Three days on from the worst massacre in Australia’s history and the anger directed towards the Government of Australia by the Australian Jewish community has not subsided. It has actually intensified.
It is righteous anger and it is not just because of what has occurred, but because of the ineptitude demonstrated by our Prime Minister in response over the past 72 hours, in two words inadequate and disgraceful.
Both in public and private conversations there has been a phrase that has continuously been used. “We are shocked, but we are not surprised”.
Shocked, because the worst fears of our community have been realised. Not surprised, because the Prime Minister and his administration have been told many times from many sources that a failure to act on the threat of anti-Semitism would lead to bloodshed. From community leaders, to Israeli Ministers, from ASIO to journalists. These words have been continuously spoken.
Over the past few days the solemn press conferences, the meaningless platitudes to say there will be action, the attempt to pivot the conversation to one about gun control, the inability to call out the ideology that caused this murder, our Prime Minister has been inept, and this has just made us angrier.
Anthony Albanese’s initial response comprised of expressions of surprise and he went as far as to say this was not expected. In his first media statement he said the evil that was unleashed at Bondi Beach today is beyond comprehension”. But it was not beyond comprehension at all. The writing was on the wall. Quite literally. The graffiti on Synagogues and Jewish schools said “globalise the intifada”.
We are angry because in order to do something about the problem, we have to name it. And our Prime Minister seems to be incapable of recognising the scale and promulgation of radical Islam in Australia. And both he and his senior colleagues are fixated with the equivocation of anti-Semitism with Islamophobia, to the extent that this self-adorned hagiography allowed the anti-Semitism envoy’s recommendations to sit idle.
We are angry because for two years the Government watched hatred grow and has done nothing. People were allowed to march with images of terrorists and slogans calling for the elimination of Israel, but it was only Israeli supporters who were moved on so as not to incite.
We are angry because crimes were committed and justice did not prevail. The problem is partly the inadequacy of the law, but predominately with the people passing and administering the law.
We are angry because senior Members of Government continue even to this evening to refuse to acknowledge the link between recognising a State of Palestine, currently led by people committed to the eradication of Israel, and emboldening domestic terrorism. We are angry because our Government rejects recognition of Jewish national sovereignty in our indivisible capital City Jerusalem (which, by the way, is the essence of Chanukah).
We are angry because despite the social media ban for under 16s, people of all ages can scroll tiktok and Instagram at this very moment, and when the algorithm kicks in, be fed countless comments of hate and falsehood. Such as that this massacre was an Israeli crime to garner sympathy, or that the Jews deserve it because, you know, Free Palestine. These people have digital footprints and proudly display their hatred. Yet we do nothing about it and hundreds of thousands of ignorant minds get poisoned by the lies of genocide, starvation, indiscriminate bombing and so on. This same Hamas propaganda, replete with false imagery gets broadcast by the media at scale and fuels the hatred of Jews. This is not the first time in history that an industry of global lies get propagated to the point that Jewish blood gets spilled. But our Government, cheer-led by its own national broadcaster, does nothing to call out or halt misinformation on a grand scale. Instead they repeat and amplify their disdain of Israel for its existential defence.
We are angry because Jewish students on campus have been tormented and intimidated, and this has not only been tolerated, it has been funded. We are angry because our trade unions have used member funds to call for sanctioning Israel. We are angry because Jewish artists and creatives have been cancelled, vilified, and doxed.
We are angry because visas have been denied to our family and friends from Israel on unjustifiable grounds. We are angry because of unchecked immigration that imports Israel-haters to Australia.
We are angry because although our Prime Minister did not pull the trigger of the gun, he enabled the culture of anti-Semitism to build into a murderous crescendo. Now we are even more angry because instead of showing the expected leadership, he has shown yet again that he is not worthy of the office that he holds.
We are angry because we do not feel safe.
Most of all, we are angry because the past three days of grief have been a moment to wake up and start to fix the societal decay. Yet the opportunity has not been taken and in a very short time this massacre will be consigned to history. Australia will recover and move on as it has done on many other occasions such as the Bali bombings and Port Arthur and Lindt. But Australian Jewry will not recover its innocence and freedom. We will continue to operate behind expensive security. We will continue to face hatred. We will continue to question our future in Australia until such time as we regain confidence in the leadership of our political leaders and national institutions.
We are angry, but we are also comforted.
Comforted by the number of professional and social contacts who have reached out to share their sympathy and condolences, and sharing their shame of what has happened to Australian social cohesion.
Today I was comforted by the number of random people from shoppers to the checkout lady who stopped me to express their support and solidarity.
I am comforted by the Chanukah candles and all that they symbolise. The flame of Jewish continuity and pride can never be extinguished.
Most of all I am comforted by the fortune of being Jewish, that I have a way of life and heritage and I will continue to live it no matter what the circumstance. Not because of the anti-Semitism, and not in spite of it. But because of the values and traditions that are an inheritance to my family and my community, that are timeless and enduring. Values that respect religious pluralism, tolerance, and peace among nations.
