Some highlights to date include the Australian Federal Police’s “Operation Avalite” to investigate antisemitic acts, unmasking Iran’s role behind antisemitic arson attacks and then expelling the Iranian ambassador (the first since Japan’s ambassador was expelled in World War II), assuming new powers to tackle state-sponsored terrorism and domestic hate crimes, and spending $25 million to increase security at Jewish community sites. The appointment of Jillian Segal as Australia’s first special envoy to combat antisemitism was another important step – one that must now be quickly followed by rigorous implementation of her recommendations.
All of Australian society must work against antisemitism. Thankfully, the reactions this week give reason for hope. The weeping crowds at the Bondi memorial have included all of Australia’s renowned multicultural community. Clergy from every faith have condemned the violence, offered love to Australia’s Jews, and asked everyone to transcend hate so that we may live together in peace. Though it follows an unspeakable horror, this week in Sydney the loving majority rose up to drown out the hateful few. May it continue to be so.
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The ultimate lesson from Bondi, and from our broader conflict in the Middle East, remains this: “We must live together as brothers, or perish together as fools,” as Dr Martin Luther King Jr wisely put it. In living that lesson, I hope you take inspiration from the selfless example of Ahmed al Ahmed, the brave Syrian-born Australian Muslim father-of-two, who risked his life by rushing in to save Jews and all endangered innocents at Bondi.
Please tune out Israel’s PM Bibi Netanyahu, who exploits tragedy to attack allies, only to deflect from his own profound failures as a leader. His spurious inflammation and many leadership failings effect Jewish safety everywhere. Australia’s Jews – just like Israel’s Jews – deserve far better leadership than that.
Our urgent mission, which Israelis and our allies must pursue together, is to keep working for a lasting, secure peace, including a two-state resolution. May your painfully fresh imperative to ensure Jewish safety spur these efforts forward, rather than derail them. Our shared future depends on it.
Ehud Olmert served as Israeli prime minister from 2006 until 2009.
