Jewish communal organisations respond to Segal’s landmark report

Organisations serving the Australian Jewish community have had mixed reactions to the plan to combat antisemitism handed down by Special Envoy Jillian Segal today.

For some, the recommendations represent a strong and much-needed response to the antisemitism crisis, while others have questioned its efficacy and suggest it will limit legitimate criticism of Israel.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) "strongly endorsed" the plan, with President Daniel Aghion commenting that it is "very well considered" and "fully aligned with the ECAJ’s thinking and our community‘s expectations".

“It is evident that much research and thought has gone into this document over many months. Its release could not be more timely given the recent appalling events in Melbourne. The actions which the plan call for are now urgently needed," Aghion said, calling on all sectors of society to co-operate with the plan.

“We thank the Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs for standing with the Jewish community at this time and look forward to working with the government to help make antisemitism a thing of the past.”

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) called on the government to adopt and implement the plan in full “vigorously as a matter of urgency”.

AIJAC Executive Director Colin Rubenstein said the plan “would be welcome at any time, but events of the past week have highlighted how serious the antisemitism problem in Australia remains, and the urgency of strong and determined government action to do more about it".

"The heightened antisemitism crisis in this country has now persisted for some 21 months, at terrible costs to national social cohesion, so there is no time to waste. The recommendations in the envoy’s report should not only be adopted in full, but then acted on with all possible vigour by the government."

The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) similarly welcomed Segal's report, pledging its support behind the wide-ranging proposals, believing it "sends an important signal that this antisemitism crisis has been left unchecked for too long, and must now be met with comprehensive action and enforcement".

"This report represents a significant milestone in Australia's fight against antisemitism. It demonstrates a clear understanding of the dangers antisemitism poses, not only to the Jewish community, but to our democratic values and social cohesion," ZFA CEO Alon Cassuto said.

"The real measure of this report will be its implementation. It is essential that these recommendations are enacted swiftly, and consistently by governments and institutions."

This sentiment was strongly echoed by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, which similarly praised a number of specific recommendations that have been considered controversial by the broader Australian society.

"Proposals to defund universities that fail to protect Jewish students and cut funding to creatives who enable hate speech show this plan is not just symbolic, it has teeth," President David Ossip wrote in a statement.

"Equally, we welcome recommendations that Australia’s migration system explicitly consider an individual’s antisemitic views before approving visas for those who wish to enter or remain in Australia.

"We hope the release of this report represents a watershed moment in combatting the hate which has thus far been allowed to flourish."

Not all community organisations have embraced Segal's recommendations with open arms.

While the Australian Jewish Association (AJA) said the report adopts several policies it has advocated strongly in favour of – including reducing funding to universities that fail to address antisemitism and stricter immigration policies – it voiced concerns over the "effectiveness" of proposed hate speech law and e-safety changes, which "would likely not be in line with AJA policies".

"This does appear to be a very constructive report from Jillian Segal, [but] we have serious doubts [about whether] the Albanese government will adopt its suggestions or if they will try and balance it with further hostile moves against Israel," the AJA wrote on Facebook, adding it was not consulted for the report.

The Jewish Council of Australia (JCA) rejected the plan outright, warning it "risks undermining Australia’s democratic freedoms, inflaming community divisions, and entrenching selective approaches to racism that serve political agendas".

"The report is riddled with misinformation and claims about nefarious funding sources for protests and universities that verge on conspiracy theory," Executive Officer Max Kaiser said.

Kaiser said JCA is "especially concerned" about the plan's endorsement of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, as well as new visa powers and judicial inquiries into student activity which "risk censoring criticism of Israel, deepening racism, and failing to meaningfully address the root causes of antisemitism".

In response, the JCA proposes the government engage a broader spectrum of Jewish voices, including those critical of Israel; incorporate principles that tackle all forms of racism, such as that against Islamic, Palestinian and First Nations communities, and not just antisemitism; and reject proposals that erode civil liberties under the "false guise of Jewish safety".

“This document reads more like a blueprint for silencing dissent rather than a strategy to build inclusion," Kaiser concluded.

The Jewish Independent approached the New Israel Fund (NIF) Australia to comment but did not receive a response.