Peter Dutton addresses the Rabbinical Council of NSW
Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton visited Sydney’s Mizrachi Synagogue, whose Rabbi Shua Solomon is president of the Rabbinical Council of NSW.
Peter Dutton passed on regards from the now Senator Dave Sharma to the Council and their guests.
He spoke about the hostages in Gaza, saying “Governments around the world should be demanding nothing less than the release of all the hostages.
And they should be using all the diplomatic tools at their disposal to exert pressure to achieve that outcome, and sooner than later.”
He spoke of an image that is stuck in his mind…9-year-old Ohad Munder.
Peter Dutton explained: “Ohad, his mother and grandmother were released after 49 days of torture in hell.
They were being transported by helicopter to an Israeli hospital.
Everything Ohad has been through, a photo captures him sitting calmly. He has been given a present – a Rubik’s cube.
It’s a profound photo.
In contrast to all of that footage from the body cams, the dash cams, the mobile phones, which captures Hamas’ barbarism, we see this image of a little boy solving a puzzle – a symbol of civilisation.”
He said our civilisation and our way of life is being challenged on multiple fronts by resurgent authoritarianism and by emboldened terrorists.
He said: “Since the 7th October, I’ve emphasised time and again the Coalition’s and of course Australia’s support for Israel. We stand with Israel, always, because Israel is our long-standing ally: a fellow believer in democracy and the rule of law, but so much more.
And we stand with Australians of Jewish faith and utterly condemn any anti-Semitic behaviour.”
He referred to protests at the Sydney Opera House, Caulfield incidents, and recently at the Crowne Plaza in Melbourne.
He said the anti-Semitism we are witnessing on our shores today is on a different scale than anything we have known.
Peter Dutton remarked: “We have seen our fellow Australian citizens calling for the extermination of Jews.”
He said the Crowne Plaza protesters wanted their actions to be broadcast, to strike fear into Australians of Jewish faith.
Peter Dutton joined in with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the opening of the Melbourne Holocaust Museum.
The Leader of the Opposition said: “We both spoke in support of Australia’s Jewish communities and delivered strong statements denouncing anti-Semitism.
Yet I found myself disagreeing with the Prime Minister’s assessment of the state of anti-Semitism in Australia.
He said that we must not let anti-Semitism ‘find so much as a foothold here’.
But the problem of course is that anti-Semitism has found footholds in our country, and very significant ones.
We know it has found historical footholds with those of the far-right, which remain today.
But, in more recent times, it has become particularly prominent with those of the far-Left and found footholds in our universities and in politics.
In many cases, this anti-Semitism masquerades as an anti-Zionism for reasons of political expediency.”
He continued: “Key leaders have been found wanting in providing strong support for Israel and clear-cut condemnations of anti-Semitism because it is wrestling with a crisis of conscience.
And that’s why we have seen instances of moral cowardice, of moral equivalence, of moral ambiguity and of moral qualification.
What we are left with is a moral fog.
And this moral fog makes anti-Semitism permissible.
Had Australia’s response to the events at the Sydney Opera House on 9th of October been stronger, the Caulfield protests on 10 November may not have transpired.
Had Australia’s response to the Caulfield protests been stronger, the school strikes on 23 and 24 November may not have taken place.
Had Australia’s response to the school strikes been stronger, the protest at the Crowne Plaza hotel on 29 November may not have occurred.
What are we to do to turn the rising tide of anti-Semitism here in Australia?
Jewish American journalist and writer, Bari Weiss, offered some sage advice in a recent speech.
She said: “[We must] not let falsehood stand unchallenged. We have let far too much go unchallenged. Too many lies have spread in the face of inaction as a result of fear or politeness.
No more.
Do not bite your tongue. Do not tremble. Do not go along with little lies.
Speak up. Break the wall of lies…
… Our civilization depends on it.”
Peter Dutton said BariWeiss spoke to our duty to courageously speak the truth.
He emphasised: “To not only call out acts of anti-Semitism but to demand that there be severe consequences for those committing anti-Semitic acts.
It is why I said the Crowne Plaza hotel protesters – in all of the grotesque nature that they could muster – those people should have been arrested.
If perpetrators are not held accountable, then would-be perpetrators are not deterred. In fact, they’re encouraged.”
He contined: “This is the time for Australians to not be silent.
To be silent is to tolerate intolerance – to surrender our democracy and civilisation to those who wish to destroy it.
That’s why I have, and always will, stand firmly with Australians of Jewish faith.
And I am buoyed by the hundreds of leaders who have signed an open letter calling for an end to the alarming rise of anti-Semitism.
To finish my formal remarks, I simply want to say thank you to each of you for the work that you’re doing.
For the counsel that you’re providing, for the comfort, and for the prayers.
Particularly for young children who understand some of the lessons of history, but who, in their own way, are reliving those lessons.
As Rabbis, your voices have significant influence in helping to push back against hate speech, intolerance and tribalism.”
Rabbi Shua Solomon told J-Wire: “It was heart-warming and inspiring to have a visit from the Leader of the Opposition and to hear first-hand about his support for Israel and stand against antisemitism.”