The Jewish Council of Australia (JCA) will appear before the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion this week between Tuesday and Thursday. The purpose of these appearances will be to cross-examine witnesses and test evidence on the definitions and drivers of contemporary antisemitism.
The Council represents over 2,500 Jewish Australians, including academics and descendants of Holocaust survivors, who support Palestinian human rights and who are not represented by legacy pro-Israel communal bodies.
The Council’s intervention seeks to prevent the Commission from adopting an approach that uses the fight against antisemitism to quash advocacy for Palestinians or collapses Jewish identity into support for the State of Israel.
Sarah Schwartz, Executive Director of the Jewish Council of Australia, stated that hearing from diverse Jewish voices is essential for the inquiry to succeed.
“Legacy organisations that maintain a rigid commitment to the Israeli state are not capable of representing the many Jews who disagree with them.
“We are participating to ensure this inquiry hears from Jewish Australians who have been silenced because of their support for Palestinians.”
The JCA’s position is that definitions of antisemitism that conflate anti-Zionism with antisemitism are harmful and counterproductive.
This conflation diverts institutional attention from real antisemitism, including the threat of the far right, while legitimising the silencing of Palestinians and their advocates
The JCA is advocating for a prevention-first model of communal safety. This includes the adoption of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s National Anti-Racism Framework, which addresses antisemitism alongside Islamophobia and other forms of racism.
The Jewish Council of Australia has briefed Maurice Blackburn and a team of barristers led by Peggy Dwyer SC to represent the organisation throughout the inquiry.
For media inquiries or to arrange an interview:
Email: [email protected]
SMS: 0493 970 412