Defining hate speech

In relation to our article Challenging ‘antisemitism’

Alexander Donald, Cairns, Mar 10, 2025

Very pleased to see someone suggest that public attacks on Jewish Australians who express concerns about Israel’s killing of Palestinians might be considered antisemitism – especially when it is made clear they are being attacked specifically because they are Jewish.

At the very least some of the language quoted should meet the official threshold for hate speech.

The same loud members of the Israel lobby continue to try to erase the word Palestine from Australian usage. A previous P+I article entitled “Crossword clues and bullying” refers to a demand for an apology when “Palestine” was the answer to the clue “The Holy Land”. Worse is a Palestinian Australian and junior reporter being yelled at by a sub-editor “Palestine does not exist…”. How is that not hate speech?

We need formal guidance that can be relied upon by public figures and organisations, both for use of terms such as “antisemitism” and “Israel lobby” and to guide responses to forceful assertions that are believed to be wrong in fact.

A recent decision by the National Gallery to cover up Palestinian flags in a tapestry indicates the success of the campaign to delete Palestine. We need to fight back.