Since the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel, Australians have been confronted by shocking news. The stories out of Israel are horrendous. Most of the victims were Israelis, but the terrorists showed no mercy to anyone. Among the 1200 murdered, were citizens of Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Thailand and even Tanzania.
Another shocking development has been the hatred playing out on Australian shores. Days after the attacks, a mob chanted antisemitic chants at Sydney’s Opera House. Activists have specially targeted the neighbourhoods where Australia’s Jews live. Convoys waving the Palestinian Authority flag have targeted Caulfield in Melbourne and Bondi in Sydney. Australia’s multicultural fabric is being tested like never before.
Australia’s Jewish community is tiny. It has never comprised more than half a percent of Australia’s population. Jews came to Australia on the First Fleet, but the community is overwhelmingly an immigrant community. The largest growth came with refugees fleeing the Holocaust. It has been strengthened by more recent, successive waves of immigrants, including from the former Soviet Union and South Africa.
Jews have been incredibly successful and contributed greatly to Australia. The Australian Jewish community has produced multiple Governors General, military leaders, a federal treasurer, Chief Justices, a Premier, accomplished businessmen, scientists, and thinkers.
Australian Jews have won the Nobel prize, the Archibald Prize, Olympic Gold and just about every honour for Australia.
Businesses founded by Australian Jews are ubiquitous. Many Australians would interact daily with places like Westfield, Myer, Meriton, Spotlight, Chemist Warehouse and Kogan.
Now, many in the Jewish community are feeling very unsafe. Antisemitic incidents are up an astounding 738% since October 7. The Australian Jewish Association has received threats, and we work closely with the police. For the first time, I hear some members of my community questioning whether they have a future in Australia. This should worry all Australians.
The Australian Jewish community has been touched by the response from many Christians. The Never Again Is Now (NAIN) rallies held in many cities was the strongest show of support for Jews in this country, that I can recall. Christian island nations in our region have been among Israel’s strongest supporters. My own organisation regularly receives messages of support from individual Christians from all corners of the nation.
We have also received messages of support from the Indian, Assyrian, Kurdish, and many other communities. Those who show the most understanding have often experienced terrorism and Islamic extremism themselves.
Unfortunately, not all parts of the community have behaved honourably. Chief among the instigators is the Australian Greens. This political party pretends to promote tolerance but really fuels hatred and division. They can often be found at the scene of disgraceful antisemitic incidents. The NSW Greens promoted the antisemitic Opera House protest. NSW MP, Jenny Leong, spoke about Jewish ‘tentacles.
Federal leader, Mehreen Faruqi was forced to delete an image she posted of the Jewish Star of David being placed in a garbage bin, alongside the words, “keep the world clean.”
Antisemitic incidents at the Opera House and outside a Caulfield Synagogue, not only cause tensions in Australia, they also risk damaging our reputation abroad.
We are calling on all political parties to pledge to preference the Greens last. Prominent Liberals like former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Julian Leeser MP have made the same call but we have yet to see Labor act on this.
Those spreading hate, like the Australian Greens, must be held responsible otherwise Australia’s multicultural harmony will come under major strain.
Much of the vile anti Semitic protests, violence and vitriol could have been avoided had the leadership of the Australian government denounced it immediately and thrown their support behind the already distraught and beleaguered Australian Jewish community. Instead, people such as the Australian PM, Anthony Albanese and his wildly Israel hating Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, refused to condemn the hatred demonstrated against all things Israel and Jewish. I long for the day that these two and their fellow travellers will be consigned to history’s ash heap. As a once proud Australian and a Vietnam War veteran, I’m totally disgusted with them all.