Jewish presenter sacked from radio gig after argument over Israel-Palestine conflict

A Jewish woman is claiming she was sacked from a Sydney community radio station over a disagreement about the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Nicole is a Jewish woman who hosted a radio show on a community radio show in Marrickville. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

A Jewish woman has questioned if some people can “open up to different perspectives” after she says she was sacked as a volunteer host at a Sydney community radio station over a disagreement with management over the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Nicole, who asked for her last name not to be used, began hosting a Latino-themed program – which included talking in Spanish about non-political subjects such as relationships and music – on Marrickville-based radio station Skid Row last month.

At one point she covered a pro-Palestinian sticker in the studio with a vinyl record as she did not feel comfortable with it and did not want her radio guests to feel uncomfortable.

She then said she was later called into a meeting with Skid Row management.

Nicole, her husband, and two Skid Row volunteers were present.

She said she apologised for covering the sticker without talking to anyone, but explained that she felt strongly about it as someone from the Jewish community.

Nicole, pictured in Sydney, says she was surprised people at a progressive radio station in Marrickville were not open to hearing other views about the Israel-Palestine conflict. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

During the meeting, Nicole claims one volunteer told her: “If I was to continue, if they choose for me to continue, I need to actively support their cause of the Palestinian resistance”.

Nicole said her husband suggested, as a compromise, that she could continue to do her Latino show if she did not talk about anything political and did not cover up any stickers.

She claimed the volunteer then said: “No, she would have to actively support it, speak about the cause on the show and attend rallies”.

After the meeting, an emotional Nicole took to X and posted a video in which she expressed her exasperation over the incident, which was first reported by Sky News host Caroline Marcus.

She later received an email from the radio’s management informing her they were ending their “volunteer relationship” with her.

Skid Row has been contacted for comment.

Nicole said she was surprised people at a community radio station in progressive Marrickville did not seem open to hearing from a Jewish person about the Israel-Palestine conflict.

“The fact that they wouldn’t even open up to a different perspective, they were so closed off,” she said.

“It was humiliating … especially at the end, when they said: ‘We don’t appreciate your white woman tears’.

“I’m a genuine person.”

Skid Row has been on air since the 1980s.

Other shows listed on its website include Pulse of Palestine, Afro 1 Pot and Climate Action Show.

Pulse of Palestine is said to delve “into life under occupation and the global Palestinian resistance”.

Originally published as Jewish presenter sacked from radio gig after argument over Israel-Palestine conflict