Year begins with antisemitic graffiti and security fears

New cases of antisemitism

Australia’s Jewish community has begun the year under siege with a graffiti attack in Sydney, a break-in in Melbourne and security fears in the sporting community.

The phrase “Fuck the Jews” was tagged on the side of a car at Queens Park, Sydney. Police are investigating the incident, which comes after two other incidents nearby where anti-Israel slogans were graffitied on cars in Woollahra late last year.

In Melbourne, the arsonist who has been charged with setting fire to Caulfield racecourse was also found to have broken into to a Jewish community centre, directly after the fire. Travis Bird, 51, appeared at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with four counts of arson, two of trespass and one each of burglary, criminal damage and theft.

Police have yet to make arrests over last year’s antisemitic attacks, including the firebombing of Adass Israel synagogue and the two vandalism attacks in Woollahra.

In a separate antisemitism case, a decision has been made not to press charges against a police sergeant who allegedly performed two Nazi salutes and said "Heil Hitler" to colleagues at the police academy in October.

The 65-year-old woman was suspended with pay after police launched a criminal investigation into the case.

The gesture is banned in Victoria but the Office of Public Prosecutions has said it will not pursue the case because there is no reasonable prospect of conviction.

Fear of Palestinian protests blows up sports event

Australia’s Ice Hockey Federation has decided to forgo hosting a World Championship, due to "security concerns" stemming from Israel's participation in the event, Channel 7 News reported.

There was no specific threat to the event, which was scheduled to begin on April 27 in Melbourne, but police said the federation had consulted with them to gather information on potential pro-Palestinian protests.