'Younger, better educated, more politically savvy': the new antisemite

Antisemitism is no more prevalent in Australia but neo-Nazi groups have become more sophisticated and emboldened to incite violence than they have been in years, according to the peak body representing Jewish people in Australia.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said the Nazi salute performed by some protesters at far right rallies in Melbourne on the weekend fell into a broader pattern observed by the Jewish community over the last 12 months.

This included the attempted infiltration of the NSW Nationals by alt-right groups the Lads Society and the Antipodean Resistance in May last year, and a recruitment drive for new members on university and high school students campuses.

The council's annual antisemitism report published in October showed a 59 per cent increase in incidents, most of which could be attributed to posters and stickers circulated by Antipodean Resistance, which espouses Nazi ideology and venerates Adolf Hitler.

Incidents of physical assault, abuse and harassment were below average for the past five years, but vandalism and graffiti were above average and online threats were the highest they have been since 2014 at the peak of fighting in Gaza.

"Antisemitism has been, I would say, quite stable in this country in terms of antisemitic incidents," Mr Ryvchin said.

A protester issues a Nazi salute at Saturday's St Kilda rally.Credit: Darrian Traynor

"There were occasional spikes, flashpoints often linked to the Middle East wars and so on, but we've seen a shift with the actors, the perpetrators.

"This rise of the right is relatively new and has a sophistication of the kind we haven't seen for a long time.

"They seem to be younger, better educated, more politically savvy."

Julie Nathan, who compiles the annual report, said it appeared antisemitism had replaced anti-Muslim sentiment in recent years, along with the resurrection of a conspiracy theory that Jews were trying to import African, Asian and Arab people into the country to replace the white population.

This theory was held by the suspected gunman in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in the United States in which 11 people were killed in October.

"It all feeds into this belief that the Jews are plotting genocide," Ms Nathan said.

Stars of David with names of those killed at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh at a memorial outside the synagogue.Credit: AP

But Central Synagogue Rabbi David Freedman said the survey of antisemitic incidents likely reflected an increase in reporting as minority groups gained more confidence.

"What can I say? I walk the streets of Sydney in my skullcap and occasionally someone will say something through the window but Australian society is open, it's fair, it's moderate," Rabbi Freedman said.

"We haven't really had any incidents over the last 12 months."

Monash University's Andrew Markus, director of the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation, said most of the noise was being made by a small group and did not hold widespread appeal.

The proportion of Australians who agreed with propositions such as "Would you like to return to discrimination based on race in immigration policy?" in regular surveys was less than 10 per cent and not growing, he said.

"A fact of 21st century media is that oftentimes the loudest voice in the room is the one most listened to," Professor Markus said.

“It is not unusual for these groups who want this ideal Australia to target the Jewish community.

"They have to find somebody to point out as society's ‘string pullers’ or ‘manipulators’."

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Vic Alhadeff said recent shows of antisemitism were part of a rise of xenophobic and racist sentiment generally.

“With the electoral success of Donald Trump on a platform of America First, Brexit and ultra-nationalist parties across Europe, extremist groups are tapping into currents of anger, resentment and nostalgia for an imagined past that was orderly and predictable," Mr Alhadeff said.

Blair Cottrell, who was among the organisers of the Melbourne rally over the weekend, did not wish to comment for this story.