The Bondi Royal Commission. Truth telling and uncontested falsehoods

The focus of the Bondi Royal Commission hearings was on witnesses who described mostly undisputed experiences of antisemitism. But facts matter, old judge David Heilpern reports.

This week I heard evidence from the Royal Commission into Anti-Semitism and it was a rollercoaster. It is deplorable that a religious minority should be appalled in this way and I hope the Royal Commission can find some solutions.

But on the other hand, sometimes I find myself screaming. When a witness describes how their children were too scared to wear their kippas in public, I understand. But then I say to myself, “At least they have all their limbs.” When a witness claims he was humiliated on the bus, I can’t help but think, “Welcome to the suffering of generations of Aboriginal people.”

But that aside, it is a valuable part of the process for those affected by antisemitism to have a voice and tell the world their pain and fears. We have seen this in other investigations into child sexual assault and the stolen generation, and it provides a permanent record and well-deserved recognition. This is about the reactions and reactions of the victims, not about the legalities, and that’s as it should be.

But some witnesses said things that were completely false, and that’s clearly the case. They simply stated matters that were not true as facts. This should not be allowed to go unchecked.

I have carefully chosen the example below. In doing so, I do not want to denigrate the witness’s (whom I do not identify) experience or invalidate her concerns. They were highly critical of the police response to a complaint of violent anti-Semitism and presented other evidence that was compelling. I chose this passage also because they were invited by the commission to read a letter written shortly after Bondi.

Here’s what was said word for word:

“Most of you outside Australia don’t know what the Jewish families living here do (sic). Here’s a little look:

– “Gas the Jews” chants were chanted at the Opera House – no response.
– mass march along the harbor bridge with giant posters of Ayatollah Khamenei – no condemnation.
– A Kosher business was bombed – no anger.
– Synagogues set on fire – no headlines.
– Cars and houses were attacked; There is no need to worry.
– A childcare center was firebombed – no national alert.
– Explosives prepared for Jewish schools – no crisis.
– Nurses who vow to kill Jewish patients – no results.
– A bomb was thrown into a synagogue full of people – silence.”

Facts matter

I admit that the reactions following Bondi were rightly emotional and probing. Then I wouldn’t worry. But now, given that it has been repeated and is on record, it is worth assessing the situation, verifying it, and seeing if these claims are true.

“Gas the Jews” chants were chanted at the Opera House – no response.

This refers to a protest at the Opera House in October 2023. This claim has been the subject of the press before. forensic examination It was denied by NSW police. The less serious “Where are the Jews” has been called, and it is not only antisemitic but threatening.

But no matter what is said, it is completely wrong to suggest that there was no response to this behavior. Alongside the intense police investigation, which resulted in “overwhelming certainty” that “gas” was not uttered, the Prime Minister, the NSW Premier and the Secretary of State, among others, were also quick to address the matter. condemn Protest and words used.

Mass march along the harbor bridge with giant posters of Ayatollah Khamenei – no condemnation.

Surely there was a tiny poster carried in a conspicuous position by one of the 300,000 people at the August 2025 March for Humanity. This was condemned by everyone, to contain The ALP identified Bob Carr, Ed Husic, Tony Sheldon, as well as Matt Thistlewaite, who were on the march. I’m talking On behalf of the Prime Minister and the Government.

It was also widely condemned by many media outlets, rally organizers, other politicians and mainstream Jewish organizations. To suggest that this is not condemned paints a picture of non-existent indifference.

A Kosher business was bombed; no anger.

This is most likely a reference to the burning of Lewis’s Kitchen in Bondi in October 2024; this incident was later identified by ASIO as part of targeted attacks by the Iranian regime.

In the days following the first fire, police reject ($) that this was a targeted attack and naturally silenced any comments. But once it was revealed that this was part of Iran’s alleged attack and people were blamed, condemnation and outrage began. commonly expressed.

In fact, this attack was one of several that led to the Australian Government expelling the Iranian ambassador; this was the first such action since World War II. It is completely false to suggest that there was no outrage after this connection was made. It is worth noting that Iran’s involvement in this fire was announced in August 2025, months before the witness’s letter.

Too little, too late. Iranian guards declare terrorists for the first time in 2023

Synagogues were set on fire; no headlines/ Firebombed into a synagogue full of people – silence.

There were three synagogue attacks during the relevant time periods. The Adass Israel Synagogue was set on fire in a terrorist arson attack in December 2024. In January 2025, Newtown Synagogue was vandalized and was the subject of an arson attempt. The gates of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation were set on fire on July 4, 2025.

To test the hypothesis that there are no headlines, I looked at: treasure In print versions of leading city newspapers on appropriate days, messenger of the sun, Telegram, Age And Sydney Morning Herald. There were featured or front page headlines for each. It’s harder to get online, but ABC And Guard, news.com.au And Sky He occasionally took this as the lead story in the following days.

for Australia, As expected, the events made headlines. Commercial radio and television news had either the first or second story. To suggest that there are no headlines is actually unsustainable.

Saying there is silence is even worse and paints a completely false picture.

Cars and houses were attacked; no worries.

This points to a series of attacks likely to occur in Sydney in 2024 and 2025:

• A graffiti attack on a house formerly owned by prominent Zionist Alex Ryvchin;
• two incidents in Woollahra where vehicles were painted with anti-Semitic slogans and set on fire;
• January 2025 spray painting incident on a car with the words “Fuck the Jews” in Queens Park;
• Spray paint attack on buildings including Mount Saini College in Maroubra in January 2025.

Again, it is delusional to suggest that there is no concern about these attacks. There were rarely cross parties press conferencesCondemnation from the Prime Minister as well as the Greens. Prime Minister Chris Minns noisy with the anger and concern he feels for every incident.

The Federal Government announced a $100 million funding increase to combat terrorism directly related to these attacks. The Muslim community also expressed their concerns in many media.

A child care center was firebombed; There is no national alarm.

On January 21, 2025, a kindergarten was set on fire, revealing graffiti containing anti-Semitic words 200 meters away from the Maroubra synagogue.

Perhaps the best way to assess whether there is “national alarm” is the Prime Minister’s reaction. He was at the kindergarten to condemn the attack the very next day. He then convened a National Cabinet meeting consisting of all the Prime Ministers and Prime Ministers in the country as a direct result.

If that doesn’t ring a national alarm bell, I don’t know what does. It is wrong to suggest that there is no national alarm under these circumstances.

Explosives were prepared for Jewish schools; There is no crisis.

This refers to the discovery of explosives in a caravan in Dural in 2025, which is now declared smuggling by the police. elaborate scam. Although there was a fake target list, I could not find any reference to “explosives for Jewish schools” in any media or police reports.

However, it was initially considered strictly a crisis by the Minns government, a finding that triggered the swift passage of legislation on hate speech through parliament due to the perceived threat. The crisis is a “dangerous turning point” and that is exactly how it was approached at all levels of government until it was exposed as a fake.

It’s hard to see what else governments can do in response.

Nurses who vow to kill Jewish patients – to no avail.

Of all the statements made by this witness, this is perhaps the most blatant lie.

This is probably pedantic, but the nurses did not swear to kill Jewish patients; They identified Israeli patients. However, they were immediately suspended, their certificates were revoked nationwide within a few days, both were charged with criminal offenses, and the health minister announced that they would I will never work in the healthcare system again.

To suggest that these actions had no consequences is plainly and obviously false.

Witness statement is undisputed

Why did the Assistant Counsel to the Royal Commission ask for this letter to be placed on record when a basic internet search showed this to be largely untrue?

If it stands merely as a rhetorical expression of a sense of abandonment, perhaps that is a sufficient purpose. But now that these claims have proven false, what will the Royal Commission do about the recordings? If they are to survive, what rights do governments and police departments at the state and federal levels have to correct the record?

Why would a witness make such baseless allegations when the very facts of the attacks prove that antisemitism is widespread and dangerous?

The witness could easily have argued that sufficient effort was not made in response; But to suggest that there is no outrage, no headlines, no alarm, no crisis and only silence is a great exaggeration and

We invite those inclined to belittle anti-Semitism to point to it as an example of exaggeration.

The goal of every investigative process is to get to the truth and not allow the lie to stand, let alone invite repetition under oath.

If we are to have a rational discussion about how to reduce antisemitism, then this can only be done in an environment where those who blur history to support their current positions are corrected, albeit gently and sensitively. After all, we all share the same goal, even soft green lefties like me. This is for peace, for harmony and for all religious, racial and ethnic minorities to live in safety, regardless of their beliefs.

The interim report of the Bondi massacre has been released. Don’t mention the G word