Antisemitism Envoy Addresses Bondi Attack Amidst Rising Tensions After Netanyahu's Remarks

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Jillian Segal has called for accelerated action to combat antisemitism and urged Australians to embrace the Jewish community, following the “horrific” Bondi attack.

At least 16 people are dead, including one of the gunmen, and 42 others are injured in a terrorist attack authorities say was designed to target the Jewish community.

In an interview with SBS News, Australia’s antisemitism envoy said hateful words at protests had led to “hateful deeds”, calling for reform to laws including hate speech.

“We need to stop with the hate, stop with the chants,” Segal said.

“The escalating display of terrorist flags must cease. We’ve witnessed a troubling progression from the Opera House to the Harbour Bridge, and now to Bondi Beach, each incident fueled by hateful rhetoric leading to our current situation,” she remarked.

In an earlier interview, Segal conflated the March for Humanity on Sydney Harbour Bridge in August with the attack, but told SBS News she had not urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to crack down on pro-Palestinian protests.

“I understand, of course, we live in a society that values free speech and the right to demonstrate, but it’s the hateful speech that we need to consider,” she said.

Palestinian Action Group, which organised the Harbour Bridge protest, was “appalled” by Segal’s remarks, noting 300,000 people had marched “peacefully” to “oppose genocide and racism”, warning against turning Sunday’s tragedy “into further racist hate”.

Segal released a 20-point plan to combat hostility towards Jewish Australians in July, but the recommendations have remained under consideration, partially due to their controversy.

Segal, who spoke to Albanese on Monday, said part of her plan to combat antisemitism “can and should be accelerated”.

The prime minister now faces pressure to endorse the plan, which includes stripping funding from public broadcasters if they are found to be perpetuating distorted representations of Jews, threats of funding cuts to universities that fail to act against antisemitism and reviewing Australia’s hate speech laws.

Segal said a “blame game” would not help Jewish Australians, instead urging the community to reach out and embrace those affected.

“This isn’t just a theoretical issue. If you know Jewish individuals, stand by them, acknowledge the Jewish community’s valuable contributions, and voice the importance of their safety,” she urged.

Segal said further education about what constitutes antisemitism is necessary to push back on it, stating: “It’s an ancient hatred, and it’s a hatred that’s not well understood.”

She revealed she had also spoken to Aftab Malik, the special envoy to combat Islamophobia, and that the two wanted to ensure tensions were not “inflamed”.

“We are united in our efforts to combat the hatreds that seek to divide us,” she added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the mass shooting at the start of Hanukkah, describing it as “cold-blooded murder.”

The Israeli government has laid blame at the feet of the government for Sunday’s attack, stating it has not done enough to combat antisemitism.

The government faced criticism for allegedly failing to stand “unequivocally” with Israel.

He said he wrote to Albanese in August, warning him that recognising a Palestinian state poured “fuel on the antisemitic fire” and accused the government’s policies of “encouraging” antisemitism.

“You let the disease spread and the result is the horrific attacks on Jews we saw today,” Netanyahu said.

Israel’s diaspora affairs ministry went further, claiming: “the blood of the victims is on the hands of the Australian government”.

It accused the government of not standing “unequivocally” with Israel.

Anthony Albanese, in a black suit, walks with police officers around him.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the scene and laid flowers at Bondi Pavilion at Bondi Beach. Source: AAP / Dean Lewins

In a press conference on Monday morning, Albanese declined to directly respond to Netanyahu’s comments, instead saying: “This is a moment for national unity.”

“This is a moment for Australians to come together. That’s precisely what we’ll be doing,” he said.

Segal said it did not help to “personally blame any individual” and has called for local focus from the NSW government and federal government to use the tools available to combat the “hatred that has seeped into our society”.

“I’d be very grateful for everybody to focus on what we can now do in Australia to repair our soul and to embrace the Jewish community and all other minorities.

“This is part of our democracy and part of our social cohesion that we need to restore. And it’s not just words, it is real action that has to take place.”