Australia’s Largest Christian News Site

Antisemitism has plagued Jewish people for millennia, manifesting in many forms — from blood libels to pogroms, from expulsions to genocide. Today, while blatant Jew-hatred still exists, antisemitism has also evolved into more insidious expressions, particularly through the denial of Israel’s legitimacy.

Many who claim to merely “criticise Israel” fail to understand the profound difference between the legitimate critique of government policies and the outright delegitimisation of the Jewish state. This distinction is not a matter of political debate; it is a matter of cultural identity, history, religion and survival for Jewish people worldwide.

Abandoning Israel is Abandoning the Jewish People

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong cannot claim to oppose antisemitism while simultaneously undermining Israel’s right to self-defence and security. Their failure to stand firmly with Israel in times of crisis sends a chilling message to Australian Jews and Jews worldwide: your history, your safety, your religion and your culture are disposable.

Jews have seen what happens when the world turns its back on them. They saw it in the 1930s when nations refused to take in Jewish refugees. They saw it in 1948 when Arab armies sought to wipe Israel off the map the day it declared independence. They see it now, as Israel faces existential threats and political leaders hesitate to offer unequivocal support.

For the Jewish people, Israel is not just a place — it is the heart of who we are. Denying its legitimacy is not just political rhetoric; it is an attack on Jewish identity, history, and survival. Those who claim to stand against antisemitism must recognise this distinction, or they risk perpetuating the very hate they claim to oppose.

Criticism vs. Delegitimisation: The Difference Matters

Jews, like any other people, are not a monolith. There is no universal agreement on Israeli politics, and within Israel itself, there is robust and often fierce debate over government policies. Israelis regularly protest their own leaders, challenge military decisions, and hold democratic elections — just as citizens of any democracy would. Criticism of a government’s actions, whether it be on settlements, military operations, or domestic policy, is part of a healthy discourse.

However, when the conversation moves beyond critique and into questioning Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, it crosses a red line. Saying “Israel is a colonial project,” calling it an “apartheid state”, or demanding its erasure “from the river to the sea” is not a call for justice — it is a call for the destruction of the world’s only Jewish homeland. That is not a political stance; it is an antisemitic attack on Jewish identity.

This rhetoric is deeply painful for Jews because it echoes historical calls for their annihilation, from ancient times to the Holocaust.

When political parties in Australia, such as the Greens and elements in the Labor Party, label Israel as a “genocidal state” or a “colonial enterprise”, they do not just attack a government; they attack the very legitimacy of Jewish nationhood. To call Jews “colonisers” in their ancestral homeland is historically ignorant and morally indefensible. Jews did not arrive in Israel as foreign occupiers; they returned to the only land where they have ever been an indigenous people.

Why Delegitimising Israel Cuts to the Soul of Jewish People

It may be difficult for some to grasp the reality that for Jews, Israel is not just another country — it is the land of our ancestors, our prophets, our sacred texts, and the direction in which we have prayed for thousands of years. From Abraham to Moses, from King David to the present day, Israel has been central to Jewish existence. It is mentioned in our prayers, enshrined in our traditions, and embedded in our consciousness.

When people deny Israel’s legitimacy, they are not just debating a political entity; they are dismissing Jewish heritage itself. It would be akin to telling Indigenous Australians that their connection to their land is meaningless, that the Dreamtime has no relevance, and that their spiritual ties to the land should be disregarded. Such a claim would be rightfully condemned as cultural erasure. Yet, when Jews express the same distress over Israel’s delegitimisation, they are often met with hostility or indifference.

Australia’s Moral Failure on the World Stage

The Australian Labor government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, claims to support a two-state solution — a vision where Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist in peace. But this position is meaningless if only one side is genuinely interested in peace. The reality is that Israel has repeatedly sought peace, while its enemies — Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and their allies — have openly declared that they do not want a two-state solution. They want Israel gone.

Instead of standing unequivocally with Israel — one of the world’s few truly democratic nations and a close ally of Australia — the Labor government has made disturbing moves that signal abandonment.

1. Voting Against Israel at the UN

The United Nations has a long history of institutional bias against Israel, passing countless resolutions condemning the Jewish state while largely ignoring atrocities committed by nations like Iran, China, and Russia. Rather than standing against this hypocrisy, the Albanese government has joined the chorus of Israel-bashers, shifting Australia’s voting pattern in the UN to align more closely with anti-Israel forces.

2. Funding UNRWA: A Direct Pipeline to Terror

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which Australia helps fund, has been exposed — again and again — for having employees tied to Hamas, for allowing its schools to be used as weapons storage, and for promoting hatred against Jews in its education materials. Reports indicate that UNRWA facilities were directly used in Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. Why is Australia sending taxpayer dollars to an organisation that aids and abets terrorism?

3. Failure to Stand with Israel in Her Darkest Hour

After the October 7 Hamas massacre, when over 1,200 Israelis — men, women, and children — were slaughtered in the most horrific attack since the Holocaust, there should have been no hesitation in Australia’s response. Any moral government would have stood firmly with Israel, recognising its absolute right to defend itself. Instead, we have seen equivocation, pressure for “restraint”, and a refusal to acknowledge the true nature of Hamas’ genocidal ambitions.

Political Opportunism: Are Marginal Seats Dictating Foreign Policy?

Why is the Albanese government taking this stance? The uncomfortable truth is that domestic politics — not moral clarity — is driving Australia’s actions.

In Sydney and Melbourne, there are several key marginal seats with large Muslim populations, where support for Israel is deeply unpopular. It seems that the Labor government is prioritising electoral calculations over standing up for democratic values and moral truth. The question must be asked: is Australian foreign policy for sale? Are Albanese and Wong so afraid of losing votes that they are willing to betray an ally and abandon Israel to those who seek its destruction?

This is not leadership. This is moral cowardice.

A Call for Moral Leadership

Australia should not be dictated by political opportunism. If Albanese and Wong truly believe in democracy, human rights, and justice, then their choice is clear:

• Stand unequivocally with Israel, a nation that shares Australia’s democratic values, defends human rights, and protects religious freedom.
• Stop funding UNRWA, an organisation that fuels terrorism and spreads antisemitic indoctrination.
• Reject UN bias against Israel, instead of pandering to those who want to delegitimise the only Jewish state.
• Recognise that Jewish people have an unbreakable connection to Israel, just as Indigenous Australians have to their land.

History will remember those who stood for moral clarity — and those who chose political expediency over justice. Australia must decide which side of history it wants to be on.

___

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.