Woollahra, Waverley Councils to commission public artwork recognising Hamas attacks on Israel amid spike in anti-Semitic graffiti
Two Sydney councils are joining forces to build a permanent public art memorial to recognise the local impact of attacks on Israel, amid a spike in anti-Semitic graffiti in the city’s east.
Wentworth Courier
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A Jewish leader says security will “sadly” be needed to help protect a new permanent public artwork, which is set to be built in Sydney’s eastern suburbs as the area battles a spike in anti-Semitic graffiti.
Woollahra and Waverley councils have backed plans to commission a dedicated public art installation to recognise the local impact of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched coordinated attacks on Israel.
A combined 18,518 Jewish residents call the two council areas home. They account for 15 per cent of the total population in those areas, a rate more than 30 times the state average.
The proposed memorial is expected to be located on land that joins the two council areas, with Christison Park in Vaucluse an option.
This masthead can reveal the plans amid increasing reports of anti-Semitic graffiti across Sydney’s east, with Waverley Council reporting 129 cases in the past month alone.
Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory welcomed plans for the artwork but said measures would be needed to deter any potential acts of vandalism.
“The Jewish community has been devastated by the October 7 terrorist attacks,” he said.
“Many have lost friends and relatives.
“It will be meaningful for the community to have somewhere to congregate and grieve together.
“The eastern suburbs has experienced a wave of anti-Semitic graffiti, and there have also been attempts to steal the Israeli flag from outside the Woollahra Council chambers.
”Sadly, it will be necessary to provide adequate security to protect the installation.”
Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh, who supported the memorial, has also welcomed a new police taskforce, which has been set up in response to the spate of anti-Semitic graffiti incidents in the eastern suburbs.
The council is also preparing a report identifying “locations of vulnerability” and examining the suitability of installing additional or higher specification CCTV cameras.
Woollahra Mayor Sarah Swan said the art installation would go towards recognising the lives lost and communities impacted by the 2023 attack on Israel.
“This has been a profound collective trauma on Jewish communities in Israel and throughout the world, and here in our community there are many people who have been impacted by that horror,” she said.
“When our families, our friends are feeling under threat, as Jewish Australians this has left us feeling insecure, vulnerable and anxious.”
Woollahra Council had previously displayed an Israeli flag outside the chambers in solidarity with Jewish community. The flag has been lowered in line with Jewish custom, recognising a year of mourning that passed in October this year.
Both the Woollahra and Waverley councils are preparing reports outlining potential locations, budget, timelines and the consultation process for the art installation.
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