Melbourne, July 10 (AP) – Australian universities could lose government funding if they fail to address attacks on Jewish students, according to recommendations made public on Thursday aimed at combating antisemitism. These proposals suggest screening potential immigrants for political affiliations to curb antisemitic behavior.
Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, highlighted a troubling increase in antisemitic incidents—such as assaults, vandalism, threats, and intimidation—surging more than threefold in Australia following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Synagogues and vehicles have been set ablaze, businesses and homes have been defaced, and Jewish individuals have faced attacks in Sydney and Melbourne, two cities home to the majority (85%) of Australia's Jewish population.
A year after her appointment as envoy, Segal provided the government with a comprehensive report offering multiple recommendations.
"We cannot hope to abolish antisemitism," Segal explained,
"Given its age-old heritage, we cannot hope to really abolish antisemitism, but we can push it to the margins of society."
An essential focus of the report is ensuring accountability within public institutions, especially universities, for tackling antisemitism.
Australian universities have been the focal point of several pro-Palestinian protests. The report suggests collaborating with the government to withhold funding from universities that fail to combat antisemitism.
Additionally, the report calls for denying public funding to cultural institutions, artists, broadcasters, and individuals who implicitly endorse antisemitic themes or narratives.
Non-citizens in Australia involved in antisemitic activities should face deportation, and screening protocols should evaluate potential immigrants for antisemitic views or affiliations, according to the report.
Prime Minister to consider recommendations Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented that his government would
"carefully consider" the report's recommendations.
"There are Jewish students who have been attacked, vilified, abused because of their identification by someone—by a perpetrator for being Jewish," Albanese stated. "That has no place in Australia. It undermines our multiculturalism. Australia's strength lies in being a microcosm for the world," he added.
With over half of Australia's population either born overseas or having immigrant parents, multiculturalism is a core component of the national identity.
Luke Sheehy, the chief executive of Universities Australia, which represents the country's 39 universities, expressed anticipation for the government's response.
Racism has no place in Australian universities and our sector condemns it in all forms," Sheehy stated. "Academic freedom and freedom of expression are fundamental to our university mission, but they should be exercised responsibly and never as a cover for hate or harassment."
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, a leading advocate for the Jewish community in Australia, welcomed the report.
Jewish group voices concerns However, Max Kaiser, executive officer of the Jewish Council of Australia, criticized the report, stating that community groups supporting human rights in Gaza were not consulted.
Kaiser labeled the threat of withholding university funding over antisemitism as "dangerous," arguing that "it becomes a method of stifling political dissent and the protest movement." Many Australian Jews, including members of the Jewish Council of Australia, have actively participated in the protest movement.
"This is a movement against the genocide in Gaza and is a legitimate form of democratic political activity," Kaiser argued.
"Suggesting it relates to antisemitism undermines the fight against antisemitism."
The report emerges after three high-profile attacks on Jewish targets in Melbourne over the weekend.
Suspects charged over attacks The front door of the East Melbourne Synagogue was set alight with an accelerant on Friday night, with a suspect now facing charges.
Shortly after, 20 masked protesters disrupted diners at a nearby restaurant owned by an Israeli businessman. During the incident, a window was broken, tables were overturned, and chairs thrown while protesters chanted against the Israel Defence Forces.
Four individuals face charges related to assault, riotous behavior, and criminal damage.
Authorities are investigating another incident involving spray-painting of a business in Melbourne's northern suburbs and an arson attack on three vehicles associated with the business on Saturday morning. The vehicles were also defaced with graffiti.
Police indicated that antisemitic "inferences" were present at the crime scene. The business was previously targeted by pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the past year. (AP) SKS NPK NPK
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