Prominent anti-Zionist campaigner Peter Slezak allegedly struck in Double Bay

Police have started an investigation into the alleged assault of the UNSW Honorary Associate Professor in Sydney’s east.

Prominent anti-Zionist campaigner Peter Slezak says he was assaulted in Sydney’s Double Bay by a stranger.

A prominent anti-Zionist campaigner claims he was struck in Sydney’s Double Bay by a stranger who called him a “self-hating f..king Jew”.

NSW Police have now commenced an investigation into the alleged assault after UNSW Honorary Associate Professor Peter Slezak reported the incident.

The 76-year-old said he was not injured after being struck “hardish” in the shoulder from behind while walking down an eastern suburbs street on the phone late last month.

Dr Slezak, who grew up in the Jewish community and is the child of Holocaust survivors, said the man aged in his 40s started yelling abuse at him four inches from his face and said something about his parents before calling him a “self hating f..king Jew”.

Dr Slezak told the man he would call the police, but he continued yelling and swearing at him.

The man also repeated the slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” which is chanted at pro-Palestine rallies where Dr Slezak often speaks. It is a slogan, Dr Slezak says has become “a trigger for the Jewish community” but one he said “is not genocidal talk”.

“He was clearly upset because I have a fairly high-visible public profile. I speak at rallies. I’m involved in Palestinian advocacy,” he said.

“I don’t know how many people are crazy enough (to assault me), but I get rude remarks from people all the time. People I’ve known for my whole life. It’s been a permanent feature.”

He said the man walked off into a shop, still raving: “Do you know who this guy is?”

“As though I am a war criminal or mass murderer, so incensed by what he thought I was guilty of.”

In a statement, NSW Police said: “Officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command have commenced an investigation following a report a man was assaulted at Double Bay last month.”

“About 9.45am on Thursday 26 October 2023, a 76-year-old man was walking on the footpath at Knox Street, Double Bay, when he was allegedly struck in the shoulder from behind by an unknown man,” it continued.

“The man was not injured and reported the incident to police.”

Dr Slezak said as the child of Holocaust survivors, he believed it was his responsibility to call out people who exploit the Holocaust “to justify whatever Israel does” and to also say “not in my name” when Israel is “committing vast crimes”.

“I spend a lot of time trying to engage with the Jewish community. It’s very hard … Especially now when the feelings are so heightened. It’s impossible to have a rational conversation.”

“The incident doesn’t make me want to stop. It’s depressing and worrying because it reflects this huge polarisation where there is so little common ground and understanding. When people abuse me in the street, I say do you want to be rude or do you want to talk to me.”

Dr Slezak has long-supported the pro-Palestinian international boycott, divestment and sanctions movement and the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, which organise Sydney’s pro-Palestine rallies.

Police have asked anyone who might have been in the area or have dashcam footage from the time to contact Eastern Suburbs police.