ECAJ Report on Antisemitism in Australia in 2017
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REPORT on ANTISEMITISM in AUSTRALIA 2017 1 October 2016 – 30 September 2017 Researched, written and compiled by JULIE NATHAN Research Officer, Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) The Executive Council of Australian Jewry is the elected national representative organisation of the Australian Jewish Community. This document should not be reproduced or distributed, and the original work not quoted, without the express permission of the author. © Executive Council of Australian Jewry PO Box 1114, Edgecliff, NSW 2027 Phone: 02 8353 8500 Email: [email protected] Incidents of antisemitism occurring in Australia can be reported directly to Julie Nathan at [email protected] Published by ECAJ, and funded by ECAJ Public Fund, a public fund listed on the Register of Harm Prevention Charities under Subdivision 30-EA of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. 26 November 2017 ISSN 2208-1917 (Online) 1 One of several antisemitic posters distributed around Australia in 2016 and 2017 2 CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................ 7 Executive Summary ............................................................................................................. 7 Current Situation for Jews in Australia - Security ............................................................... 9 Selection Criteria for Inclusion in the Report ...................................................................... 9 Antisemitism: Incidents and Discourse ............................................................................... 9 The Term ‘Antisemitism’ .................................................................................................. 10 What is Antisemitism? ...................................................................................................... 10 A Brief History of Antisemitism ....................................................................................... 12 Working Definition of Antisemitism ................................................................................. 13 CST Definition of Antisemitic Incidents .......................................................................... 15 Contemporary Forms of Antisemitic Discourse ................................................................ 15 Themes in anti-Jewish Rhetoric ......................................................................................... 16 CST/JPR Distinction between antisemites and antisemitism ............................................ 17 University of Oslo study on Antisemitic Violence in Europe .......................................... 18 Quotes on Antisemitism .................................................................................................... 19 2. INCIDENTS ............................................................................................................... 24 Incidents and Data 2016-2017 ........................................................................................... 24 List of Antisemitic Incidents 2016-2017 ........................................................................... 30 List of serious antisemitic attacks since 1990 .................................................................... 50 3. ANTISEMITISM in MAINSTREAM MEDIA, POLITICS, and SOCIETY ..... 54 a. Media ABC ........................................................................................................................ 55 Age ......................................................................................................................... 64 Australian ............................................................................................................... 65 Canberra Times ...................................................................................................... 66 Channel 7 ............................................................................................................... 66 Channel 9 ................................................................................................................ 67 Crikey / Daily Telegraph ......................................................................................... 68 SBS .......................................................................................................................... 68 SMH ....................................................................................................................... 72 Theme – “Jewish Lobby” ........................................................................................ 74 b. Politics Political figures / entities ....................................................................................... 74 NSW Young Greens – boycott of Jewish students .......................................... 74 George Christenson ......................................................................................... 75 David Leyonhjelm .......................................................................................... 76 Kurt Tucker ..................................................................................................... 76 3 Mark Ellis......................................................................................................... 76 Political figures / parties - social media ................................................................. 77 Australian Conservatives ................................................................................. 77 Australian Greens............................................................................................. 78 Malcolm Turnbull ............................................................................................ 78 Anthony Albanese ............................................................................................ 80 Maria Vamvakinou .......................................................................................... 80 Lee Rhiannon ................................................................................................... 81 Christine Milne ................................................................................................ 81 James Paterson ................................................................................................. 82 Malcolm Roberts .............................................................................................. 85 c. Society Bourke Street massacre ........................................................................................... 88 Casual Racism ......................................................................................................... 89 Holocaust Minimisation ......................................................................................... 90 Nazi Memorabilia.................................................................................................... 93 Nazi Apparel ........................................................................................................... 94 School & University ................................................................................................ 94 Smerff Electrical ..................................................................................................... 96 Synagogue DA refused ........................................................................................... 96 Threats and Terrorism ............................................................................................. 96 4. ORGANISATIONS and ONLINE ........................................................................... 97 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 97 Featured group: Antipodean Resistance ................................................................... 100 a. Websites ..................................................................................................................... 102 Antipodean Resistance ......................................................................................... 102 Brendon O’Connell ............................................................................................... 106 Bulletin Board – 4chan.......................................................................................... 107 Chemtrails Geelong .............................................................................................. 108 Chosenites ............................................................................................................. 109 Chris Roubis – 4 websites ..................................................................................... 110 Dingoes ................................................................................................................. 112 Expel The Parasite ................................................................................................ 113 Nationalist Alternative .......................................................................................... 114 United Nationalists Australia ............................................................................... 114 b. Facebook .................................................................................................................... 115 Targeting Jews ..................................................................................................... 115 Australia First Party ............................................................................................. 120 Brendon O’Connell ..............................................................................................