No community can be blamed for the actions of a few individuals
Feb 5, 2025
Over the last few months, we have witnessed a stark increase in antisemitic hate crime: fire-bombings, and Nazi symbols painted on synagogues, houses, and schools, a statement from the Australian Jewish Democratic Society says.
Houses and a school have been painted with antisemitic graffiti. A daycare centre was set on fire in Sydney on 21 January. Now, we learn about a caravan containing explosives – apparently intended for a terrorist attack against Jews.
These are unprecedented and shocking developments for Australia.
Jewish students have been advised not to include time spent in Israel on their CVs. Many Jews connected to the arts community have had their personal details made public, with the express aim of causing them to be harassed. Jews who express support for Israel in any shape or form are labelled as “supporting genocide”.
Even Jews with moderate or critical opinions about Israel have been isolated socially, and professionally because their opinions don’t conform to a particular political line. Or, they’re not vocal enough in their criticism. This absurd requirement to politically conform suggests that many people know little about the Israel-Palestine conflict, other than what they’ve seen on social media.
While it is easy to criticise right-wing antisemitism, we are also concerned that elements of the left at times veer into conspiracy-like thinking, resulting in bigoted and ignorant statements about Jewish history, religion and Zionism.
Criticism of Jewish organisations because of their political position is one thing. But it should be obvious that Australian Jews are no more responsible for Israel’s war in Gaza, than Australian Palestinians are responsible for the atrocities committed by Hamas on 7 October 2023.
Collective blaming is always wrong.
The events occurring in the Middle East are causing real grief for communities affected in Australia. The Australian media should ensure that this pain is acknowledged, and report on these ongoing issues in a way that does not incite hatred against either community.
Instead, we’re seeing dangerous and clumsy attempts to politicise the fight against antisemitism in the federal sphere. Even in some populist Jewish groups, who push their own anti-left political agenda.
The last thing the Jewish community needs is for the fight against antisemitism to be weaponised politically, in a war of words and blame.
The Federal Government and Opposition have not caused the rise in antisemitism, but these partisan politics rob the Jewish community of the cooperation needed to tackle the problem.
We are bearing witness to a worrying trend: casual antisemitism is once more becoming culturally acceptable. Rhetoric that paints all Jews with the same brush is reposted all over social media.
Antisemitism, Islamophobia, homophobia – openly accepted hatred against one group will only embolden others.
As a Jewish organisation based in Victoria, it is clear to us that fighting the rise of antisemitism is not a partisan political issue – it affects us all. We must foster strong relationships within our communities, and engage meaningfully to stop the rise of hate.