It is Israel’s policies that fuel Anti-Semitism.

A guest blog by Leni Solinger of Sheffield Jews Against Israeli Apartheid

The killing of innocent Jews on Bondi Beach on 14^th December was a shocking Anti-Semitic event. I condemn the killing of any civilian. I, too, was at a celebration commemorating the beginning of Hanukkah. People should be able to celebrate in safety. But although I was horrified by the terrible killings, I couldn’t help but think of the difference in reporting when Jewish people are killed as opposed to Palestinians. There has been wall-to-wall news coverage, headlines in all of the newspapers, and survivors interviewed. World leaders all made statements. 15 people were murdered. Terrible. But what about the stories behind the more than 70,000 Palestinians who have been killed since October 7^th? We know the names of the people killed in Australia.  When do the murdered Palestinians have names? Only when we read them out on pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Where are the interviews with the tens of thousands of amputees? Where were all the world leaders making statements condemning the massacres that went on day after day for over 2 years? Entire families were blown up while they were asleep, when whole apartment blocks were bombed. There were articles and interviews from time to time, but compared to the coverage of the Bondi Beach killings, it was next to nothing. One would have to conclude that Palestinian lives just don’t matter. The dehumanisation of Palestinians and accusations that they are all terrorists has been going on for years. Where were the headlines when 5-year-old Hind Rajab witnessed the killing of 6 of her relatives by the IDF, while they were all sitting in a car? Terrified, she rang the paramedics for help. They too were shot along with Hind. It did make the news but faded quickly. Most reports didn’t even say it was the IDF who shot her. Most didn’t say she was 5 years old.

Anti-Semitism has has always been around but has risen a lot since October 7^th. I would argue it is because of the genocide Israel has committed that Jewish people around the world are much less safe than before. It is Israel’s policies that fuel Anti-Semitism. People are seeing Palestinians massacred day after day on social media. They are seeing people being starved. They have seen hospitals and schools destroyed. They have seen at least 12 people a day killed in Gaza since the so-called ceasefire. The Zionists try to say it is the marches and protests that fuel Anti-Semitism. I have been on countless demonstrations calling for an end to the genocide and justice for Palestinians. Anti-Semitism would not be tolerated on any of these events. We believe in justice and humanity. Governments around the world have weaponized Anti -Semitism by equating it with criticism of Israel. They are doing the same thing now. No-one should turn a tragic event into a means to attack those who criticize  Israel.

The attack on Bondi beach was terrible. But so is the endless suffering of the Palestinian people. There can be no peace until justice is achieved .

See also Palestine Carols at Sheffield Station.