Antisemitism Since the days of European settlement in Australia, Jews have enjoyed formal equality before the law and have not been subject to civil disabilities or other forms of state-sponsored antisemitism excluding them from full participation in public life. Jews have been active contributors in science, art, and literature, and in the government of the colonial and Commonwealth eras, with a number attaining prominent public offices, including several governors-general. Despite this tolerant ethos, Australia rejected a Jewish refugee resettlement proposal, during World War II. Post-war Jewish immigration came at a time when antisemitism was rife, with the Returned Services League publishing cartoons to encourage the government and Immigration Minister Arthur A. Calwell to stem the flow of immigrants.[citation needed] Attacks on Jewish property and institutions increased with tensions in the Middle East, with corresponding increases in security precautions. In 1975, ASIO documents revealed that Palestinian terrorists planned to kill high-profile Jewish figures including the Israeli ambassador Michael Elizur and Zionist spokesmen Isi Leibler and Sam Lipski. Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, one of Israels most vocal supporters, was also considered for attack.[26] During the progression of the Arab–Israeli conflict, Australia has experienced an increase in attacks on synagogues and violence against persons of Jewish descent[27] which, however, has been significantly less pronounced than in Western Europe and North America. The Jewish community in Melbourne supports an anti-defamation commission (ADC) which makes monthly reports to police of offensive graffiti found in public toilets and elsewhere.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 12:05:50 +0000
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