Waverley, Randwick councils set to overhaul security amid rise of anti-Semitic graffiti

The troubling number of pro-terrorism tags recorded in one eastern suburbs local government area can be revealed, as a neighbouring council looks to overhaul security amid a similar spike.

Examples of pro-Hamas and anti-Israel tags in the Waverley local government area.

The troubling number of pro-terrorism tags recorded in just two months in one eastern suburbs local government area has been revealed, as a neighbouring council prepares to overhaul security amid a similar spike.

During September and October, Waverley Council recorded 232 incidents in which the name of militant terrorist organisation Hamas had been spray-painted throughout the local government area.

Additional incidents involving other types anti-Semitic graffiti, including swastikas, were also reported to the council during this time.

This masthead can also exclusively reveal the cost of cleaning up the vandalism was about $50,000.

Waverley’s Liberal mayor, Will Nemesh, slammed the vandalism and said he had “taken action for council to immediately review our network of CCTV cameras”.

Hamas graffiti in the Waverley local government area.

“This form of criminal act has no place in our civilised society and is clearly intended to intimidate and cause fear,” he said

“I want to make it clear that we value our Jewish community and will do what we can to ensure our Jewish community feels safe.

“Let me be clear: anti-Semitism will not be tolerated in any form.”

Waverley Council last month passed a motion put forward by Cr Nemesh, resolving to undertake an immediate security assessment, flag “locations of vulnerability” and “examine the suitability of additional or higher specification CCTV” in these places.

Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh.

The neighbouring Randwick Council is now set to follow suit, with a nearly identical motion to be raised at this week’s ordinary meeting.

Cr Daniel Rosenfeld, who submitted the motion, said he sought Cr Nemesh’s mayoral minute from the Waverley mayor, describing it as “really appropriate”.

“Given we are having similar issues, we need similar measures,” he said.

“There’s been a substantial increase in the last 13 months of spray paint and stickers reported in various parts of the (local government area).

“(They include) hate symbols, ‘free Palestine’ graffiti.

“Doing that in a prominent Jewish community is done for one reason only.”

Cr Rosenfeld said the graffiti had predominantly been reported around Kensington, as well as Coogee Beach.

“People are definitely feeling very vilified,” he said.

“Basically, they see there is this brand of anti-Semitism so there’s definitely a feeling of vilification and also anger.”

Anti-Israel graffiti on a building. Picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said the graffiti was “a pattern of behaviour escalating in large Jewish communities”.

“Sydneysiders and our community should not have to face these acts of support for a group that just carried out the mass slaughter of our brethren and has pledged to attack Jews throughout the world,” he said

“It is part of a sadism that is pervading our discourse where taunting Jews with swastikas, and holding the portrait of evil mass murderers like (Hamas and Hezbollah leaders) Sinwar and Nasrallah, is standard fare.”

The revelations follow 20-year-old Mohammed Farhat being charged over his alleged role in a shocking spree of anti-Semitic vandalism, which resulted in significant damage to vehicles and buildings in Woollahra last week.

Farhat was arrested at Sydney Airport on Monday morning, and charged with 21 offences related to the vandalism spree, which is estimated to have caused up to $100,000 worth of damage.

He was refused bail when he faced Downing Centre Local Court on Monday.