A banner that has angered members of Melbourne’s Jewish community.
The banner,photographed at the event and shared on social media by members of the Jewish community,displayed the words:“Free Palestine from the colonising dumb white dogs! Abolish Israel!” It also directed expletives at Bibi,the nickname for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Dvir Abramovich,chair of Jewish-Australian community organisation the Anti-Defamation Commission,said he was distressed by the banner. He said it was one example of skyrocketing incidents of antisemitism unfolding in Australia,including children being harassed at school and “stomach churning” online abuse and trolling of Jewish people.
“Words matter and such incitement can lead to verbal and physical attacks,and those who crafted the banner bear responsibility for blowing on the embers of animosity,” Abramovich said.
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As war between Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza escalates,Australia and countries across the globe are reportinga rise in both antisemitism and Islamophobia.
Abramovich said his organisation had been flooded with complaints about a rise in antisemitic incidents since Hamas’ deadly rampage in southern Israel on October 7.
Australia’s Islamophobia Register has also reported soaring reports of abuse among Muslim community members since the attacks.