Facing more antisemitism, Australia promises oversight of Gaza refugees

Published: 15 October 2024

Last updated: 15 October 2024

Australia's declining social cohesion was illustrated in a spate of incidents over the past few days.

Avner’s Bakery in Surry Hills, Sydney, was vandalised with a red triangle, a Hamas symbol to identify Jewish targets, and a threatening note was left for the owner, former TV chef Ed Halmagyi.
The electorate office of Australia's envoy for social cohesion, Labor MP Peter Khalil, was sprayed with red paint and potentially hazardous chemicals, and marked with a red triangle.
Sydney restaurateur Alan Yazbek, owner of Nomad, was charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public after holding a sign at a Sydney rally with a swastika in place of the Star of David and the words “Stop Nazi Israel”.
Victoria Police are investigating another case of an unidentified man who held up a sign depicting a swastika at a pro-Palestinian rally in Melbourne last Sunday.
A white supremacist rally was held in the NSW country town of Corowa.
Thousands attended pro-Palestinian rallies across the country, with Brisbane holding its largest rally so far.

Most Australians have expressed disapproval of the importation of tensions from the Middle East into Australia. A survey by The Age/SMH last week found only 8% of Australians want authorities to allow protests and marches supporting Palestine, while only 7% want similar events in favour of Israel, and another 26% accept protests for either side of the war.

An increasing number of Australians believe the protests have made Australia less safe (45% compared with 36% in the weeks after the October 7 attack last year).

In Melbourne, lord mayoral candidates, CBD business owners and residents have expressed frustration at the constant disruption caused by weekly protests, which they say may damage the city’s international reputation.

The Opposition has expressed fears that allowing refugees from Gaza into the country will worsen the situation, and potentially import Hamas terrorists.

The Department of Home Affairs quietly opened expressions of interest for Palestinians late last week, but the minister made no formal announcement as Labor again faced Coalition attacks in question time over security screenings for refugees from Gaza.

In the face of the concerns, Immigration Minister Tony Burke promised he would personally oversee visas for Palestinian refugees.

Instead of offering automatic temporary humanitarian visas to the whole cohort – estimated to be about 1500 people onshore – the government will instead issue visas on a case-by-case basis.

The online form will allow hundreds of Palestinians to register interest in staying in Australia, but Burke will be responsible for inviting them to apply for a three-year visa. This could provide a pathway to a permanent visa as they come to the end of their humanitarian visa.

READ MORE

Avner’s Bakery in inner-city Sydney hit with Nazi, Hamas graffiti (The Australian, paywall)

Labor MP Peter Khalil's electorate office sprayed with red paint and unknown substances (ABC)

Sydney restaurateur Alan Yazbek ‘unreservedly’ apologises after being charged over alleged display of Nazi symbol (Guardian)

VIDEO: Thousands rally around the country demanding a ceasefire (ABC)

Voters reject protests as Gaza war ignites domestic row (SMH, paywall)

Calls for NSW to ban Nazi salute, symbols after white supremacist rally in Corowa (ABC)

Protest too much: City leaders call out demonstration disruption (SMH, paywall)

Burke to sign off on every Gazan refugee granted new humanitarian visa (SMH, paywall)

RELATED STORIES

Shots fired at Toronto Jewish school on Yom Kippur in second antisemitic attack this year (Haaretz)
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau slammed antisemitism as 'a disgusting and dangerous form of hate' and said he was 'very disturbed' that 'there were shots fired at a Jewish school in Toronto' on the High Holy Day.

'Yes, they can control the weather': Hurricane Milton stirs antisemitic hate storm (Haaretz)
The range of responses connecting Hurricane Milton to the war in Gaza spanned from awareness-raising to downright conspiratorial. One post suggests CO2 from Israeli bombs sparked the hurricane, while another suggested the hurricane was America's punishment for supporting Israel.

Oscar-winning director sorry for 'antisemitic posts' (BBC)
The Grierson Trust has removed the Oscar-winning British filmmaker Asif Kapadia as a patron because of social media posts it has deemed “antisemitic”. Kapadia has apologised, telling BBC News he was "mortified by the hurt and offence" that some of his posts have caused.