Anti-Semitism ‘interlaced’ with actions of Israel
The Israeli government should not be held accountable for its actions despite most Australian Jews having a strong loyalty to the country, an investigation has heard.
Australia’s Jewish population was shocked to see the reaction to Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, including a massive pro-Palestinian rally in front of the Sydney Opera House where anti-Semitic slurs were used.
On Tuesday the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion heard more evidence about the lived experiences of Australian Jews.
Prominent lawyer Peter Wertheim said that there was great sympathy for the Palestinians within the Jewish community, but this remained unrequited after the October 7 attack.
“This was an attack launched by Hamas,” said Mr Wertheim, a senior executive at the Executive Council of Australian Jews.
“They did it in the most horrific way.
“No sympathy was expressed for those on the receiving end of this treatment.”
The October 7 attacks, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 250 people taken hostage, were a significant turning point in anti-Semitism in Australia, co-lead lawyer Zelie Heger SC told the inquiry earlier.
Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza killed more than 70,000 people in the Palestinian enclave and was labeled genocide by a United Nations commission, which the Israeli government disputed.
Vic Alhadeff OAM, non-executive director of public broadcaster SBS, told the inquiry: “Many of the manifestations of anti-Semitic incidents and attacks are intertwined with and refer to what is happening on the other side of the world.”
Dr. In response to his concerns about rising anti-Semitism, Alhadeff said a representative from another faith group told him “but look what’s happening to Palestinians in Gaza.”
“My response was: ‘You would have to be made of stone not to care about what is happening to the Palestinians in Gaza, but why do you hold me responsible?'” Dr Alhadeff said.
“Australian Jews have no authority over what the Israel Defense Forces or the Israeli government do.”
Former Supreme Court Justice Virginia Bell, who chaired the commission, asked Mr Wertheim whether, in her experience, Australian Jews had an emotional attachment to the idea of Israel.
“Very so,” replied Mr. Wertheim.
“Most Jews in Australia have family and friends in Israel, and of course the Hebrew language, our culture, religion, civilization and values come from Israel.”
However, while loyalty is constant, views on various governments and policies vary widely in Australia as in Israel, he said.
Jeremy Stowe-Lindner, principal of Melbourne’s Bialik College, which he described as a Zionist school, compared Zionism to being a patriotic Australian in that it does not involve any allegiance to a particular political party or policy.
“Zionism is not a specific political belief. It is not support for any government or coalition within Israel,” he told the inquiry.
“This is nothing more than the belief that Israel, the homeland of the Jewish people, has a right to exist.”
Mr Stowe-Lindner said there had been an “avalanche” of anti-Semitic incidents at his school since late 2023, including graffiti, verbal insults and students being spat on.
“We can no longer walk into Melbourne’s CBD in school uniform because of what we will face,” he said.
He acknowledged that the catalyst was the emergence of Jewish people, including children, who identified with the policies of the Israeli government.
The commission will present its final report before the end of the year.
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