‘Deeply concerned’: Fears of violence as tensions rise at University of Melbourne
The nation’s university chancellors have refused to condemn anti-Semitism on Australian campuses as Jewish students say they are “sick of intimidation” and call on the leaders to do more.
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The nation’s university chancellors have refused to condemn anti-Semitism on Australian campuses as Jewish students say they are “sick of intimidation” and call on the academic leaders to do more.
Tensions between hundreds of pro-Palestine and Israeli supporters came close to reaching boiling point during a heated rally at the University of Melbourne on Thursday.
About 300 protesters on each side of the conflict took to the lawns of the huge city campus where a pro-Palestine encampment had been set up for a week.
The demonstration followed similar rallies held across the country and overseas, as Jewish student groups slammed the increased vitriol.
Australasian Union of Jewish Students president Noah Loven said Jewish students “have increasingly become targets here of intimidation and harassment”.
“We are here as proud Jewish students, we are sick of the intimidation. Anti-Semitism has no place in Australian society and has no place on university campuses,” he said.
It comes as Australian Academic Alliance Against Antisemitism wrote to the University Chancellors Council demanding they put protocols in place to protect staff and students from anti-Semetism because the situation on campuses is “rapidly spiralling out of control”.
“Anti-Semitism is growing at an alarming rate across the tertiary sector across Australia,” the letter says.
“Beyond its intrinsically repugnant nature and the threats that it poses to student safety and wellbeing, we are concerned that anti-Semitism on campus is acting to curtail academic freedom.”
In response, the UCC said the “highest priority for all universities is to maintain a safe, respectful and inclusive environment, both physically and online, for all staff and students”.
“UCC notes that freedom of expression is a foundational principle of university governance. UCC reaffirms the obligations and practices of all Australian universities to protect freedom of speech and academic freedom,” the peak body’s convener, John Stanhope, said.
Mr Stanhope said hate speech was “completely unacceptable”, but fell short of directly condemning anti-Semitism or putting the protocols the letter asked for in place.
“We’re disappointed and we thought it was a strong letter ... Whilst we understand freedom of speech is a core principle of universities, it has to be done in a way that is culturally sensitive and takes on all perspectives,” an AAAAA spokesperson said.
AAAAA member Greg Rose said: “They seem to take the path of least resistance and although (their response) acknowledges the highest priority be given to campus safety it doesn’t have ways of ensuring that statement.”
“The alliance would have liked to have seen the establishment of a national taskforce whether under the chancellors or vice-chancellors or University Australia.
“Australian universities don’t have in place any appropriate training or processes to deal with anti-Semitism.”
Last month the Herald Sun revealed Pro-Palestine activists were turning up at University of Melbourne classrooms and photographing students after asking for a show of hands to indicate who agrees with their views on the Israel-Gaza war.
Dan Tadmore, a Jewish student at the university, said his university had not done enough to combat the increasing hatred toward Jewish students.
“I personally have received anti-Semitic comments from other students and I don’t think that’s acceptable,” he added.
“I think the university isn’t really doing enough about it.”
Mr Tadmore attended at Thursday’s rally and said the Israeli supporters came together to end anti-Semitic behaviour in classrooms and online.
“Jewish students should be able to feel safe,” he said.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton said the university chancellors needed to “look in the mirror” over their weak response to anti-Semitism and the campus protests.
“How do we accept in our society that the Jewish community at the moment is being ostracised and vilified?” he asked.
“We wouldn’t tolerate it if it was a campus protest against people of Indigenous heritage or people of the Islamic community or people of tall stature or if they were Catholic, or Chinese or Indian or whatever it would be.
“The governments and even the response of the police has been weak as well.
“As for the universities and chancellors and vice-chancellors, they’ve got to look in the mirror as well because we can’t be tolerating the vilification of any part of our community – not the Jewish community, not anyone else,” Mr Dutton said.
At the University of Melbourne on Thursday, the protest groups remained separated for much of the afternoon until a cohort of Jewish supporters descended on the campus’ South Lawn where the tents were staged.
About 70 Jewish students and supporters, waving Australian and Israeli flags, chanted in the face of their opposition with dozens of police officers separating the two groups.
But they came dangerously close to clashing about 2.30pm, with both groups chanting over each other as tensions rose.
They were then separated only by a moat.
A woman grabbed the microphone of controversial news figure Avi Yemini before she was grabbed and tossed to the ground.
A yellow mug was thrown and smashed in the chaos.
The University of Melbourne said on Thursday they continue to “welcome debate and peaceful protests” on their campus.
“A small group of students are continuing to exercise their right to peaceful protest, by staging an encampment on the University of Melbourne’s South Lawn at the Parkville campus,” a spokesman said.
“A separate peaceful demonstration was held (on Thursday) on public land near the University of Melbourne’s Parkville campus. Members of Victoria Police were in attendance at that location.
“Following this gathering, some participants came onto the Parkville campus, accompanied by the police. The activity on campus concluded peacefully.”
Unprecedented levels of hate speech directed toward Jewish students has led to tense stand-offs between the opposing groups on university grounds across the country this week.
It follows hundreds of arrests at universities in the United States as ugly scenes broke out between opposing groups.
Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory says anti-Semitism “has surged” and for the first time ever he has heard Jewish Australians, born here, question “whether they have a future in this country”.
“If I had to give one reason as to why this has happened, it would be weak leadership,” he said.
“The Albanese Government has been missing in action.”
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