‘Poisonous’ pamphlet condemned
A VEHEMENTLY anti-Semitic leaflet distributed in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Rosh Hashanah last week has drawn the ire of Jewish communal leaders and politicians.
A VEHEMENTLY anti-Semitic leaflet distributed in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Rosh Hashanah last week has drawn the ire of Jewish communal leaders and politicians.
The pamphlet, titled “The worlds foremost problem [sic]”, says the Jews “have swindled the tax payers of NSW out of $513,000,” referring to the recent security upgrade at Yeshiva College.
It continues by suggesting the Jews – or the “leering hooked nosed race … steal billions of our money through the Federal Reserve Bank they own”.
It asks why the Jews were kicked out of Germany and elsewhere throughout history, and supposedly “have local M.P.s wrapped around there finger [sic]”.
“The answer is influence at the top. We agree with Bob Carr when he said extreme Jewish and Zionist influence is rampant at the top level of Australian politics,” the flyer reads.
“It’s time for all White Australians to stop being blinded by political correctness and Jewish lies about equality, multiculturalism and the need for so called diversity. Diversity really means white genocide.”
The leaflets were circulated in suburbs including Woollahra and Edgecliff. Police from Rose Bay Local Area Command have been investigating the reports, though a spokesperson told The AJN they have been unsuccessful in identifying those responsible.
Federal Member for Wentworth Malcolm Turnbull described the contents of the leaflet as “poisonous”, and the decision to circulate them on Rosh Hashanah “a contemptible effort to frighten and intimidate Jews at one of the holiest times in the Jewish calendar”.
“We should condemn this act for what it is; a low and sickening attempt to undermine our nation’s harmony. We should have zero tolerance for racism and hate speech,” he said.
State member for Vaucluse Gabrielle Upton similarly condemned the leaflets, insisting that religious or racial persecution has no place in Australian society.
“We all have a duty to do everything in our power to identify it, denounce it and eradicate it,” she said.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive officer Vic Alhadeff said the community leadership is gathering information and working with authorities on the matter.
“The obscenities in this leaflet echo despicable slurs against the Jewish people that have been recycled over the centuries.
“Inaction is not an option. This outrageous flyer has no place in NSW and is an anathema to our tolerant multicultural society.”
According to Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Robert Goot, the impact of these sorts of incidents must not be understated.
“The action was intended to shock and hurt in a profound way and to promote a climate of fear and hatred. This is the sick vision of society that neo-Nazi ideology has to offer,” Goot said.
Squadron 88, the group behind the leaflet, were responsible for equally offensive flyers in late August which were found in letterboxes around Bondi and Double Bay. The group’s Facebook page was deleted following a raft of complaints.
PHOEBE ROTH
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