Robb slams anti-Semitism
SENIOR government frontbencher Andrew Robb has described the rise in anti-Semitism as “a seismic shift” in Australian society.
SENIOR government frontbencher Andrew Robb has described the rise in anti-Semitism as “a seismic shift” in Australian society.
In a key speech to Parliament, the Trade and Investment Minister and MP for Goldstein spoke of “a palpable level of concern regarding rising anti-Semitic incidents across Australia.
“This is true within the community I represent in Goldstein. Thankfully Australia is not seeing the same degree of activity that is sweeping Europe, where there have been riots outside synagogues, chants of ‘gas the Jews’ and the smashing of windows in Jewish shops and restaurants, stirring memories of pre-war Europe. There are, however, ominous signs in Australia and vigilance is very much required,” he said.
In the September 1 address to the House of Representatives, Robb chronicled a spate of anti-Semitic incidents that broke out during the Israel–Gaza conflict, including the terrorising of young Jewish school pupils on a Sydney bus, an attack on a visiting rabbi and his assistant in Perth and a spike in anti-Semitic graffiti in Melbourne.
Robb quoted Danny Ben-Moshe, an associate professor at Deakin University’s Centre for Citizenship and Globalisation, as observing: “Jews are neither as free nor as safe as they were prior to this war.”
The minister also quoted Hallely Kimchi, editor of local Israeli community newspaper Iton, who has lived in Australia for 19 years, stating in an article: “This is the first time that I actually feel that my identity is a problem … Something new has happened since the Gaza war … It’s never been like that. The anti-Semitism in Australia is much more than in the past … The kids are afraid, that’s the bottom line … I know the community here is more alerted.”
Robb added: “Much has also been written regarding the usually biased and negative media slant taken against Israel in much of the global media reporting, including some key media outlets in Australia. In times of international conflict, our community needs leaders and institutions who prompt tolerance rather than inflame base prejudices.”
Prime Minister Tony Abbott last month told The AJN he found a string of anti-Semitic incidents around Australia deplorable. “I deplore any targeting of people based on religion, ethnicity or culture.”
PETER KOHN
Andrew Robb has described the rise in anti-Semitism as “a seismic shift” in Australian society.
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