Education Minister Jason Clare called for a lowering of “temperatures” after a survey revealed 64 percent of Jewish university students feel unsafe from ongoing anti-Semitism on campuses.
The Zionist Federation of Australia surveyed 560 anonymous students nationwide and found leftist groups were “ostracising, harassing and excluding” Jewish students, while staff have also been accused of “targeting” students, too.
A quarter of students said they had been explicitly discriminated against, and 37 percent said they had heard comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany.
One in five students avoided campus because of it.
Australasian Union of Jewish Students President Alissa Foster said anti-Israel sentiment spiralled into pro-Palestinian activists harassing Jewish social clubs.
“Jewish students are not welcome in progressive spaces on campus regardless of their actual political opinions … if you are associated with Israel, if you are Jewish, then you must support and condone racism,” Ms. Foster said.
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Meanwhile, Zionist Federation of Australia Public Affairs Director Dr. Bren Carlill called it “depressing, but unsurprising” and said university administrators needed to “sit up and take notice.”
“Israel can and should be criticised like any other country, but when a Jewish student is singled out and discriminated against because of a country’s actions, that is crossing the line,” he said.
In New South Wales (NSW), campus anti-Semitism was higher, including the University of New South Wales (UNSW) (68 percent), Macquarie University (76 percent), and the University of Sydney (USyd) (77 percent).
A UNSW spokesperson said there was a possible anti-semitism “problem” on campus.
“Our university is where many different views and opinions are expressed and vigorously debated. We expect students, staff and the broader UNSW community to treat others respectfully,” a spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Macquarie University said they did not “tolerate anti-Semitism, harassment, bullying and discrimination”, and USyd said it was “very disturbed“ but apologised, saying, ”everyone should feel safe and welcome on our campuses.”
Civil tensions have erupted around the world involving supporters of Israel and Palestine.
It comes after the Israeli government formally declared war against the terrorist group Hamas—which controls the Gaza Strip—following a deadly coordinated strike against Israeli civilians that has resulted in 2,000 deaths, according to Israeli forces.
The Israeli military has told the United Nations to help evacuate 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza to the enclave’s south within the next 24 hours—as Israeli forces prepare to move in—a task a UN spokesperson said was “impossible.”
Meanwhile, Gaza hospitals are understaffed, and resources are running low. Ambulances take hours to get victims to medical care because airstrikes have ravaged the streets.
‘Protect the Magic of Australia’: Education Minister
In an effort to cool tensions, Minister Clare told 2GB radio, “No tweet, no protest, no political argy-bargy, whether it’s on campus or out of the Opera House” would help.He said political and community leaders must keep working to “protect the magic of Australia, which is people from all around the world living together in harmony. It’s more important today than ever.”
“What are you doing to ensure that we’re protecting students, and what further steps are you planning to take here?” he said in comments directed at university administrators.
As a result, Monash University introduced counselling and mental health services, extra security patrols, and special consideration for affected students.
USYD Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Mark Scott said the university offered additional support to Israeli and Palestinian citizenship students.
“We are also consulting with relevant clubs and societies about how we can best connect with and support the wider Israeli and Palestinian student communities with academic, psychological and other practical support,” Mr. Scott said.
It comes after some universities were yet to have a policy banning the display of religious iconography or flags on campus.
On Oct.9, pro-Palestinian protestors marched from Town Hall to the iconic Sydney Opera House—despite having no permit to protest—in a rally to support Palestinians.
The event soon devolved into flare throwing, flag burning, and the chanting of phrases such as “Gas the Jews” and “[Expletive] the Jews”—footage of the protests has now been beamed around the world.
As a result, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Deputy Sussan Ley called on the government to deport protesters responsible for the racial slurs.
Ms. Ley told Channel Seven’s Sunrise, “If you break the law, and you demonstrate, and you spew forth hate speech such as we have seen and you’re on a temporary visa, which violates the character that anyone should hold if they’re allowed to be in Australia then, of course, there should be severe consideration about deporting these people.”
Queensland Outlaws Hate Symbols
Meanwhile, the Queensland government has just passed laws prohibiting hate symbols, like the swastika, that could land an offender with a maximum six months imprisonment.Attorney-General and Justice Minister Yvette D’Ath said hate symbols were corrosive of public trust.
Ms. D’Ath said the government consulted with multicultural and legal groups and was the “toughest in the country.”
“We hope that this new legislation will encourage members of our community to report hate serious vilification because they will have greater confidence that perpetrators will be held accountable,” she said.
“These behaviours will not be tolerated.”
