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.

Mending Australia-Israel relationship

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is preparing to travel to Israel within weeks in a bid to help mend the fractured relationship between the Albanese and Netanyahu governments, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

His trip would be the first by a government minister since Foreign Minister Penny Wong visited the Middle East almost a year ago.

Tensions between the two nations boiled over last month when Netanyahu accused the Albanese government of fomenting a rise in antisemitism in a fiery intervention just days after Australia’s ambassador to Israel was summoned by the nation’s foreign minister for a rare dressing down.

Ambassador Amir Maimon this week expressed disappointment but not anger about the Albanese government’s shift away from Israel at the UN, while departing de facto Palestinian ambassador Izzat Abdulhadi said he was “very thankful and grateful” for the shift.

He predicted a re-elected Albanese government would recognise a Palestinian state.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Jewish community condemn anti-Semitic graffiti on car in Sydney's east (ABC)

Man accused of setting fire to Caulfield racecourse grandstand also broke into Jewish centre, court hears (Guardian)

Victorian police officer who allegedly performed Nazi salutes won’t be charged with making banned gesture (Guardian)

Report: Australia forgoes hosting ice hockey tournament over Israel's participation (Haaretz)

Albanese minister to fly to Israel to mend fractured relationship (SMH)

‘How can I do better?’ Israeli ambassador’s candid confession (SMH)

‘Very thankful’: Top Palestinian envoy praises Australia for breaking with Israel (SMH)