Latest news with #Jewish-Australians
Perth Now
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
‘Action:' Albo hits out on synagogue fire
Anthony Albanese has defended Labor's track record of working and responding to anti-Semitic attacks on the Jewish community, amid attacks from the opposition that there have been too many 'talkfests' and not enough 'action'. While quizzed by journalists in Hobart on Tuesday, the Prime Minister snapped back at a reporter who said Jewish community leaders had claimed the government's response was 'insufficient'. The questions were in response to an alleged arson attack on the East Melbourne Synagogue on Friday night, 'Who is saying that?' asked in response, and said he had spoken to community leaders on Saturday. 'Every time there has been a request, it has been met, expeditiously,' he said. 'On Saturday, one of the reasons why this gentleman has been caught so quickly is because the CCTV that was in place there was as a direct result of Commonwealth Government funding.' The East Melbourne synagogue was set ablaze on Friday night in an alleged arson attack. NewsWire/ Valeriu Campan Credit: News Corp Australia The blaze damaged the doors. NewsWire/ Valeriu Campan Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Albanese also rejected calls for him to convene national cabinet in response to Friday's alleged arson attack. 'Every time an issue comes up, people say, let's have a national cabinet. Let's be clear. What people want is not a meeting. They want action,' Mr Albanese said. Mr Albanese's comments comes after Executive Council of the Australian Jewry president Alex Ryvchin urged the government to adopt its 15-point plan to 'defeat anti-Semitism' in Australia. The plan includes calls for anti-Semitism education in the national curriculum and urges Labor to declare a National Emergency and establish a Joint Counter-Terrorism Taskforce to 'fight against anti-Semitic terror before we have a major terror attack in this country'. Sussan Ley said Labor had not committed to enough action. NewsWire/ David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia Speaking later on Tuesday following a visit to the East Melbourne Synagogue, Sussan Ley maintained the Albanese government was not doing enough to protect Jewish-Australians. 'What I hear from the community is there have been many task forces, there have been many talkfests, many conversations and many words. What they are really calling for is action,' she said, alongside shadow attorney-general Julian Leeser and finance spokesperson James Paterson. Ms Ley also called for stronger state hate speech laws, which would prohibit people from chanting phrases like 'death to Israel,' and said calls for a national cabinet meeting to tackle anti-Semitism were a 'good suggestion'. 'There shouldn't be an ability for people to chant the words 'death' and I won't complete the phase, on the streets of Melbourne, and it just be accepted,' she said. 'It is not a protest, it is hate – pure hate and we need to have laws and levers and I would respectfully ask the Premier of Victoria to consider how she might instruct law enforcement in a way that allows a stronger intervention.'
West Australian
08-07-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Anthony Albanese defends Labor's action against anti-Semitism after Melbourne synagogue fire
Anthony Albanese has defended Labor's track record of working and responding to anti-Semitic attacks on the Jewish community, amid attacks from the opposition that there have been too many 'talkfests' and not enough 'action'. While quizzed by journalists in Hobart on Tuesday, the Prime Minister snapped back at a reporter who said Jewish community leaders had claimed the government's response was 'insufficient'. The questions were in response to an alleged arson attack on the East Melbourne Synagogue on Friday night, 'Who is saying that?' asked in response, and said he had spoken to community leaders on Saturday. 'Every time there has been a request, it has been met, expeditiously,' he said. 'On Saturday, one of the reasons why this gentleman has been caught so quickly is because the CCTV that was in place there was as a direct result of Commonwealth Government funding.' Mr Albanese also rejected calls for him to convene national cabinet in response to Friday's alleged arson attack. 'Every time an issue comes up, people say, let's have a national cabinet. Let's be clear. What people want is not a meeting. They want action,' Mr Albanese said. Mr Albanese's comments comes after Executive Council of the Australian Jewry president Alex Ryvchin urged the government to adopt its 15-point plan to 'defeat anti-Semitism' in Australia. The plan includes calls for anti-Semitism education in the national curriculum and urges Labor to declare a National Emergency and establish a Joint Counter-Terrorism Taskforce to 'fight against anti-Semitic terror before we have a major terror attack in this country'. Speaking later on Tuesday following a visit to the East Melbourne Synagogue, Sussan Ley maintained the Albanese government was not doing enough to protect Jewish-Australians. 'What I hear from the community is there have been many task forces, there have been many talkfests, many conversations and many words. What they are really calling for is action,' she said, alongside shadow attorney-general Julian Leeser and finance spokesperson James Paterson. Ms Ley also called for stronger state hate speech laws, which would prohibit people from chanting phrases like 'death to Israel,' and said calls for a national cabinet meeting to tackle anti-Semitism were a 'good suggestion'. 'There shouldn't be an ability for people to chant the words 'death' and I won't complete the phase, on the streets of Melbourne, and it just be accepted,' she said. 'It is not a protest, it is hate – pure hate and we need to have laws and levers and I would respectfully ask the Premier of Victoria to consider how she might instruct law enforcement in a way that allows a stronger intervention.'
The Advertiser
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
War of words over anti-Semitism and university protests
As bombs were being dropped on displaced refugees sheltering in tents in Gaza, university students across Australia camped out on pristine campus lawns to protest Israel's military actions. Whether these sites remained places of legitimate protest or hotbeds for anti-Semitic activity is due to be explored on Monday. The University of Sydney, UNSW, academics and student groups are among scores of stakeholders weighing into a NSW parliamentary inquiry examining anti-Semitism on university campuses. It will also examine anti-Semitic attacks in recent months, including graffiti sprayed on cars and homes and a firebombing of a childcare centre near a synagogue. In its submission, the Australasian Union of Jewish Students said universities had become "flashpoints for anti-Semitic activity." The union pointed to the proportion of Jewish-Australians who identify as Zionist. Zionism is widely understood as a political movement that called for the founding of the state of Israel, but the union said it was much more than that. "Jewish students may not consider themselves politically Zionist but may still have strong emotional or religious connection to Israel," it said. "Given that the majority of Jewish Australians identify as Zionist, it is not credible to claim that threats or acts of hostility directed at 'Zionists' cannot also be acts of anti-Semitism." Conservative Jewish groups have lambasted chants heard at weekly demonstrations and on uni campuses as anti-Semitic, most notably "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." But many submissions by Jewish Australians disputed the conflation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. The stance feeds "into a politicised and divisive discourse which seeks to label any criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic," the progressive Jewish Council of Australia said. Civil libertarians warned about its impact on political communication. "Conflating legitimate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism at a time when Israel is justifiably being criticised for failing to meet international human rights standards ... is dangerous," the NSW Council for Civil Liberties said. "(It) treats Jewish people as having monolithic political beliefs, a view that is itself anti-Semitic." Australia's 39 universities unanimously endorsed a new definition of anti-Semitism in February. The definition, which includes harassment that impedes Jews' ability to participate as equals in educational and social life, has been contested by human rights groups as curbing political speech. A Senate inquiry has also examined the student encampments that sprang up in 2023 in response to Israel's bombing and ground assault on Gaza. More than 52,000 Palestinians, including about 18,000 children, have been killed so far in Gaza, according to the United Nations. It was sparked by Hamas, a militant group in the blockaded enclave, killing more than 1200 Israelis and capturing 250 hostages in a cross-border attack on October 7, 2023. As bombs were being dropped on displaced refugees sheltering in tents in Gaza, university students across Australia camped out on pristine campus lawns to protest Israel's military actions. Whether these sites remained places of legitimate protest or hotbeds for anti-Semitic activity is due to be explored on Monday. The University of Sydney, UNSW, academics and student groups are among scores of stakeholders weighing into a NSW parliamentary inquiry examining anti-Semitism on university campuses. It will also examine anti-Semitic attacks in recent months, including graffiti sprayed on cars and homes and a firebombing of a childcare centre near a synagogue. In its submission, the Australasian Union of Jewish Students said universities had become "flashpoints for anti-Semitic activity." The union pointed to the proportion of Jewish-Australians who identify as Zionist. Zionism is widely understood as a political movement that called for the founding of the state of Israel, but the union said it was much more than that. "Jewish students may not consider themselves politically Zionist but may still have strong emotional or religious connection to Israel," it said. "Given that the majority of Jewish Australians identify as Zionist, it is not credible to claim that threats or acts of hostility directed at 'Zionists' cannot also be acts of anti-Semitism." Conservative Jewish groups have lambasted chants heard at weekly demonstrations and on uni campuses as anti-Semitic, most notably "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." But many submissions by Jewish Australians disputed the conflation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. The stance feeds "into a politicised and divisive discourse which seeks to label any criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic," the progressive Jewish Council of Australia said. Civil libertarians warned about its impact on political communication. "Conflating legitimate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism at a time when Israel is justifiably being criticised for failing to meet international human rights standards ... is dangerous," the NSW Council for Civil Liberties said. "(It) treats Jewish people as having monolithic political beliefs, a view that is itself anti-Semitic." Australia's 39 universities unanimously endorsed a new definition of anti-Semitism in February. The definition, which includes harassment that impedes Jews' ability to participate as equals in educational and social life, has been contested by human rights groups as curbing political speech. A Senate inquiry has also examined the student encampments that sprang up in 2023 in response to Israel's bombing and ground assault on Gaza. More than 52,000 Palestinians, including about 18,000 children, have been killed so far in Gaza, according to the United Nations. It was sparked by Hamas, a militant group in the blockaded enclave, killing more than 1200 Israelis and capturing 250 hostages in a cross-border attack on October 7, 2023. As bombs were being dropped on displaced refugees sheltering in tents in Gaza, university students across Australia camped out on pristine campus lawns to protest Israel's military actions. Whether these sites remained places of legitimate protest or hotbeds for anti-Semitic activity is due to be explored on Monday. The University of Sydney, UNSW, academics and student groups are among scores of stakeholders weighing into a NSW parliamentary inquiry examining anti-Semitism on university campuses. It will also examine anti-Semitic attacks in recent months, including graffiti sprayed on cars and homes and a firebombing of a childcare centre near a synagogue. In its submission, the Australasian Union of Jewish Students said universities had become "flashpoints for anti-Semitic activity." The union pointed to the proportion of Jewish-Australians who identify as Zionist. Zionism is widely understood as a political movement that called for the founding of the state of Israel, but the union said it was much more than that. "Jewish students may not consider themselves politically Zionist but may still have strong emotional or religious connection to Israel," it said. "Given that the majority of Jewish Australians identify as Zionist, it is not credible to claim that threats or acts of hostility directed at 'Zionists' cannot also be acts of anti-Semitism." Conservative Jewish groups have lambasted chants heard at weekly demonstrations and on uni campuses as anti-Semitic, most notably "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." But many submissions by Jewish Australians disputed the conflation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. The stance feeds "into a politicised and divisive discourse which seeks to label any criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic," the progressive Jewish Council of Australia said. Civil libertarians warned about its impact on political communication. "Conflating legitimate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism at a time when Israel is justifiably being criticised for failing to meet international human rights standards ... is dangerous," the NSW Council for Civil Liberties said. "(It) treats Jewish people as having monolithic political beliefs, a view that is itself anti-Semitic." Australia's 39 universities unanimously endorsed a new definition of anti-Semitism in February. The definition, which includes harassment that impedes Jews' ability to participate as equals in educational and social life, has been contested by human rights groups as curbing political speech. A Senate inquiry has also examined the student encampments that sprang up in 2023 in response to Israel's bombing and ground assault on Gaza. More than 52,000 Palestinians, including about 18,000 children, have been killed so far in Gaza, according to the United Nations. It was sparked by Hamas, a militant group in the blockaded enclave, killing more than 1200 Israelis and capturing 250 hostages in a cross-border attack on October 7, 2023. As bombs were being dropped on displaced refugees sheltering in tents in Gaza, university students across Australia camped out on pristine campus lawns to protest Israel's military actions. Whether these sites remained places of legitimate protest or hotbeds for anti-Semitic activity is due to be explored on Monday. The University of Sydney, UNSW, academics and student groups are among scores of stakeholders weighing into a NSW parliamentary inquiry examining anti-Semitism on university campuses. It will also examine anti-Semitic attacks in recent months, including graffiti sprayed on cars and homes and a firebombing of a childcare centre near a synagogue. In its submission, the Australasian Union of Jewish Students said universities had become "flashpoints for anti-Semitic activity." The union pointed to the proportion of Jewish-Australians who identify as Zionist. Zionism is widely understood as a political movement that called for the founding of the state of Israel, but the union said it was much more than that. "Jewish students may not consider themselves politically Zionist but may still have strong emotional or religious connection to Israel," it said. "Given that the majority of Jewish Australians identify as Zionist, it is not credible to claim that threats or acts of hostility directed at 'Zionists' cannot also be acts of anti-Semitism." Conservative Jewish groups have lambasted chants heard at weekly demonstrations and on uni campuses as anti-Semitic, most notably "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." But many submissions by Jewish Australians disputed the conflation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. The stance feeds "into a politicised and divisive discourse which seeks to label any criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic," the progressive Jewish Council of Australia said. Civil libertarians warned about its impact on political communication. "Conflating legitimate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism at a time when Israel is justifiably being criticised for failing to meet international human rights standards ... is dangerous," the NSW Council for Civil Liberties said. "(It) treats Jewish people as having monolithic political beliefs, a view that is itself anti-Semitic." Australia's 39 universities unanimously endorsed a new definition of anti-Semitism in February. The definition, which includes harassment that impedes Jews' ability to participate as equals in educational and social life, has been contested by human rights groups as curbing political speech. A Senate inquiry has also examined the student encampments that sprang up in 2023 in response to Israel's bombing and ground assault on Gaza. More than 52,000 Palestinians, including about 18,000 children, have been killed so far in Gaza, according to the United Nations. It was sparked by Hamas, a militant group in the blockaded enclave, killing more than 1200 Israelis and capturing 250 hostages in a cross-border attack on October 7, 2023.
West Australian
18-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
War of words over anti-Semitism and university protests
As bombs were being dropped on displaced refugees sheltering in tents in Gaza, university students across Australia camped out on pristine campus lawns to protest Israel's military actions. Whether these sites remained places of legitimate protest or hotbeds for anti-Semitic activity is due to be explored on Monday. The University of Sydney, UNSW, academics and student groups are among scores of stakeholders weighing into a NSW parliamentary inquiry examining anti-Semitism on university campuses. It will also examine anti-Semitic attacks in recent months, including graffiti sprayed on cars and homes and a firebombing of a childcare centre near a synagogue. In its submission, the Australasian Union of Jewish Students said universities had become "flashpoints for anti-Semitic activity." The union pointed to the proportion of Jewish-Australians who identify as Zionist. Zionism is widely understood as a political movement that called for the founding of the state of Israel, but the union said it was much more than that. "Jewish students may not consider themselves politically Zionist but may still have strong emotional or religious connection to Israel," it said. "Given that the majority of Jewish Australians identify as Zionist, it is not credible to claim that threats or acts of hostility directed at 'Zionists' cannot also be acts of anti-Semitism." Conservative Jewish groups have lambasted chants heard at weekly demonstrations and on uni campuses as anti-Semitic, most notably "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." But many submissions by Jewish Australians disputed the conflation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. The stance feeds "into a politicised and divisive discourse which seeks to label any criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic," the progressive Jewish Council of Australia said. Civil libertarians warned about its impact on political communication. "Conflating legitimate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism at a time when Israel is justifiably being criticised for failing to meet international human rights standards ... is dangerous," the NSW Council for Civil Liberties said. "(It) treats Jewish people as having monolithic political beliefs, a view that is itself anti-Semitic." Australia's 39 universities unanimously endorsed a new definition of anti-Semitism in February. The definition, which includes harassment that impedes Jews' ability to participate as equals in educational and social life, has been contested by human rights groups as curbing political speech. A Senate inquiry has also examined the student encampments that sprang up in 2023 in response to Israel's bombing and ground assault on Gaza. More than 52,000 Palestinians, including about 18,000 children, have been killed so far in Gaza, according to the United Nations. It was sparked by Hamas, a militant group in the blockaded enclave, killing more than 1200 Israelis and capturing 250 hostages in a cross-border attack on October 7, 2023.
Perth Now
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
War of words over anti-Semitism and university protests
As bombs were being dropped on displaced refugees sheltering in tents in Gaza, university students across Australia camped out on pristine campus lawns to protest Israel's military actions. Whether these sites remained places of legitimate protest or hotbeds for anti-Semitic activity is due to be explored on Monday. The University of Sydney, UNSW, academics and student groups are among scores of stakeholders weighing into a NSW parliamentary inquiry examining anti-Semitism on university campuses. It will also examine anti-Semitic attacks in recent months, including graffiti sprayed on cars and homes and a firebombing of a childcare centre near a synagogue. In its submission, the Australasian Union of Jewish Students said universities had become "flashpoints for anti-Semitic activity." The union pointed to the proportion of Jewish-Australians who identify as Zionist. Zionism is widely understood as a political movement that called for the founding of the state of Israel, but the union said it was much more than that. "Jewish students may not consider themselves politically Zionist but may still have strong emotional or religious connection to Israel," it said. "Given that the majority of Jewish Australians identify as Zionist, it is not credible to claim that threats or acts of hostility directed at 'Zionists' cannot also be acts of anti-Semitism." Conservative Jewish groups have lambasted chants heard at weekly demonstrations and on uni campuses as anti-Semitic, most notably "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." But many submissions by Jewish Australians disputed the conflation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. The stance feeds "into a politicised and divisive discourse which seeks to label any criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic," the progressive Jewish Council of Australia said. Civil libertarians warned about its impact on political communication. "Conflating legitimate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism at a time when Israel is justifiably being criticised for failing to meet international human rights standards ... is dangerous," the NSW Council for Civil Liberties said. "(It) treats Jewish people as having monolithic political beliefs, a view that is itself anti-Semitic." Australia's 39 universities unanimously endorsed a new definition of anti-Semitism in February. The definition, which includes harassment that impedes Jews' ability to participate as equals in educational and social life, has been contested by human rights groups as curbing political speech. A Senate inquiry has also examined the student encampments that sprang up in 2023 in response to Israel's bombing and ground assault on Gaza. More than 52,000 Palestinians, including about 18,000 children, have been killed so far in Gaza, according to the United Nations. It was sparked by Hamas, a militant group in the blockaded enclave, killing more than 1200 Israelis and capturing 250 hostages in a cross-border attack on October 7, 2023.
