Report reveals 10-fold increase in anti-Semitic attacks in SA since terrorist attack on Israel

A boy threatened to “blow up” a Jewish girl’s home at a school as incidents of anti-Semitism rise across SA.

An incident at a school where a boy threatened to “blow up” a Jewish girl’s home is among an alarming rise in anti-Semitic occurrences in South Australia since the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas.

There has been a more than 10-fold increase in anti-Semitic incidents, which also include anti-Semitic graffiti, verbal abuse, messages, stickers and posters, have been documented by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

Report author Julie Nathan said there had been 54 documented incidences of anti-Semitism in South Australia for the 12 months to September 30. This was up from only five in the previous year.

The reporting period includes the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

Ms Nathan said “there’s always been an underlying mood of anti-Semitism and I think October 7, kind of unleashed it’’.

“People feel they can express negative feelings about Jews,’’ she said.

Ms Nathan said the assault had occurred at a school when a boy approached a Jewish girl “making anti-Semitic comments, swearing, threatening to blow up their house and threatening physical injuries’’.

Anti-Semitic graffiti in South Australia has included the Nazi swastika symbol being drawn on a path in Forestville as well as a disused shelter in Port Lincoln. Vandalism encouraging a repeat of October 7, ‘’do it again’’ was photographed. A poster linking the Covid-19 pandemic to Jews has also been displayed.

Graffiti of ‘Free Palestine. Oct 7… Do it Again’ taken in Adelaide. Picture: Supplied

A poster in the CBD with ‘Who is Responsible for the COVID-19 Vaccine?’ and a list of 22 names with ‘JEWISH’ at the end of each name. Picture: Supplied

A banner saying “It’s the Jews’’ was hung off a pedestrian walkover in Salisbury.

Ms Nathan said “smaller Jewish communities like South Australia are probably a bit more concerned because they are a bit more exposed’’.

The rise in anti-Semitic incidents was reflected across Australia.

The ECAJ report said there had been 2062 anti-Semitic across Australia in the last 12 months, up from 495 the previous year. That included 65 assaults were people were targeted because they were Jews.

“The community has been pounded constantly, whether that’s convoys of cars driving through Jewish areas of Sydney, or protests outside synagogues, acts that we haven’t seen before,’’ she said.

The most recent attacks including the firebombing of a synagogue in Melbourne and vandalism and arson attacks in Sydney are not included in this report but which had generated further concern in the community.

“We have tried to get governments and police to crack down on some of these acts but it has been really difficult,’’ she said.

However, Ms Nathan said the firebomb attack in Melbourne had made the “federal government stand up and (acknowledge) there is a problem and we can’t ignore it any longer’’.

It comes as Jewish leaders have revealed the holiday haven of Byron Bay is “at war” and descending into chaos as fearful families prepare to pack up and leave.

“Byron was once a relaxed, tourist town,” Northern Rivers Jewish Community Association head Annalee Atia said. “But this community is now at war with itself.

“We know of people who are actively campaigning and spreading disgusting messages of hate against Jewish families in the community.

“They are hosting anti-Israeli events. There is a growing Jewish business boycott list. It is completely devastating”.