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Conflation of Jewish identity with Israel driving antisemitism, Jewish Council says in submission to royal commission
TL;DR
The Jewish Council of Australia identifies the conflation of Jewish identity with Israel and far-right extremism as key drivers of antisemitism in Australia. Their submission to a royal commission highlights the need for greater recognition of diverse Jewish views and the threat posed by far-right movements.
Key points
- Jewish Council of Australia links antisemitism to far-right extremism
- Conflation of Jewish identity with Israel is a major issue
- Submission made public to a royal commission on antisemitism
- Far-right movements are a significant threat to Jewish communities
- Blame for Israel's actions harms Jewish people globally
Mentioned in this story
Jewish Council of AustraliaAustralia
royal commission
Far-right extremism and the conflation of Jewish identity with Israel are the main drivers of antisemitism in Australia, the Jewish Council of Australia (JCA) says.
In its submission to the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion, the liberal Jewish group calls for more focus on the “often overlooked” threat from the far right, and recognition of the diversity of views within the Jewish community instead of the “tendency to treat Jews collectively as representatives of Israel”.
In the submission, which the JCA made public this week, executive officer Sarah Schwartz says the “resurgent Australian far-right is a hotbed of antisemitism even as it weaponises Jewish grief to legitimise attacks on migrant communities and religious minorities”.
The submission says two important drivers of antisemitism are the “growth of far-right, neo-Nazi and conspiracist movements, which represent a significant and often overlooked threat to Jewish communities, and the aggressive actions of the state of Israel and conflation of Jewish identity with Israel”.
That is “a conflation that the state of Israel itself has long cultivated and which causes direct harm to Jewish people worldwide when they are blamed for Israel’s actions”, the submission says.
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Over the course of the commission’s first block of public hearings in May, the commissioner, Virginia Bell, heard discussions of the blurred lines between antisemitism and legitimate criticism of Israel’s actions, as well as first-hand stories of antisemitic attacks, details of the policing on the day of the Bondi attack and discussions on the definition of antisemitism.
The debate over identification with Israel is multifaceted.
Other submissions have included statements from Australian Jews strongly identifying with the state, including from Daniel Aghion, the president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which has been critical of the views of the JCA and regards it as unrepresentative of the majority of Australian Jews.
Q&A
What does the Jewish Council of Australia say about antisemitism?
The Jewish Council of Australia states that antisemitism in Australia is primarily driven by the conflation of Jewish identity with Israel and the rise of far-right extremism.
How does the far-right extremism relate to antisemitism in Australia?
The Jewish Council highlights that the resurgent far-right in Australia is a significant threat, often weaponizing Jewish grief to justify attacks on minorities.
What actions does the Jewish Council recommend to address antisemitism?
The Jewish Council calls for more focus on the far-right threat and recognition of the diversity within the Jewish community, rather than treating all Jews as representatives of Israel.
Why is the conflation of Jewish identity with Israel harmful?
This conflation, as noted by the Jewish Council, leads to Jewish individuals being blamed for Israel's actions, causing direct harm to Jewish communities worldwide.
