Key facts
- The Jewish Council of Australia (JCA) identified the conflation of Jewish identity with Israel and far-right extremism as primary drivers of antisemitism.
- The JCA's submission to a royal commission called for greater focus on the threat posed by the far-right.
- The group emphasized the diversity of views within the Jewish community and criticized the tendency to treat Jews collectively as representatives of Israel.
- The submission noted that the state of Israel itself has cultivated the conflation of Jewish identity with its actions, leading to harm for Jewish people globally.
- The royal commission has heard testimony on the distinction between antisemitism and criticism of Israel, as well as personal accounts of antisemitic attacks.
The Jewish Council of Australia (JCA) has submitted to a royal commission that the conflation of Jewish identity with the state of Israel, alongside the rise of far-right extremism, are the principal forces driving antisemitism in Australia. In its public submission, the JCA, a liberal Jewish organization, urged the commission to recognize the significant and often underestimated threat from the far-right, which it claims exploits Jewish grief to legitimize attacks on minority groups.
The JCA's executive officer, Sarah Schwartz, stated that neo-Nazi and conspiracist movements pose a substantial threat, while also highlighting how the actions of the Israeli state and the resulting conflation with Jewish identity directly harm Jewish people globally. This conflation, the JCA noted, has been actively cultivated by the state of Israel itself.
During the commission's initial public hearings, Commissioner Virginia Bell heard evidence regarding the fine line between antisemitism and legitimate criticism of Israel's policies. The commission has also received diverse perspectives from within the Jewish community. Daniel Aghion, president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, presented a view aligned with strong identification with Israel, contrasting with the JCA's stance. Other witnesses, such as former NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Vic Alhadeff, testified that Australian Jews should not be held accountable for the actions of the Israeli government or military.
Jillian Segal, the government's special envoy for combating antisemitism, informed the commissioner that the conflation of the Israeli government with Jewish people represents the most rapidly escalating form of antisemitism in Australia. The commission has received over 16,000 submissions, with organizations like the Zionist Federation of Australia also sharing their perspectives.
The JCA, which represents itself as Australia's largest progressive Jewish organization with 2,500 members, argues that current policy responses, including punitive legislation and the suppression of political dissent, are counterproductive and may inadvertently increase antisemitism. The organization advocates for responsible media practices, such as avoiding interviews with extremists and obscuring protest banners, to mitigate the amplification of extremist views.