The Jewish lobby or the Zionist lobby? - Words matter

January 30, 2024

There are both secular and religious Jews in Australia who are horrified by the actions of the Israeli government and military, ranging from those who have only become engaged by the current conflict, those who have opposed Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank since 1967 to those who disagree entirely with the establishment of Israel in 1948.

There are also vocal groups of pro-Israel Jews who put pressure on the government and media to give unconditional support to Israel and smear any support for the Palestinian people as antisemitic. The part played by a group of Jewish lawyers in the sacking of Antoinette Lattouf by the ABC is the most recent and egregious example.

I would like the author and publisher of this article to consider the damaging effect on all Jews of this loose and ill-considered use of the phrase “the Jewish lobby”. Is there not a flavour of McCarthyism in requiring Jewish people to declare their position on Israel? Can we not stand in support of the Palestinian people without simultaneously fanning the flames of antisemitism?