Man wearing Jewish kippah targeted by Jetstar passenger with pro-Palestine vitriol

A Sydney Jewish man who wore a traditional kippah on a Jetstar flight was met with a barrage of pro-Palestine vitriol from a fellow passenger as cases of anti-Semitism in Australia soar.

Michael was targeted after he wore a kippah on a flight from Melbourne. Picture: AFP

A Sydney Jewish man who wore a traditional kippah on a Jetstar flight was met with a barrage of pro-Palestine vitriol from a fellow passenger, as cases of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment in Australia continue to soar.

It comes after The Australian revealed a 738 per cent rise in reported cases of anti-Semitism since Hamas’s October 7 attacks, according to an Executive Council of Australian Jewry report.

Sydney man Michael – whose middle name has been used over fears of further harassment – was aboard a Jetstar flight from Melbourne on Monday. He was wearing a traditional Jewish ­kippah.

Michael said that, while he was en route to the gate with his wife, a man of Middle Eastern ethnicity shouted “Free Palestine” upon seeing him.

“My wife responded with ‘from Hamas’,” Michael said.

The incident allegedly happened on a Jetstar flight from Melbourne to Sydney.

“But he then shouted at us ‘Stop killing our babies’.

“I’m a practising Jew wearing a kippah, that was the only reason for why he targeted us.”

To his dismay, the man was four rows behind them when they boarded their flight.

“I’m a proud Jew, I refused to take it (the kippah) off,” he said.

Michael said upon landing the man shouted again across the aircraft “Free Palestine” and “Stop killing our babies”.

“We were minding our business, but fully aware he was behind us,” Michael said.

When he raised it with a flight attendant he was allegedly told: “Flight’s over, everyone off the plane.” “That is not an acceptable response,” said Michael, who ­explained he was “constantly looking over his shoulder” thereafter.

Michael reported the incident to the airline, NSW Police, the Jewish security organisation CSG and the Jewish Board of Deputies.

In a response from Jetstar to Michael, seen by The Australian, an employee said the matter had been “escalated” to HQ and that the airline would “not tolerate” harassment.

“Please be assured your concerns have reached the highest level of escalation within Jetstar,” they said.

Karin Kalif, who complained to Qantas over one of its staff's alleged comments at a Sydney check-in counter.

A Jetstar spokeswoman said it was investigating the complaint and that it was taking it seriously.

Separately, Karin Kalif – a Jewish woman living in Brisbane – said she was “shocked” by alleged comments from a Qantas check-in employee upon returning from Israel in late November, via Sydney to Brisbane.

“The woman looked at my passport and started asking me, ‘Could you hear the bombs your government is dropping (on Gaza)’,” she said. “I was taken aback, I had friends that were killed on October 7.”

Ms Kalif filed a complaint with Qantas – sighted by this publication – after she landed. A Qantas spokeswoman said the airline was investigating and did not tolerate discrimination.

“I was pretty shocked,” Ms Kalif said. “She then said, ‘It’s terrible what your government is doing’.”

Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory called the incidents “despicable”.

“Anti-Israel activists have injected politics into every place Australians go to relax,” he said.

“Passengers should not be harassed because of their religion or race. Everyone should feel safe while flying.”