Australia’s Descent into Darkness: The Urgent Need to Combat Anti-Semitism

[Social Media]

Josh Frydenberg will present a Sky News documentary on anti-Semitism

 

Bad things happen when good people stay silent. This stark lesson rings true as Australia grapples with an alarming surge in anti-Semitism since October 7 last year. The explosion of hatred targeting the Jewish community has been met with a shameful lack of response from our leaders, universities, and Human Rights Commission. This descent into darkness must stop now.

 

Since the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7, where over 1,200 innocent people were brutally murdered, anti-Semitic incidents in Australia have skyrocketed. 

 

The gravity of the situation is clear. Our leaders need to wake up and take strong, decisive action before it’s too late. This is the lesson of history. Those who fail to heed it are doomed to repeat it. This is why I joined Sky News for the documentary "Never Again: The Fight Against Anti-Semitism." I wanted to use my voice to ring the alarm bell and show my fellow Australians the damage being done to our country.

 

Anti-Semitism is a light sleeper, but after October 7, it is violently awake. Nowhere was this more apparent than on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. The horrific violence perpetrated by Hamas halfway around the world sparked a mob in Sydney chanting “F..k the Jews.” This was followed by a riot in Caulfield, a largely Jewish suburb in Melbourne, triggered by false claims that Jews had burned down a local burger shop. Jewish families were left frightened in their homes, unable to visit their place of worship on the Sabbath.

 

The doxxing of 600 Jewish creatives, including award-winning artist Deborah Conway, destroyed lives and livelihoods as performances were canceled, businesses vandalized, and death threats made. Their only sin was to support each other after facing abandonment from employers and fellow artists. The list of anti-Semitic incidents goes on: boycotting businesses simply because the owner is Jewish, daily harassment leading Jewish schools to advise students against wearing uniforms or symbols for fear of safety.

 

How did we get here? The answer lies in the reckless indifference of our leaders. While I do not believe our Prime Minister, premiers, chancellors, vice-chancellors, police commissioners, or Human Rights Commissioners are anti-Semites, their inaction has been telling. They respect the enormous contributions Jewish Australians have made to our democracy and society, but their failure to confront anti-Semitism has been glaring.

 

University leaders, for instance, have equivocated instead of acting. They wrote to the Attorney-General seeking legal advice on the phrase “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea,” a call for the abolition of the State of Israel. Australia’s foremost intelligence and security expert, Dennis Richardson, described it as a “very violent statement,” a sentiment echoed by the Prime Minister. Yet, university leaders hesitated.

 

It was galling to hear the vice-chancellor of the University of Sydney, Mark Scott, defend such expressions as free speech, comparing them to demonstrations during the Vietnam War and nuclear disarmament. He misses the point. Free speech does not grant a free pass to hate speech, intimidation, and harassment directed at a particular group.

 

The vice-chancellor’s reluctance to involve the police, citing American campus experiences, further demeans his role. The police were called to US campuses to reassert authority after violent anti-Semites ran amok. Appeasing the mob has only emboldened those seeking to disrupt and destroy. The documentary not only explores the recent events in Australia but also highlights the personal impact on many, young and old. Holocaust survivors share their fears, drawing frightening parallels between their past experiences and current events. Their testimonies are a stark reminder of the failure of our leaders to combat rising anti-Semitism.

 

Australia’s longstanding relationship with Israel, traditionally marked by bipartisan support, is also under threat. Since October 7, Australia has failed to support Israel consistently, a fellow democracy in its hour of need. This support is crucial for security, intelligence, and enduring people-to-people links, transcending current political leadership.

 

The events of October 7, much like 9/11, have ushered in a period of instability and conflict, lifting the lid on ancient hatreds. To counter the violence and protect our social cohesion, our leaders must reset their approach. More action and less talk are required.

 

Defeating anti-Semitism is not just in the Jewish community’s interest; it is in Australia’s interest. The anti-Semitic incidents on our streets and campuses since October 7 are contrary to our values and our pride in being Australian. It’s time for our leaders to stand up, take risks, and show true leadership. The descent into darkness must stop—now.

 

Credit: The Australian 2024-05-27

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[milesinnz]

Australia like other regions of largely Caucasian descent brought it on themselves by allowing mass immigration from regions of different cultural and religious values. I somehow don't think it is a problem in places like Poland - they wont allow those of different values to settle in their country.

[thaipo7]

You put the truth out there.  Germany and Sweden would like to go back to how it was.  Now look at the US.

[impulse]

So what do they call it when tens of thousands of Israeli citizens protest their own gub'ment's actions?  In Israel.

 

Is that anti-Semitism, too?

 

[herfiehandbag]

10 minutes ago, impulse said:

So what do they call it when tens of thousands of Israeli citizens protest their own gub'ment's actions?  In Israel.

 

Is that anti-Semitism, too?

 

Those protesting in Israel aren't rioting, spraying graffiti on buildings and businesses, "outing" Jews on the internet in an attempt to destroy careers and businesses and damage private lives. Nor are they gathering at their countries most iconic building and chanting "gas the Jewish" - I know the Police claim that is not what they chanted, but they were somewhat selectively hard of hearing, a professional problem not entirely restricted to Australia!

Edited May 27 by herfiehandbag

[impulse]

21 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

Those protesting in Israel aren't rioting, spraying graffiti on buildings and businesses, "outing" Jews on the internet in an attempt to destroy careers and businesses and damage private lives. Nor are they gathering at their countries most iconic building and chanting "gas the Jewish" - I know the Police claim that is not what they chanted, but they were somewhat selectively hard of hearing, a professional problem not entirely connected to Australia!

 

Yup.  Looks mostly peaceful to me.

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/01/middleeast/israel-protests-netanyahu-intl/index.html

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/25/middleeast/tel-aviv-protests-gaza-hostages-intl-latam/index.html

 

Edited May 27 by impulse

[nobodysfriend]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

How did we get here? The answer lies in the reckless indifference of Israels leaders.

It is them who are responsible for the surge of antisemitism around the world , nobody else .

 

[petey123]

why would you post something from such an outragous ethnocentric clown?    "antisemitism" is by far the least of the world's problems and its mention only serves to bolster the zionist jews in their ongoing campaign to crush the palestinians.    consider antisemitism along side the crimes of a racist, apartheid state which enjoys slavish and comprehensive support from most of the leadership of the western world - it is the latter which you should be highlighting....

[impulse]

1 minute ago, petey123 said:

why would you post something from such an outragous ethnocentric clown?    "antisemitism" is by far the least of the world's problems and its mention only serves to bolster the zionist jews in their ongoing campaign to crush the palestinians.    consider antisemitism along side the crimes of a racist, apartheid state which enjoys slavish and comprehensive support from most of the leadership of the western world - it is the latter which you should be highlighting....

 

So you're not down on Jews per se, but you don't care for Israeli gub'ment policies? 

 

Used to be, that wasn't considered anti-Semitism.  Nowadays...  That'll get you blacklisted.

[john donson]

let me guess, because of the 'religion of peace' ?

 

in europe, jews were never in the news like muslim's DAILY...

 

well except for diamond smuggling, not paying taxes, but that does not affect society as a whole religion forcing the locals to stop their local beliefs and high criminality that comes with them...

[koolkarl]

It is the goal of Islam to get rid of all infidels, non believers in Islam. It is not nor has ever been a goal of Judaism.  These people who do antisemetic acts are infidels I assume.  They are supporting terrorists and are cutting their own throats in the long run.  Countries like Japan and S. Korea have the right idea, never let in a certain group and I am not referring to Jewish people. 

[JonnyF]

When you make the same mistakes as the UK, expect the same consequences.

 

Australia should have seen what happened to Britain/mainland Europe and re-considered their immigration policy.

 

Too late now. You reap what you sow. 

[WDSmart]

The global rise in antisemitism (not "anti-Semitism," which refers to "Semites," which includes Arabs) should more accurately be termed "anti-Zionists." Zionists are the extreme, militant, right-wing faction of Jews who want the total genocide of all non-Jews in the land that is now called Israel and Palestine. From what I can tell, most Jews, and even most Israelis, do not want that, but right now, under Netanyahu, Israel is being controlled by Zionists.

Unfortunately, not everyone understands this and just sees the military actions being committed daily by the Zionist-let IDF in Gaza as atrocities being committed by Jews as a whole, and as a result, have a growing hatred of all Jews - antisemitism.

[placeholder]

3 hours ago, milesinnz said:

Australia like other regions of largely Caucasian descent brought it on themselves by allowing mass immigration from regions of different cultural and religious values. I somehow don't think it is a problem in places like Poland - they wont allow those of different values to settle in their country.

I've seen lots of clueless examples posted on aseannow.com. But citing Poland as an example, a country with a centuries long tradition of anti-semitism? Bizarre.

 

 

[newbee2022]

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

Josh Frydenberg will present a Sky News documentary on anti-Semitism

 

Bad things happen when good people stay silent. This stark lesson rings true as Australia grapples with an alarming surge in anti-Semitism since October 7 last year. The explosion of hatred targeting the Jewish community has been met with a shameful lack of response from our leaders, universities, and Human Rights Commission. This descent into darkness must stop now.

 

Since the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7, where over 1,200 innocent people were brutally murdered, anti-Semitic incidents in Australia have skyrocketed. Alan Arnette, a mountaineering coach who successfully climbed Everest in 2011, describes the shocking aftermath: “If you’re paying $100,000, you can expect cappuccinos and sushi up there. Even a three-star chef.” This comment, while referencing the luxury of Everest expeditions, underscores the broader theme of indifference to profound issues.

 

The gravity of the situation is clear. Our leaders need to wake up and take strong, decisive action before it’s too late. This is the lesson of history. Those who fail to heed it are doomed to repeat it. This is why I joined Sky News for the documentary "Never Again: The Fight Against Anti-Semitism." I wanted to use my voice to ring the alarm bell and show my fellow Australians the damage being done to our country.

 

Anti-Semitism is a light sleeper, but after October 7, it is violently awake. Nowhere was this more apparent than on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. The horrific violence perpetrated by Hamas halfway around the world sparked a mob in Sydney chanting “F..k the Jews.” This was followed by a riot in Caulfield, a largely Jewish suburb in Melbourne, triggered by false claims that Jews had burned down a local burger shop. Jewish families were left frightened in their homes, unable to visit their place of worship on the Sabbath.

 

The doxxing of 600 Jewish creatives, including award-winning artist Deborah Conway, destroyed lives and livelihoods as performances were canceled, businesses vandalized, and death threats made. Their only sin was to support each other after facing abandonment from employers and fellow artists. The list of anti-Semitic incidents goes on: boycotting businesses simply because the owner is Jewish, daily harassment leading Jewish schools to advise students against wearing uniforms or symbols for fear of safety.

 

How did we get here? The answer lies in the reckless indifference of our leaders. While I do not believe our Prime Minister, premiers, chancellors, vice-chancellors, police commissioners, or Human Rights Commissioners are anti-Semites, their inaction has been telling. They respect the enormous contributions Jewish Australians have made to our democracy and society, but their failure to confront anti-Semitism has been glaring.

 

University leaders, for instance, have equivocated instead of acting. They wrote to the Attorney-General seeking legal advice on the phrase “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea,” a call for the abolition of the State of Israel. Australia’s foremost intelligence and security expert, Dennis Richardson, described it as a “very violent statement,” a sentiment echoed by the Prime Minister. Yet, university leaders hesitated.

 

It was galling to hear the vice-chancellor of the University of Sydney, Mark Scott, defend such expressions as free speech, comparing them to demonstrations during the Vietnam War and nuclear disarmament. He misses the point. Free speech does not grant a free pass to hate speech, intimidation, and harassment directed at a particular group.

 

The vice-chancellor’s reluctance to involve the police, citing American campus experiences, further demeans his role. The police were called to US campuses to reassert authority after violent anti-Semites ran amok. Appeasing the mob has only emboldened those seeking to disrupt and destroy. The documentary not only explores the recent events in Australia but also highlights the personal impact on many, young and old. Holocaust survivors share their fears, drawing frightening parallels between their past experiences and current events. Their testimonies are a stark reminder of the failure of our leaders to combat rising anti-Semitism.

 

Australia’s longstanding relationship with Israel, traditionally marked by bipartisan support, is also under threat. Since October 7, Australia has failed to support Israel consistently, a fellow democracy in its hour of need. This support is crucial for security, intelligence, and enduring people-to-people links, transcending current political leadership.

 

The events of October 7, much like 9/11, have ushered in a period of instability and conflict, lifting the lid on ancient hatreds. To counter the violence and protect our social cohesion, our leaders must reset their approach. More action and less talk are required.

 

Defeating anti-Semitism is not just in the Jewish community’s interest; it is in Australia’s interest. The anti-Semitic incidents on our streets and campuses since October 7 are contrary to our values and our pride in being Australian. It’s time for our leaders to stand up, take risks, and show true leadership. The descent into darkness must stop—now.

 

Credit: The Australian 2024-05-27

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

It's always the same in Western Media.

If you're against Israel your immediately stamped as an antisemite. That's wrong!!!!

[Bkk Brian]

59 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

It's always the same in Western Media.

If you're against Israel your immediately stamped as an antisemite. That's wrong!!!!

So a mob shouting "F..k the Jews.” is not anti-Semitic?

[thaibeachlovers]

7 hours ago, Social Media said:

Australia’s longstanding relationship with Israel, traditionally marked by bipartisan support, is also under threat.

Good news. I hope Oz does the right thing and withdraws support for israel over it's crimes in Gaza. If it does so it will be standing with many of the countries of the world that no longer ignore israeli crimes in the illegally occupied territories.

[placnx]

10 hours ago, Social Media said:

University leaders, for instance, have equivocated instead of acting. They wrote to the Attorney-General seeking legal advice on the phrase “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea,” a call for the abolition of the State of Israel. Australia’s foremost intelligence and security expert, Dennis Richardson, described it as a “very violent statement,” a sentiment echoed by the Prime Minister.

“Palestine will be free from the river to the sea” has a non-violent meaning. Many in the movement for Palestinian rights had given up on the two-state solution because there are so many settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. For them, the answer is to end apartheid in Israel and the Occupied Territories and to accept the one-state solution. I think that this is naive. Perhaps they should be saying “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea. End Apartheid Now”, so that Australians and others do not mix this up with true anti-semitism. The founder of Human Rights Watch made an important comment about the anti-semitiam issue in discussing Gaza yesterday:

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2024/05/26/gps-0526-icc-charges-against-israel.cnn

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryeh_Neier

[pacovl46]

So how many children and civilians died in the Gaza Strip due to the illegal missile strikes by Israel against hospitals, schools and Kindergartens, which are clearly crimes of war? 

 

Israel is very good at still playing the victim for the atrocities that went down 80 years ago, but they've in fact become the oppressor. The Gaza Strip is essentially is literally a concentration camp minus the gas chambers! 

 

Their behavior is the epitome of hypocrisy! 

[placnx]

7 hours ago, milesinnz said:

Australia like other regions of largely Caucasian descent brought it on themselves by allowing mass immigration from regions of different cultural and religious values. I somehow don't think it is a problem in places like Poland - they wont allow those of different values to settle in their country.

Australia is an example of settler-colonialism. After years of maltreating the aboriginal population, It seems that they are making an effort to make amends.

 

Let's hope that Israel wakes up and puts Smotrich and Ben Gvir and many others in prison for life. Actually, Smotrich should get multiple life sentences and the body should be kept in lockup until all sentences have expired.

[placnx]

6 hours ago, impulse said:

So what do they call it when tens of thousands of Israeli citizens protest their own gub'ment's actions?  In Israel.

 

Is that anti-Semitism, too?

 

Maybe "unpatriotic". If there were just a few, they would be called "self-hating Jews".

[koolkarl]

On 5/27/2024 at 1:54 PM, pacovl46 said:

So how many children and civilians died in the Gaza Strip due to the illegal missile strikes by Israel against hospitals, schools and Kindergartens, which are clearly crimes of war? 

 

Israel is very good at still playing the victim for the atrocities that went down 80 years ago, but they've in fact become the oppressor. The Gaza Strip is essentially is literally a concentration camp minus the gas chambers! 

 

Their behavior is the epitome of hypocrisy! 

Hamas terrorists wear civilian clothes, like cowards, and hide in the hospitals and schools.  What do you expect?  Hamas leaders, bigger cowards, hide in Qatar with their stolen billions from the palestinians.  Those tunnels took years to build and no one noticed anything? The palestinians see the terrorists amongst them yet say nothing.  They are all complicit.  Hamas give themselves up, release all hostages and it all stops.  Assume you are an infidel, a non believer in Islam.  Know what your desired destiny is? You should be thanking Israel but too influenced by the propaganda from Al jazeera.

[pacovl46]

On 5/29/2024 at 10:18 AM, koolkarl said:

Hamas terrorists wear civilian clothes, like cowards, and hide in the hospitals and schools.  What do you expect?  Hamas leaders, bigger cowards, hide in Qatar with their stolen billions from the palestinians.  Those tunnels took years to build and no one noticed anything? The palestinians see the terrorists amongst them yet say nothing.  They are all complicit.  Hamas give themselves up, release all hostages and it all stops.  Assume you are an infidel, a non believer in Islam.  Know what your desired destiny is? You should be thanking Israel but too influenced by the propaganda from Al jazeera.

Hamas is derfinitrly not innocent in this one, but Israel is equally as much to blame! You can twist and turn that for as long as you want, but it won't change the fact and there's absolutely NOTHING I'd like to thank them for, apart from showing their true colors, which finally backfired and the world is waking up to it! 

[koolkarl]

9 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

Hamas is derfinitrly not innocent in this one, but Israel is equally as much to blame! You can twist and turn that for as long as you want, but it won't change the fact and there's absolutely NOTHING I'd like to thank them for, apart from showing their true colors, which finally backfired and the world is waking up to it! 

Then one day I will see you on youtube with your head on a chopping block.  You are extremely gullible.

[pacovl46]

On 5/31/2024 at 2:58 AM, koolkarl said:

Then one day I will see you on youtube with your head on a chopping block.  You are extremely gullible.

I'm gonna be right next to you on the block! 😘