Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia incidents on the rise in Australia

Anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents are increasing across Australia following the latest outbreak of war in Gaza.

Since the latest violence erupted between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, both the Jewish and Muslim communities in Australia have experienced a spike in racist sentiment towards them.

Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory told NCA NewsWire that while some incidents had been reported in the media, there were many others that had not.

He referred to the infamous protest at the Sydney Opera House in which people chanted “gas the Jews”, as well as an incident at Bondi Beach on Thursday when two men damaged and removed signs honouring the hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7.

“Politicians need to condemn some of the things going on in their electorates,” Mr Gregory said.

Jewish Community Council of WA vice president Steve Lieblich said anti-Semitism had been increasing globally for the past few years.

“Whenever we’ve had a flare up of hostilities between Israel and surrounding nations, or terrorist groups, there’s a marked increase during that period,” he said.

Mr Lieblich said the anti-semitism came from “across the board.”

“There are still the old-fashioned right wing neo-Nazi types who pop up every now and then ... they’ve been at it for decades,” he said.

An installation of beach towels and thongs alongside posters showing those kidnapped by Hamas. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

In Australia, each state has community security groups that report incidents of anti-Semitism.

Mr Lieblich said in the first week of October there was only one incident reported, but for the rest of the month preliminary figures showed 120 incidents.

He said it was expected to total about 250 once the figures were finalised.

Thirty-eight incidents were reported in October 2022.

“They include things like leaving abusive messages on voicemail,” Mr Lieblich said.

“Or you have people driving past a synagogue as worshippers are going in or leaving and hurling abuse – foul language, directed specifically at Jews.

“I think it’s a fairly small proportion that would be involved in actual physical violence of any sort.

“In Australia, we are in very good shape compared to most of the world. I think it’s important to remember that Australians are basically fair minded.”

Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip on November 2. Picture: Fadel Senna / AFP

Meanwhile, reports to the Islamophobia Register Australia increased tenfold since October 7.

Between October 14 and 21, it was the highest number of reports in the register’s nine-year history regarding offline incidents.

Executive director Sharara Attai said it was “deeply troubling” and also acknowledged anti-Semitism was rising.

“What makes it even more concerning is that we know that the majority of incidents of Islamophobia are never reported,” she said.

There have also been anecdotal reports of threats to Muslim community organisations and property damage.

One Imam in Perth told NCA NewsWire that he was aware of at least one act of vandalism recently outside a mosque where a car window was smashed, but it was unconfirmed whether it was Islamophobia.

Nick Everett, from the group Friends of Palestine, said he was hearing “a great deal of sympathy” for the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

“We don’t regard this as being a religious conflict and the State of Israel doesn’t represent Jewish people. It represents basically a colonial project,” he said.

“Many Jewish people have protested Israel’s war crimes ... I just reject the idea that this is somehow about Jewish people or about Judaism. I don’t think that’s the basis for this conflict.”

In mid-October, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation director general of security Mike Burgess said in a statement that all parties must consider the “implications for social cohesion when making public statements”.

“As I have said previously, words matter,” he said.

“ASIO has seen direct connections between inflamed language and inflamed community tensions.”

Six former Australian prime ministers also signed an open letter on October 30 calling on people to respect the country’s multiculturalism.

“Whatever is happening elsewhere in the world, there is no place in our country for racial or religious hatred,” the letter states.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong made their strongest comments yet on the ongoing war.

“The civilian toll is quite rightly causing enormous concern around the world,” Mr Albanese said.

“Every Palestinian life matters, like every Israeli life matters.

“Every effort has to be made to ensure that innocent civilians are protected to every extent possible.

“It is very difficult because of the way that Hamas operates with the use of civilian infrastructure being mixed with what is effectively military infrastructure … but every single effort has to be made.”

Ms Wong said the international community would not accept ongoing civilian deaths.

More than 9500 people have been killed in Gaza, including more than 3600 children, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Israel said Hamas killed 1400 people and kidnapped more than 200 people last month.

Originally published as Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia incidents on the rise in Australia