Jewish residents fed-up: ‘These suburbs pride themselves on diversity but can’t cater for Jews’

Fears of antisemitic attacks, and threats and intimidation from pro-Palestine activists, have prompted a number of Jewish residents to up-end their lives and move south of the Yarra.

Jewish residents of Fitzroy, Coburg and Thornbury are packing up their lives and moving south due to “antisemitic attacks” on local families and businesses.

Homeowners, business owners and young families are among several longtime Jewish-Melburnians living in the inner north who say the doxxing and boycotting of Jewish-owned businesses and ongoing threats from pro-Palestine activists have forced them to move suburbs.

One resident said he was fed up with daily reminders that he and his family were “unwelcome and unwanted” and had begun fearing for the safety and wellbeing of his child.

“Every Jewish-owned business here is being attacked, either online or in person, stickers of the Star of David, intimidation of staff, boycotting,” he said.

Jewish residents say threats from pro-Palestine activists have forced them to move suburbs. Picture: Diego Fedele

“We have a kid, I don’t think it’s the right place for him.

“I could take the antisemitism and become numb but I don’t want him to grow up here.

“I can’t see that we will be treated fairly here.”

The father said four other Jewish families were in a similar position but were too scared to speak out.

“These suburbs pride themselves on diversity but can’t cater for Jews,” he said.

One Jewish resident says ‘I can’t see that we will be treated fairly here’. Picture: David Crosling

A public housing tenant in Fitzroy, who moved to Melbourne from Israel 25 years ago, said has never “felt so uncomfortable and unsafe” in his own community.

“There are free Palestine stickers all over the building,” he said.

“I look left, right and centre walking into my building.

“I just don’t feel safe anymore.”

He said the state government had recently approved his request to move to another housing estate further south.

“I never thought this would happen,” he said.

The Herald Sun understands another Jewish couple living in the north are pursuing a protection order after their five-year-old child was reportedly threatened by a pro-Palestine activist.

A Fitzroy public housing tenant says ‘there are free Palestine stickers all over the building’. Picture: Brendan Beckett

The attacks come after 600 people had their private details released by Jewish anti-Israel activists in the arts community, leading to widespread doxxing of Jewish businesses and individuals.

Doxxing refers to someone publishing private or identifying information online, usually with malicious intent.

Messages from the WhatsApp group, labelled “Zio600” by anti-Zionist campaigners, began circulating online last week, with the activists accusing members of supporting “genocide, racism and white supremacism”.

Some residents who say they have been targeted were members of the community group chat.

President of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, Philip Zajac, said the inner-north of Melbourne was “once a haven for Jewish people fleeing persecution” but had now become one of “many places in Melbourne” where Jews no longer feel safe.

“These are the real consequences of baseless boycott campaigns, divisive local council resolutions and aggressive public statements by ignorant activists,” he said.

East Melbourne Rabbi Dovid Gutnick said there are “many local jews who have expressed deep concern that they don’t feel safe or welcome anymore”.

“We are hearing awful stories about Jewish individuals and families being the subject of harassment and vilification and we are aware of instances where Jewish homes and businesses have been targeted and vandalised simply because they haven’t denounced Israel or their people to the standard demanded by some radical nudnik,” he told the Herald Sun.

Rabbi Dovid Gutnick says there have been awful stories about Jewish individuals and families being the subject of harassment and vilification.

Rabbi Gutnick said some of the people who have been targeted are “the kindest, most decent, socially conscious” people you could meet.

He added that there were still “many kind and empathetic voices” in the inner city community “even if they hold strong positions on the conflict”.

“I really try and encourage my congregation to be true to their values and bold in displaying their Jewishness,” he said.

Victorian Greens leader and Northern Metropolitan Region MP, Samantha Ratnam, said “everyone should feel safe” and continued to call for “a permanent ceasefire.”

A spokesperson at Darebin Council said: “Council is saddened to hear about people’s recent experiences of discrimination and antisemitism in our local community”.

Victoria Police confirmed that they were investigating reports about the leaking of personal details from a private social media chat group.

“Further to this police have been told the business services of one of the people has been subject to comments discouraging people to use the services of the business,” a spokesperson said.