Where Do We Turn? Antisemitism in Australian Healthcare

Recent events have deepened divisions and eroded trust within the Australian Jewish community, and have further raised anxiety about the extent and ramifications of antisemitism in Australia. Over this past week, a frightening incident involving two nurses in Sydney has struck a nerve and raised questions for me about the safety and well-being of Jews like myself in Australia. If we can't feel safe in our own public health system, where can we feel safe? 

It is unconscionable that two nurses would be caught on camera making threatening and discriminatory statements toward Israelis and Jewish individuals. These public hospital nurses have stated they wish to hurt Jewish patients, bragging that they have already killed Jews in hospital and would gladly do so again. Their actions show a blatant failure to provide unbiased care, and they are thankfully permanently banned from working in the Australian health sector again. Confirming this, Yahoo News reported that "Australia's health practitioner watchdog on Thursday updated its public record to show Ahmad Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh were forbidden from working as nurses in any context."

The incident has fueled concern amongst the Australian Jewish community, which points to this debacle as part of a broader pattern of antisemitism in the country. We are concerned that this type of blatant and overt hatred, especially when it is expressed by people in positions of trust, can naturally lead to violence or discrimination against Jewish people. I can personally say that this incident strikes home in a major way. Already, I’m hyper aware of my surroundings when walking down the street, sometimes reflexively checking over my shoulder to ensure that I am not in any danger for simply being Jewish. The well-documented rise in antisemitism in this country has turned that low-level anxiety into a constant unwanted companion. The fact that such hateful comments are coming from people in a position of care, people committed to healing, is especially chilling. It adds to the very real fear that the growing tide of antisemitism will further inflame the risk of open violence against Australian Jews. 

This incident has also triggered a debate about whether enough is being done to address antisemitism in Australia by our political leaders. Many Australian Jews are rightfully questioning whether laws and policies need to be stronger to protect the Jewish community from hate speech and discrimination. Some have demanded the type of education and awareness programs that can address the deep roots of antisemitism. However, education and awareness can only do so much when we continue to see some Islamic clerics inciting violence against Australian Jews and comparing us to monkeys and vermin. 

The conundrum that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his left-wing Australian Labor Party (ALP) have is that many of their federal electorates are situated in the heartland of Islamic extremism - Southwestern Sydney. If they do anything that remotely resembles supporting Australian Jewish interests, advocating for the State of Israel or highlighting the rise in antisemitism, they will be punished at the ballot box in such electorates come the next federal election. Given the way in which Albanese has destroyed the Australian economy, he will be relying on Islamic voters to support him politically over the coming months as Australian voters go to the polls. 

This discussion naturally leads us straight to the Australian Jewish Community's growing concerns about the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Australia. While it's important to avoid conflating all Muslims with extremists, data suggests a concerning trend. Reports from groups like the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) have repeatedly highlighted the threat posed by religiously motivated extremism, including Islamist groups. This context adds another layer of complexity to the fight against prejudice, as it underscores the need to address all forms of bigotry, including antisemitism, while also acknowledging the specific challenges posed by radical ideologies.

The Jewish community in Australia is strong, defiant and vibrant. Many of us carry the scars of survival from Nazi death camps like Auschwitz in our DNA from our parents and grandparents. We have contributed so much to the success and evolution of this great country. We should therefore feel safe here. Currently, we don't and many of us no longer feel like this is our home. 

The recent debacle with the antisemitic hate-filled nurses acts as yet another wake up call for our political leaders to stand up and do what is right. All Australians must stand together against antisemitism and all forms of hatred and discrimination. This means building a society where we are safe and respected, no matter where we come from or what we believe.