration to the Middle Eastern territory then known as Palestine and increasing international support for a Jewish homeland, particularly after the Holocaust. Israel’s creation has long been opposed by those who argue that Palestinians were displaced from their homes and lost control of much of the land as a result.
The Wagga shopfront sign is the latest in a series of politically provocative displays by Mr Agzarian, who has used Advision’s Fitzmaurice Street shopfront to comment on Israel, the war in Gaza and Australian and international politics.
Wagga graphic design studio Advision previously stirred up controversy with an image parodying the famous catholic paining The Creation of Adam. Photo: Supplied.
Earlier this year, he displayed a parody of Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam, replacing God with a collection of political figures including US President Donald Trump, former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The display attracted criticism locally, with Mr Agzarian defending it as political satire.
The artist also attracted national attention last year after displaying artwork depicting Riverina MP Michael McCormack, then-Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Gina Rinehart and Clive Palmer in TV comedy Hogan Heroes-style German World War II military uniforms.
He later covered the mural with a banner on the store’s window reading “blessed are the cheesemakers“, a famous quote from the 1979 Monty Python film Life of Brian.
Mr Agzarian displayed this image in his shopfront in March/April 2025. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Mr Agzarian was charged in July 2025 with one count of displaying Nazi symbols by a public act without lawful excuse over the original Germany military uniform display.
However, the charge was withdrawn in the Downing Centre Local Court in May this year after almost 10 months of legal proceedings.
Mr Agzarian has maintained the artwork was political satire.
