An antisemitic attack shook Australia last Thursday after multiple cars and buildings in Sydne’s Woollahra suburb were set on fire and graffitied with slurs including “F*ck Israel,” and “The PKK is coming.”
The PKK stands for the Kurdish Workers Party, a recognized terrorist organization in Australia, It’s believed a Kurdish Australian radical attacked the predominantly Jewish area with anti-Israel slurs and causing over $100,000 Australian in damages. These attacks represent a recent string of rising antisemitic attacks in Australia.
Interview with Jewish eyewitness in Australia
(Video: Yaron Brener)
An Australian-Jewish eyewitness who asked to remain anonymous talked with Ynet this week and recalled the horrific attack.
You chose to do this interview anonymously why is that?
"Because I don't really feel safe speaking because of my identity in Sydney at the moment."
We're talking about an antisemitic incident the Jewish community near Sydney has suffered. Tell us about this incident
"It was early morning, two people were captured on CCTV footage attacking houses and cars. They lit up a car fire and they wrote slurs and 'the PKK is coming' which was referencing the Kurdish Workers Party.
We know that historically there was hardly any issue of antisemitism in Australia, certainly compared to Europe or the U.S. How much has it changed since the war?
"Within the past year since the protests have begun it's been a dramatic increase universities and workplaces have become unsafe it's not comfortable to go out and say who you are."
It's not safe to be a member of the Jewish community in Australia
"Yes."
Can you describe it as an explosion rather than a rising of antisemitism?
"Yes, it just increased dramatically. Everyone heard there was a war going on and Israel was the bad side to be on so everyone just wants to support Palestine."
What about the authorities and government in Australia?
"They don't think that they're helping that much they want to try to contain the protests. The pro-Palestinians outnumber the police so they just give them rules but they don’t even follow them.
Are you afraid to be a Jewish person in Sydney do you lower your profile?
“Yes, there are definitely times depending on where you are when you can’t say who you are. There are certain areas if you were to go to, you’d get assaulted.”
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Ex-minister Ayelet Shaked was denied a visa to Australia. Do you see a connection between antisemitism and this incident in this issue?
“Yeah, it's my belief that the government denied the visa because they were worried that the pro-Palestinians would go there and start riots.”