US joins Israel bombing Iran, genocide proceeds, Australia debates antisemitism
Twenty-one months into its genocide of the Palestinian people, Israel has extended its attacks to Iran, with the USA collaborating. Back in Oz, governments look away. Emma Thomas with the latest from the NSW antisemitism inquiry.
One of those pretending there’s nothing to see is the Minns government refusing to cooperate with a parliamentary inquiry into its introduction earlier this year of draconian anti-protest laws designed to suppress advocacy for Palestine.
Meanwhile, the NSW Antisemitism Inquiry continued with another hearing last week, but there is still no clear agreement on what actually constitutes antisemitism.
Those championing the contentious International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism frequently cite the need for a clear, consistent definition. As Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh told the parliamentary hearing this week: “If we’re going to talk about antisemitism, you need to be able to define it.”
The IHRA stance
Waverley Council, which includes Bondi and neighbouring suburbs in Sydney’s east, adopted the IHRA working definition of antisemitism in November 2021—the first council nationally to do so. The adjacent Woollahra Council followed suit in July 2024. Both councils are home to large Jewish populations and witnessed antisemitic incidents last summer. Nemesh and Woollahra Deputy Mayor Sean Carmichael affirmed their commitment to the IHRA definition at last week’s hearing.
The IHRA definition is controversial for listing criticism of Israel among its examples of antisemitism. Describing Israel as “a racist endeavour” is part of one example. Nemesh’s responses to questions from Labor committee member Stephen Lawrence on this point suggest things are not so straightforward, and asked:
“What if a Palestinian resident, who had been expelled from their land in 1967 and denied the right of return to that land in what is now Israel, said: ‘I think Israel is a racist endeavour?’ Would that person be considered an antisemite?”
Nemesh responded:
“I think that there can be— There are strong views in terms of Israel and Palestine. I think, what is crucial is understanding there are two peoples, and both claim connection to the land. I think both are very valid. The Jewish people have had a connection to the land of Israel going back 6,000 years [sic]. That’s undeniable.”
Judaism was founded approximately 4,000 years ago, but Lawrence focused on council policy rather than history. After some back-and-forth, Nemesh answered:
“I think it’s complicated to give an assessment on someone’s, perhaps, character based on a statement. […] The remark itself is obviously important, but a one-off statement, I think, doesn’t go to the core of whether one is an antisemite.”
The entire exchange can be accessed here.
https://michaelwest.com.au/us-joins-israel-bombing-iran-genocide-proceeds-australia-debates-antisemitism/