Robert Gregory: Blaming nazis for rise in anti-Semitism is a cop-out by Cook

Premier Roger Cook is clueless when it comes to combatting anti-Semitism. This was confirmed after a horrific anti-Semitic graffiti attack on a house and public property in Dalkeith this week. The Premier blamed right-wing white supremacist language on social media.

There’s no doubt that there are some unsavoury people on the far right. My organisation and I are frequent targets of these nazis. But nazis are few in number and without any meaningful support. The wave of anti-Semitism that Australian Jews have suffered since October 7, 2023, has been largely driven by the far-left and by some extremists in the Islamic community.

These comments weren’t the Premier’s first misstep on this issue. After The West Australian reported about shocking anti-Semitic abuse suffered by a Jewish American tourist in Kings Park, the Premier said: “It was a good stand-up stoush and I call on all sides of this debate, please, let’s keep WA peaceful.”

When Liberal leader Libby Mettam announced a funding pledge for security for the Jewish community, Cook claimed the Liberals were politicising the issue with a “cynical election announcement”.

It might be cynical politics to the Premier, but WA’s Jewish community experienced a 364 per cent increase in anti-Semitic incidents last year compared to the previous year.

Each of these incidents represents real people who are being impacted. Like the rabbi’s son who was racially abused at a soccer game or the Jewish boy who was called a “dirty Jew” and slapped in the face by a group of youths at Bounce in Osborne Park.

The Jewish community has been subjected to graffiti, threatening phone calls and verbal abuse from passing cars directed at congregants leaving synagogues. Perth’s only Jewish school was picketed by anti-Israel protesters. Even a rally against anti-Semitism wasn’t left alone, interrupted by extremist anti-Israel protesters.

Occasionally, the wider community is impacted, such as when anti-Israel activists parked a vehicle in the middle of a busy CBD road and padlocked their necks together, causing disruption. WA universities have experienced violent protests and hateful anti-Israel motions. The Government’s response to these disruptions has been weak.

The Premier keeps talking about how much his Government has done to combat anti-Semitism. Their most significant response to date has been to pass laws cracking down on nazi symbols. The laws mirror similar ones adopted by Labor governments across Australia which have embarked on a spree of outlawing nazi symbols, salutes and paraphernalia. The intention is commendable, but such laws have done little to reduce anti-Semitism.

At the same time, Labor politicians have inflamed the situation by obsessively attacking the world’s only Jewish state, Israel, and repeating unfounded claims about it. The WA Labor branch has previously passed some wildly one-sided anti-Israel motions. Their Federal colleagues such as Josh Wilson have made outlandish claims for years while just a few days after the October 7 massacre, Anne Aly was supporting calls to investigate Israel for war crimes. Perhaps most incredible was Tangney MP Sam Lim, who claimed that his phone was hacked after he sent a message seemingly justifying the firebomb attack on Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue.

Jewish leaders have been reluctant to call out the WA Government. That’s understandable. They will have to work with whoever wins the upcoming election.

WA has been spared some of the ugliest attacks that cities on the east coast have experienced but there is no guarantee that they won’t happen here.

The Jewish community in WA is tiny, just over 5000 at last count. Anti-Semitism is not a major issue in the upcoming State election. However, the way a leader responds to attacks on a vulnerable minority is a reflection of both character and leadership skills.

It’s easy to call out nazi lowlifes. It takes courage to condemn anti-Semitism from your own side of politics and to take meaningful action.

Robert Gregory is the chief executive officer of the Australian Jewish Association