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Australia is facing a moment of moral reckoning. Recent reporting — including statements from Israel’s new ambassador to Australia, Dr Hillel Newman, and a powerful press release from the Indigenous Friends of Israel — reveals a disturbing truth: antisemitism in Australia has surged to levels worse than those in Muslim-majority nations where Newman previously served.

For Christians, this is not merely a political or cultural issue. It is a spiritual crisis, a test of whether we will stand with truth, reject hatred, and defend the people whom Scripture calls “the apple of His eye” (Zechariah 2:8).

Ambassador Hillel Newman’s Warning: “I Have Never Seen Such Hatred”

Dr Hillel Newman, who has served Israel for 26 years across multiple continents, delivered a sobering assessment: Australia’s antisemitism is the worst he has ever encountered.

His observations include:

• Wild, unfounded accusations against Israel — including medieval-style “blood libel” myths — are being normalised in public discourse.
• Antisemitism is increasingly disguised as humanitarian concern, where hatred of Israel is framed as moral virtue.
• Progressive activists who champion indigenous land rights often deny the Jewish people’s historic connection to Israel, despite overwhelming biblical, archaeological, and historical evidence.
• The tolerance of extreme anti‑Israel rhetoric risks fuelling further violence, such as the Bondi Beach terror attack.

Newman’s message is clear: Australia is in spiritual and moral danger when hatred becomes fashionable and truth becomes optional.

Indigenous Friends of Israel: “To Our Shame”

The Indigenous Friends of Israel (IFOI), led by Norman and Barbara Miller, responded with a powerful press release echoing Ambassador Newman’s concern.

The press release key points include:

• It is to Australia’s shame that antisemitism has reached such extreme levels.
• The claim that “Jews are colonisers” and “Palestinians are indigenous” is historically false. They emphasise:
  • Jews have a 4,000‑year history in Israel.
  • Arabs arrived as colonisers in the 7th century.
  • The Romans renamed Judea “Palestine” in 135 CE to sever Jewish identity from the land.
• Israel is the only successful indigenous decolonisation project in world history, restored in 1948.
• Israel is not an apartheid state:
  • Arabs have served in the Knesset since 1949.
  • Arab citizens participate fully in Israel’s judiciary, medical, educational, and professional sectors.
• Israel suffered a genocidal attack on October 7, yet celebrations of Jewish suffering occurred in Australia before Israel even responded.

Their message is blunt: antisemitism in Australia is not about justice — it is about hatred.

Australia at a Crossroads

The reporting from The Australian reinforces Newman’s warnings: Australia’s political climate is shifting, with elements of the national conversation increasingly hostile toward Israel. The ALP’s draft platform appears to intensify pressure on Israel while softening expectations on Palestinian leadership.

This political drift matters because:

• Narratives shape culture, and culture shapes behaviour.
• When Israel is demonised, Jews in Australia suffer.
• When truth is abandoned, violence becomes thinkable.

Christians must recognise that antisemitism is not merely a social issue — it is a spiritual attack on God’s covenant people.

A Moment of Unity: Yom Ha’atzma’ut in Sydney

Amid rising hostility, Sydney’s Yom Ha’atzma’ut (Israel Independence Day) celebration offered a contrasting picture: unity, resilience, and hope.

Some highlights of the event:

• Political leaders, diplomats, and Jewish community members gathered to celebrate Israel’s independence.
• NSW Premier Chris Minns linked the event to the trauma of the Bondi Beach attack and the ongoing Royal Commission into Antisemitism.
• David Ossip, President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, emphasised Israel’s resilience and its role as the answer to Jewish powerlessness.
• Ambassador Newman attended, reinforcing the message that Israel’s presence is essential for Jewish safety worldwide.

This event demonstrated that solidarity is possible, even in dark times.

A Christian Response: Why This Matters to the Church

From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture commands Christians to:

• Bless Israel (Genesis 12:3 and Numbers 24:9)
• Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6)
• Stand against hatred and injustice (Proverbs 31:8–9)
• Expose the works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11)

Antisemitism is not just racism — it is a demonic ideology that seeks to destroy the people through whom God brought salvation into the world.

Jesus himself was Jewish. The apostles were Jewish. The Scriptures were written by Jewish hands under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

To hate Jews is to hate the story God wrote.

Christians must therefore:

• Reject antisemitism in all its forms
• Confront lies about Israel
• Defend truth in public discourse
• Stand with Jewish Australians
• Support Indigenous voices who affirm Israel’s legitimacy
• Pray for Ambassador Newman and Israel’s diplomatic mission in Australia

This is not political activism — it is obedience to Christ.

The Spiritual Battle Behind Antisemitism

Antisemitism has always been a spiritual battle:

• Pharaoh tried to destroy the Hebrews.
• Haman plotted genocide.
• Rome scattered the Jewish people.
• Hitler murdered six million.
• Hamas attempted genocide on October 7.
• And now, in Australia, hatred is rising again.

Why? Because Satan hates the people God chose to reveal his covenant, his Messiah, and his redemption.

When antisemitism rises, it is a sign that spiritual darkness is gaining ground.

Christians must respond not with silence, but with prayer, truth, courage, and love.

Australia’s Responsibility

Australia is a nation blessed with freedom, prosperity, and multicultural harmony. But these blessings come with responsibility.

When antisemitism becomes normalised:

• Our moral foundations crack.
• Our social cohesion collapses.
• Our witness as a Christian-influenced nation is compromised.

Ambassador Newman’s warning is a prophetic call: Australia must choose truth over hatred, courage over cowardice, and righteousness over moral confusion.

Stand, Speak, Pray

The media release by IFOI and the article in The Australian paint a sobering picture: Australia is becoming one of the most antisemitic nations in the Western world. But Christians are called to be salt and light.

We must:

• Stand with Israel
• Support Jewish Australians
• Honour Indigenous voices who defend truth
• Reject lies and propaganda
• Pray for Ambassador Newman
• Confront antisemitism wherever it appears

This is our moment to shine the light of Christ into a darkening world.