Sir Peter Cosgrove says ‘Hitler would be proud’ watching Australians boycott Jewish owned businesses

Leaders fear Australia is seeing echoes of the “pure evil” that spread across Europe in the 1930s as Jewish businesses are boycotted and violence erupts on the streets.

Vietnam veteran and former governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove says “Hitler would be proud” watching Australians boycott Jewish owned businesses, harass community members and bring violence to city and suburban streets.

The former chief of Australia’s Defence Forces condemned activists around the country weaponising pro-Palestinian protests to spread antisemitism.

“Hitler would be proud,” he said. “Watching what’s happening today in Australia, Hitler would be giving thumbs up to those radical elements who are trying to breach this great pillar of Australia’s national character.”

Sir Peter made the comments in a new Sky News documentary, hosted by former treasurer Josh Frydenberg, urging Aussies to “reject the stigmatisation of any part of our community”.

The distinguished army officer is backed by former prime minister Julia Gillard who warns “the Holocaust teaches us where antisemitism leads if it’s not confronted”.

“It didn’t go from situation normal to gas chambers and Auschwitz in the blink of an eye,” she said.

Sir Peter Cosgrove says Hitler would be proud watching Australians boycott Jewish owned businesses. Picture: Aaron Francis

And former defence boss Dennis Richardson who said Australia is “seeing echoes” of the “pure evil” that spread across Europe in the 1930s as Jewish businesses are boycotted and violent demonstrations arrive on Jewish doorsteps.

Mr Richardson also labelled the popular chant “From the River to the Sea” a “very violent statement” which has no place on Australian streets – a sentiment Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who also features, agreed with.

The one-hour documentary follows Hamas’s devastating terrorist attack which left 1200 Israelis dead in southern Israel on October 7 and the growing hostility towards Jewish people around the world in its aftermath.

That hostility that led to hundreds of Jewish artists, performers, writers and business owners being targeted and threatened, forcing some Jewish families living in Melbourne’s northern suburbs to pack up their lives and move south.

Former prime minister Julia Gillard warns “the Holocaust teaches us where antisemitism leads if it’s not confronted”.

And it has led proud Australian Holocaust survivors to question their safety in the sanctuary that gave them a second chance at life.

One, Mimi Wise, thought she had found a lasting “paradise” when she landed on Australian shores in 1947 after surviving Nazi-occupied France.

Today – 77 years later – she tells Mr Frydenberg the threat has tracked her down once again – this time robbing her children and grandchildren of their sense of security.

“It’s a wake-up call,” she said.

“The age of innocence has been shattered, shattered for all of us, particularly for the

young children in the community.

“I’m very distressed for my children and grandchildren in particular who’ve

never faced that and don’t know it.”

Mimi Wise holds a jug that belonged to her mother. Picture: Katherine Griffiths, courtesy Sydney Jewish Museum collection.

Another, prominent Victorian community leader Nina Bassat slammed a lack of action by authorities in responding to increasingly violent pro-Palestinian protests, especially in Melbourne.

“The unruly mob has been allowed to rule, because nobody has stepped in and said, ‘enough is enough’,” she said.

Ms Bassat survived a Polish ghetto as a child before going into hiding as the Nazis hunted down Jews across Europe.

“We’re revisiting the 1930s …. What is new and what is strange is that we’re seeing it in Australia, and that is what is so very painful,” she said.

For NSW survivor Egon Sonnenschein, hearing the anti-Israel speeches given at protests has forced him to reflect on the atrocities he experienced as a child.

Kicked out of school in Yugoslavia and forced to flee to Croatia, Mr Sonnenschein and his family lived in constant terror under the brutal rule of Ustashi, who reigned with a Nazi-like force that saw victims – many Jews – impaled, burned alive and drowned.

“At the moment, it is terrible speeches, vitriolic speeches, against the Jews,” he told Mr Frydenberg.

Hearing anti-Israel speeches has made Egon Sonnenschein reflect on the atrocities he experience as a child. Photo: Katherine Griffiths, courtesy Sydney Jewish Museum collection.

“If they speak too much about it, people will start to believe in it, and this must be stopped at all costs.”

The documentary, which airs on Sky News this Tuesday, also reflects on violent protests that have erupted around the country since October 7.

These include a clash in the heart of Melbourne’s Jewish community in Caulfield between pro-Palestinian protesters and local community members that forced worshippers from their synagogue.

And a protest on the steps of the Sydney Opera House on October 9 – two days after the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust – which saw protesters chant “f … the Jews”.

It also comes as pro-Palestinian protesters take over buildings on university campuses across the country demanding leaders cut ties with Israel as the death toll rises in Gaza.

Josh Frydenberg says growing antisemitism in Australia has reached a dangerous level.

Mr Frydenberg, who served as treasurer under the Morrison government, said growing antisemitism in Australia had “reached a dangerous level”.

“Red lines have been crossed and a green light given to what clearly is unacceptable conduct,” he said.

“This is a time our leaders need to show courage and moral clarity, taking stronger and more decisive action to call out and stamp out antisemitism in Australia.”

Transport Infrastructure Minister Danny Pearson said Victoria must “play to our strengths,” amid a wave of anti-Semitic behaviour occurring across the state.

“We want to make sure that everyone can be safe and be able to go about their daily business without being targeted and vilified because of their religion,” he said on Sunday.

“We’ve really got to play to our strengths, which is, we are a multicultural, diverse and resilient community.”

“We’ve always got to keep our eyes on that prize because it’s something that is incredibly precious that we shouldn’t just forgo.”

Mr Frydenberg’s first TV documentary, Never Again, will air on Sky News on Tuesday May 28.