‘We are witnessing an antisemitism crisis unfold before our eyes’: Anger at antisemitic graffiti

A mansion owned by a member of one of Victoria’s most successful business families has been targeted by a vandal in an incident described as “chillingly reminiscent of Nazi Germany”.

The Middle Park home of Victoria's most successful Jewish business families was sprayed with antisemitic graffiti. Picture: Supplied

The Middle Park home of one of Victoria’s most successful Jewish business families has been attacked by vandals, with antisemitic graffiti drawn across their front fence.

The Beaconsfield parade mansion, owned by a member of one of the state’s most well-known Jewish families, was targeted on Friday evening.

A man was spotted by a passer-by scrawling the Star of David – a symbol of Jewish identity – repeatedly across the beachside property with blue spray paint about 7pm.

Under the Nazi regime, Jewish people were forced to wear the symbol to identify themselves, while the star was also painted on Jewish shop fronts.

The Herald Sun has chosen not to name the family.

A police spokesperson said the offender was reported to have spat on a passer-by who tried to stop the graffiti attack.

She said Port Phillip Crime Investigation Unit detectives were investigating reports of “antisemitic graffiti” on a property fence in Middle Park on 31 January.

“It’s believed a passer-by approached the male offender and was spat on,” she said.

“The offender is yet to be located at this stage and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.”

“There is absolutely no place at all in our society for antisemitic or hate-based symbols and behaviour.”

Zionist Federation of Australia chief executive Alon Cassuto said the attack was “chillingly reminiscent of Nazi Germany”.

“Despite the increasing frequency of these graffiti attacks, the Australian public cannot become complacent; this is not normal and we are witnessing an antisemitism crisis unfold before our eyes,” he said.

By Saturday afternoon, the graffiti had been painted over.

Port Phillip Mayor Louise Crawford said she was “appalled” by the antisemitic vandalism.

In a statement released on Sunday afternoon, Ms Crawford said the council had dispatched an emergency response team to remove the graffiti.

“Our closely-knit Jewish community is still reeling from the December arson attack at the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea,” she said.

“While, thankfully, this incident did not involve physical injuries, it is still a cowardly attack targeting Port Phillip’s Jewish community.

“An attack on any group is an attack on our City’s long-standing value of inclusion for all.”

It comes amid soaring antisemitism across the country, and after a foiled terror plot in NSW, with Anthony Albanese under pressure to act.

Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg called on the federal government to use the return of parliament this week to crackdown on the “epidemic of Jew Hate”, labelling it a “national crisis”.

“With federal parliament resuming next week, the government must act and stop this domestic terrorism,” he said.

“This is Australia’s fight and we all have a right to be safe.”

The Herald Sun has reached out to the family for comment.

Originally published as ‘We are witnessing an antisemitism crisis unfold before our eyes’: Anger at antisemitic graffiti