EDITORIAL: Australia’s politicians are to blame for rising anti-Semitism, but have the temerity to be shocked

When asked for their reaction to a spree of anti-Semitic vandalism conducted under the cover of darkness in Sydney overnight, Australian politicians queued up to say how shocked they were that such a thing could happen in our country.

Anthony Albanese said the scenes were disturbing and “deeply troubling”.

“There is no place for anti-Semitism in Australia. Conflict overseas cannot be made a platform for prejudice at home,” he said on Thursday morning.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said the attack in Woollahra, one of Australia’s most densely Jewish-populated suburbs, was “absolutely disgusting”.

“I’m so shocked and disappointed that people think that this is an appropriate response to what’s going on in the Middle East,” she said.

Australia’s Jewish community shares Ms Plibersek’s disgust, but not her shock.

Once, acts such as this would be an aberration in multicultural Australia. Not anymore.

They’ve become almost to be expected as anti-Semitism takes root in our society, while our leaders do nothing to stop the spread.

It’s estimated there has been up to a 500 per cent increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the year since Hamas’ October 7 massacre of Jewish civilians in Israel.

These are incidents of violence, of intimidation, of vandalism, verbal abuse and death threats. There have been incidents of “doxxing” in which the names and addresses of Jewish Australians were published online.

These are incidents which have taken place in public and in private, in the streets and online, on sporting fields, workplaces and at schools and universities.

In this latest attack, vandals did an estimated $70,000 of damage when they torched one vehicle and spray-painted a number of others with slogans including “f..k Israel”. A further $30,000 of damage was done to buildings, including chef Matt Moran’s restaurant Chiswick.

Australian Jewish Association CEO Robert Gregory was one of those unsurprised by this destructive act of hatred.

Mr Gregory said anti-Semites had been emboldened by weakness from our leaders, who have tried to play both sides of the fence as fighting intensified in the Middle East.

“Labor has looked on as an increasingly violent anti-Israel movement has taken over Australian streets. The Jewish community has been begging authorities to take this seriously,” Mr Gregory said.

Our politicians say they are shocked by rising anti-Semitism, but they shouldn’t be. They are partly to blame.

Anti-Semitic slogans have been uttered in Parliament by elected representatives. Australia has demeaned and diminished Israel by making obscene calls for the Jewish state to show “restraint” even as it is attacked by enemies which won’t stop until it is wiped from the existence. They’ve dragged their feet on affirming Israel’s absolute right to defend itself and its citizens.

And then they have the temerity to be “shocked” anti-Semitism comes home to roost.

Responsibility for the editorial comment is taken by Editor-in-Chief Christopher Dore.