The Jewish Council of Australia (JCA) has condemned an attack on a which was set alight and graffitied with antisemitic words on January 20.
It is latest in a string of antisemitic incidents, which include attacks on synagogues.
The Jewish Council said these 鈥渞eprehensible acts of violence are attacks not only on individuals or institutions, but on Jewish communities more broadly鈥�.
It warned politicians not to use them for 鈥減olitical point scoring or to spread other forms of hatred, such as Islamophobia or anti-Palestinian racism鈥�.
JCA executive officer Sarah Schwartz urged MPs 鈥渘ot to use these attacks to politicise this moment by relying on knee-jerk law and order responses which do nothing to prevent racism.
鈥淔or Jews, waking up to yet another antisemitic arson attack is terrifying. We send our solidarity and prayers to all Jewish people impacted by this recent spate of attacks.鈥澛�
She said politicians need to take a 鈥減rincipled anti-racism approach鈥�. That means 鈥渓istening to affected communities and to human rights groups, and promoting initiatives which bring communities together rather than sow division鈥�.
Dr Max Kaiser, another executive officer said antisemitic, Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian racism attacks are escalating. 鈥淣ow more than ever, we remain committed to advocating for a society where diversity is celebrated, and all individuals and communities can live without fear of discrimination or violence.鈥�
Meanwhile, Jews Against the Occupation 鈥�48 (JAO鈥�48) has condemned .
After several 鈥渨alk-outs鈥� from a performance of Air Time by at the Seymour Centre, the Jewish Board of Deputies (JBD) posted a warning on its social media about the 鈥渄eeply offensive anti-Semitic messages鈥�. The JBD accused Branch Nebula of inciting violence.
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JAO鈥�48 said that the prospect of losing sponsorships drove Sydney Festival to acquiesce to the JBD鈥檚 demand that audience members who walked out of performances of Air Time by Branch Nebula at the Seymour Centre be refunded.
The 鈥渙ffence鈥� was a 鈥渕asked artist, reciting the chant 鈥楩rom the river to the sea鈥欌€�, said Branch Nebula spokesperson John Baylis, and was broadcast in a recorded audio statement after the Welcome to Country before each of the five performances.
聽鈥淎s we make art and perform for you today, Palestinian people are experiencing a genocide implemented by Israel as well as the sustained destruction of Palestinian culture, people and land,鈥� .
鈥淲e call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and we stand in solidarity with all oppressed people around the world 鈥� From the river to the sea, always was and always will be.鈥�
聽鈥淭he JBD is clearly oblivious to the irony of characterising the demand for equal rights for all in Israel-Palestine as a call for 鈥榯he extermination of the Jewish people鈥�,鈥� Jews for Palestine WA said,聽鈥渨hile Israel, in the face of opposition from tens of thousands of Jews worldwide is actually exterminating the indigenous people of Palestine.鈥�
JAO鈥�48 commended Branch Nebula for its refusal to cease broadcasting the message and for its principled stand.
It said NSW arts minister John Graham鈥檚 鈥渧acuous comments鈥� about 鈥渟ocial cohesion鈥� were unhelpful and that the goal is 鈥渘ot achieved through repression public acknowledgement of horrendous injustice鈥�.
JAO鈥�48 advised Sydney Festival and Graham to 鈥渆ducate themselves on the distinction between Judaism and Zionism鈥�.