The recent testimonies at the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion have shed light on the harrowing experiences of Jewish students and staff in Australian universities, particularly in the aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. These accounts highlight a disturbing trend of rising antisemitism on campus, which has left many feeling unsafe and marginalized.
One witness, Liat, a Jewish-Australian woman, recounted her journey at the Australian National University (ANU). She described a pervasive 'low-level hum of antisemitism' that gradually escalated into more overt forms of hatred. From being told she wasn't 'Middle Eastern enough' to join the Middle Eastern student club, to facing 'unsavoury jokes' about Jewish stereotypes, Liat felt a constant pressure to conform to a biased narrative.
The turning point came with the Hamas attack, which triggered a wave of antisemitism on campus. Liat's non-Jewish friends stopped associating with her, and she faced direct harassment from fellow students. The publication of an article in the ANU student magazine, which labeled Zionism as a 'far-right political project' run by 'war criminals and proponents of genocide', further exacerbated her distress. The dean's inability to intervene or remove the article from the platform only added to her sense of helplessness.
The 110-day encampment on ANU grounds, a symbol of protest against Israel's actions in Gaza, was particularly traumatic for Liat and other Jewish students. The encampment members' use of slogans like 'intifada revolution' and 'from the river to the sea Palestine will be free' - which Jewish community members have described as hateful calls for violence - created an environment of fear and danger. Liat's Jewish identity became a target, and she felt physically unsafe, even resorting to hiding her identity in everyday situations.
The situation at ANU was mirrored at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where a PhD candidate, ACJ, experienced Nazi salutes from students during a business class. The visceral reaction of ACJ, whose family history is deeply intertwined with the Holocaust and Jewish pogroms, underscores the profound impact of such incidents. The university's response, however, was deemed inadequate, with only a verbal warning issued to the students, and no criminal charges filed.
ACJ's experience at UNSW highlights the institutional failure to address antisemitism effectively. He reported the incident to the police and faced retaliation, including the loss of casual teaching shifts and strained relationships with colleagues. The fear of further repercussions led ACJ to stop reporting antisemitic incidents, indicating a chilling effect on the reporting of hate crimes.
These testimonies reveal a disturbing pattern of antisemitism in Australian universities, where Jewish students and staff are subjected to harassment, discrimination, and a lack of institutional support. The rise of antisemitism on campus is a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by Jewish communities worldwide, and the urgent need for comprehensive and effective measures to combat hate speech and protect vulnerable individuals.
