National Jewish Women’s Council Australia responds after Radio Skid Row host ‘sacked’

A women’s organisation has slammed the sacking of a Jewish woman from her position as a volunteer host at a Sydney community radio station over the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Nicole is a Jewish woman who hosted a radio show on a community radio show in Marrickville. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

A women’s organisation has slammed the sacking of a Jewish woman from her position as a volunteer host at a Sydney community radio station over the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Nicole, who did not want to share her last name, was hosting a Latino-themed program – which included talking in Spanish about non-political subjects such as relationships and music – when she alleges Marrickville-based radio station Skid Row sacked her.

Nicole alleges the sacking followed a disagreement with management over the Israel-Palestine conflict, and her decision to cover a pro-Palestinian sticker in the studio with a vinyl record due to her personal discomfort with it.

She then said a meeting with Skid Row’s management, during with her husband and two radio station volunteers were present, resulted in her being dismissed.

National Jewish Women’s Council Australia president Lynda Ben Menashe slammed the community radio station’s decision.

Nicole is a Jewish woman who hosted a radio show on community radio station Radio Skid Row in Marrickville. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“When she started to cry, Nicole was apparently told, ‘we don’t appreciate your white

woman tears’,” Ms Ben Menashe said.

Radio Skid Row, which hosts multiple pro-Palestinian shows, have been contacted for comment.

“We will be working hard in 2025 to ensure that Jewish women have a platform and a

louder voice in Australia,” Ms Ben-Menashe said.

“We oppose discrimination of any kind against any Australian.”

Nicole previously told The Daily Telegraph she was surprised people at a community radio station in progressive Marrickville did not seem open to hearing from a Jewish person about the Israel-Palestine conflict.

“The fact that they wouldn’t even open up to a different perspective, they were so closed off,” she said.

Jewish presenter sacked from radio gig

Nicole has questioned if some people can “open up to different perspectives” after her sacking.

During a meeting with Skid Row management, Nicole claims one volunteer told her: “If I was to continue, if they choose for me to continue, I need to actively support their cause of the Palestinian resistance.”

Nicole said her husband suggested, as a compromise, that she could continue to do her Latino show if she did not talk about anything political and did not cover up any stickers.

She claimed the volunteer then said: “No, she would have to actively support it, speak about the cause on the show and attend rallies”.

Nicole, pictured in Sydney, says she was surprised people at a progressive radio station in Marrickville were not open to hearing other views about the Israel-Palestine conflict. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

After the meeting, an emotional Nicole took to X and posted a video in which she expressed her exasperation over the incident, which was first reported by Sky News host Caroline Marcus.

She later received an email from the radio’s management informing her they were ending their “volunteer relationship” with her.

Skid Row has been contacted for comment.

Nicole said she was surprised people at a community radio station in progressive Marrickville did not seem open to hearing from a Jewish person about the Israel-Palestine conflict.

“The fact that they wouldn’t even open up to a different perspective, they were so closed off,” she said.

“It was humiliating … especially at the end, when they said: ‘We don’t appreciate your white woman tears’.

“I’m a genuine person.”

Skid Row has been on air since the 1980s.

Other shows listed on its website include Pulse of Palestine, Afro 1 Pot and Climate Action Show.

Pulse of Palestine is said to delve “into life under occupation and the global Palestinian resistance”.

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Originally published as National Jewish Women’s Council Australia responds after Radio Skid Row host ‘sacked’