‘Violated and infiltrated’: Anti-Semitic flyers distributed in Caulfield

Two men mocking Orthodox Jews have targeted an early voting centre in what’s been described as an “absolutely abhorrent” display after anti-Semitic election flyers were placed in mailboxes in Caulfield.

Residents in one of Australia’s largest Jewish populations woke to find disturbing anti-Semitic flyers — believed to have been authorised by a prominent neo-Nazi group — in their mailboxes on Wednesday.

Several homeowners in Caulfield, in Melbourne’s southeast, discovered pamphlets delivered early this morning with the following message: “Giving the Jews everything they want”.

The flyers display an alerted Liberal Party logo with the Israeli flag inserted within the design, with the bottom of the material claiming to be authorised by the National Socialist Network leader.

On the back of the flyer, a four-point-plan insinuates ways in which the Liberal Party will give the “Jews everything they want”; including putting “Israel First”, “Abolish Free Speech”, “Jail anti-Semites” and “Give Jews Free Money”.

The flyers displayed an altered Liberal Party logo with the Israeli flag inserted within the design. Picture: Supplied

One Caulfield resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Herald Sun she was collecting her mail this morning when the flyer immediately caught her eye.

“Obviously there has been a lot of political pamphlets over the last few weeks but this one was definitely designed to stand out, brightly coloured with capitals and bold text and designed to look like ‘official’ political advertising,” she said.

“It felt brazen, bold, and I felt totally violated and infiltrated.

“To know that a neo-Nazi had brazenly walked around my street, chosen my house, my safe space with my family inside and opened my letterbox to leave something inside with the sole purpose of trying to offend, intimidate and share their hate.”

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said Jewish people should be able to feel safe in their own homes, not under threat from extremists who want to harm them.

“Over the last 18 months, ridiculous and hateful conspiracy theories have been spread about Australian Jews,” Mr Leibler said.

“It’s dangerous, and it must be rejected by all Australians.”

The rear side of the flyer found by Caulfield residents. Picture: Supplied

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said this year’s election had spiralled into one of the “ugliest” in terms of anti-Semitic attacks seen against candidates.

“Now, the Jewish community has to contend with Nazi filth dropped in the area with the highest concentration of Jewish residents in the state, including Holocaust survivors and many of their descendants,” Mr Ryvchin said.

“Nazi sympathisers are an embarrassment to our country and are the lowest of the low.”

He said he trusted police to do their utmost to find those behind the incidents overnight and this morning.

The Australian Electoral Commission has been made aware of the flyers and they are currently under review as to whether or not they comply with the authorisation rules.

An AEC spokesperson said they do not regulate the content of the flyers, no matter the issue or “feeling around it”.

“We understand that the content will evoke a strong emotional reaction, but the AEC must look solely at electoral laws,” the spokesperson said.

However, the spokesperson added other bodies may have an interest in the matter, under separate legislation, given the nature of the content.

Video has surfaced of Joel Davis approaching early voters in Kew in what has been described as a “disgusting form of hate”.

Mr Davis addressed a queue of voters at the corner of High St and Union Street this afternoon, walking beside two unknown individuals imitating Orthodox Jews.

Davis was attempting to hand out the flyers at a voting booth in Kew. Picture: Supplied

Attempting to hand out flyers reading “giving the Jews everything they want” – flyers delivered to homes in Caulfield this morning – Mr Davis can be heard mocking the Liberal Party and people of the Jewish faith.

“Great policy delivered by the Liberal Party … great policies,” he said.

“Israel first, Australia doesn’t need to defend itself, why would Australia need to defend itself.”

He proceeds to list policies on the back of the flyer as shocked onlookers awkwardly try to shuffle past.

“We need to give Jews free money because we know the Jews are a little short on cash right,” he continues.

“Liberal Party website these are our policies … (well) not our policies, I’m not from the Liberal Party.

“I’m just a big fan, I’m a dumb guy, I’m a convert, I used to be an anti-Semite but now I’ve realised I was a dumb, putrid, little bad little boy.”

He then points to his two confidants who he refers to as friend ‘Shlomo’ and ‘Ben Shapiro’, who both address the crowd by saying “shalom”.

In a photo shared to his Telegram account, Mr Davis can be seen posing proudly next to one of the men holding flyers seen in Caulfield earlier today.

Upon learning of the photo, Liberal MP for Kew Jess Wilson pointed to the stunt as an example of festering anti-Semitism in Australia.

“It is absolutely abhorrent that these individuals feel so emboldened to proudly display their Jew-hate on our streets,” Ms Wilson said.

“I know I speak on behalf of the Kew community when I say we reject anti-Semitism and we stand against this disgusting form of hate.”