This Month
Numbers show antisemitism in Australia can’t compare to Islamophobia
It’s possible to see the relative intensity of the two problems – for Jews it’s worse by about sixty to one.
Boy, 16 arrested after ‘abhorrent’ Sydney mosque threat
NSW Police say there is no “ongoing threat” to the community after a same-day arrest over an alleged threat against a religious centre at Edmondson Park in Sydney.
February
Synagogue to mosque, the legal profession gathers in a divided city
Members of the NSW and federal judiciary, along with solicitors and barristers, gather for traditional religious ceremonies at a time of heightened tension.
January
‘No terrorist to me’: Relatives, friends saw few signs before attack
Little in his outward persona suggested Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar could be responsible for such a brutal attack along one of the most famous US streets.
December 2024
The vexed conundrum facing Syria’s new regime
Preferencing Islamist rule in a multi-faith state cannot be done without consigning some to subordinate status – and there are some early signs of that disconnect.
The urbane, well-educated jihadist who overthrew Syria’s regime
Abu Mohammad al-Jolani is the son of an economist who came back from fighting Western forces in Iraq with bags of cash and a mission to bring down the president.
November 2024
The meaning of Amsterdam’s ‘Jew Hunt’
Recent street violence in Amsterdam reveals profound changes in how the left and right deal with antisemitism. For European Jews, it’s a strange new world.
October 2024
America’s Muslims are doing the unthinkable. Voting Trump
Israel’s war in Gaza has cost Kamala Harris the support of an important constituency in a battleground state.
In Beirut’s once-bustling suburbs, smoking rubble and eerie quiet
Most of the residents of the Dahiyeh– the collection of neighbourhoods on the southern outskirts of Beirut where Hezbollah is the dominant power – have fled this week.
How Israel could retaliate against Iran
Officials say Israel’s options include attacks in Iran, such as on missile launchers or oil infrastructure, some have even called for strikes against its nuclear facilities.
September 2024
Nasrallah’s funeral could coincide with IDF invasion
The Hezbollah leader’s funeral – like his speeches – is likely to garner considerable attention across the region and may be exploited by anti-Israeli forces.
Israel strikes multiple fronts amid fears of regional war
Israel’s show of military force reached from Lebanon to the province of Hodeidah in Yemen, where IDF warplanes attacked power plants and shipping infrastructure.
What to know about Hezbollah (it’s more than just a militant group)
Hezbollah, backed by Iran, is one of the most powerful militant groups in the Middle East and its initial manifesto listed the destruction of Israel as a key goal.
Missile fired from Yemen lands in central Israel
The early-morning attack triggered air raid sirens, including at Israel’s international airport, where local media showed people racing to shelters.
August 2024
White supremacists turn UK riots into online recruiting pitch
Hard-line organisations previously designated by the UK as domestic terrorists are calling for an overthrow of the British government.
Far-right riots sweep Britain over child murders
Police officers were injured and shops were looted as anti-immigrant activists faced off with anti-racism protesters in cities and towns across the UK.
July 2024
Iran’s supreme leader vows revenge on Israel after Hamas chief killed
Israel has been blamed for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, a severe blow to the group that threatens to engulf the region in further conflict.
Tough-talking Haniyeh was seen as more moderate face of Hamas
Ismail Haniyeh moved between Turkey and Qatar’s capital Doha, escaping the travel curbs of the blockaded Gaza Strip and enabling him to act as a negotiator in ceasefire talks.
Labor’s pledge is a bulwark against identity politics
Some say Labor’s caucus discipline is outdated in modern, multicultural Australia. In reality, it is more vital when individualism has infected the party of late.
Billionaire ‘French Murdoch’ behind Le Pen’s rise
Vincent Bollare’s TV channel and related media outlets have normalised and amplified the far-right leader’s message ahead of this weekend’s French elections.