A recent surge of antisemitic language on social media has caused concern among Australia’s small Jewish community. The recent escalation of violence in Israel has been met with an unprecedented explosion of antisemitic rhetoric. Community leaders and elected officials are increasingly ringing alarm bells and demanding immediate action to stem this disturbing tide.
The rise in antisemitism is characterized by two distinct categories: “old” antisemitism and “new” antisemitism. Both forms attack the Jewish community, just in different ways — one through the lens of longstanding antisemitic tropes and the other through the framework of today’s political animus.
Understanding the Forms of Antisemitism
Physical violence Targeting Jews as individuals “Old” antisemitism has made a distressing comeback, characterized by violent and hateful speech. These statements frequently serve to demonize and delegitimize the Jewish community for whatever happens in Israel. Like no other—in fact, in recent weeks some Australians have found themselves publicly calling Jews baby killers or Zionazi fu–wits. This sort of rhetoric has seen an unprecedented upsurge in acceptance. It was a jump from an average of only 34 tweets per month before October 7 to an incredible 2,021 tweets per month the year afterward.
Even more troubling is the explicit nature of some of these tweets. They include threats like “remove all Jews” or “murder all Jews.” These statements reveal a serious and terrifying trend of hatred. Many community leaders view this as a current manifestation of long-standing antisemitic conspiracies.
“If the Holocaust of 6 million Jews were true, Israel could not exist today.” – Anonymous social media user
“New” antisemitism reframes the target of attack from Jews as individuals to the country of Israel. This form has increased completely uncontrollably. After peaking at just 505 AMTRAK tweets/month before October 7, that number reached an astonishing high of 21,724 in the months that followed. This harmful rhetoric is typically laced with conspiracy theories. Another was the shameless dog whistle claiming that “Jews are funding the destruction of Australia,” which incited division and hatred in our society.
Community Response and Government Action
National Jewish community leaders agree it’s this disturbing uptick that’s got the Orthodox community—and everyone else—so alarmed. Leaders have drawn attention to how antisemitism encompasses rhetoric that blames Jews for Israeli policies, regardless of individual political views. This sentiment has driven an unusual collaborative response from many stakeholders.
Jillian Segal, Australia’s first government-appointed special envoy to the nation to fight antisemitism, recently introduced a five-point plan. This effort is a direct answer to the increasing antisemitism that our country faces. The initiative features nine main recommendations aimed at fighting hate and protecting vulnerable communities.
This plan addresses addressing preemptive violence and crime that is incited by hate speech, while bolstering our legal protections against these acts. It works to stimulate antisemitism-free media. It fuels academic initiatives and community venues that create awareness and acceptance across various communities.
Balancing Action with Free Speech Concerns
Though largely celebrated among advocacy groups, the proposed state-level measures have drawn criticism from at least one state to signal possible overreach. There is apprehension that certain actions aimed at combating antisemitism may inadvertently conflate legitimate opposition to Israeli policies with outright antisemitic sentiment. This ongoing discussion reinforces the fragile tension between shielding communities from dangerous hate speech while upholding and defending freedom of expression.
Matteo Vergani is an associate professor and the director of the Tackling Hate Lab at Deakin University. In tackling antisemitism in Australia, he brings to light the subtleties of a multi-faceted issue. He emphasizes that fostering a culture of dialogue is essential to differentiate between valid political discourse and harmful hate speech.
The conversations around these burdens and issues are continuing. It is now up to community leaders and government officials alike to come together to ensure that Australia remains a safe and welcoming home for all of its diverse citizens.
