In reaction to the growing number of Jewish individuals being targeted during the continuing Israel-Gaza war, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has appointed Jewish lawyer and business woman Jillian Segal as the country’s first anti-Semitism ambassador.
Ms. Segal is a skilled attorney with a wealth of commercial knowledge. She has held positions as president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), deputy chancellor of UNSW, and member of the board of the National Australia Bank.
Mr. Albanese declared that Ms. Segal’s nomination as a special envoy for a period of three years would foster social solidarity.
“What we need to do is to make sure that the conflict that is occurring in the Middle East — that has caused a great deal of grief for the Jewish community, for members of the Islamic and Palestinian communities — Australians overwhelmingly do not want conflict brought here,” Albanese said.
“We sincerely hope that continued efforts are not required, but the past few months have served as a warning that we should never take societal cohesiveness and respect for granted. We must provide it with nourishment.”
In addition to promoting education and awareness of the problem, Ms. Segal will counsel Andrew Giles, the minister of multicultural affairs, and the prime minister on matters pertaining to anti-Semitism.
Ms. Segal, according to Mr. Giles, possessed “unflinching principle and unwavering strength”.
Additionally, Mr. Albanese reaffirmed that the government will soon name a special envoy to address Islamophobia.
Jewish businesses have been attacked, students at Jewish schools have reported feeling afraid to wear their uniforms, and graffiti that the prime minister said was anti-Semitic has been vandalized at the Australian War Memorial. Since October 7, Jewish people in Australia have reported feeling more uncomfortable.
The October 7 Hamas attack claimed the lives of almost 1,100 individuals, including 764 civilians, and kidnapped another 251.
The UN and the Gaza Ministry of Health report that since October 7, there have been over 38,000 Palestinian deaths and tens of thousands of injuries.
Australia needs to be on the lookout for “age-old hatred”: Segal
Ms. Segal expressed her gratitude and humility upon being appointed.
“As an Australian, I have encountered the finest aspects of people. As we just heard, our nation is known for its sensitive and friendly citizens.
However, as must always be kept in mind, we must remain watchful to safeguard our amiable and tranquil way of life. Anti-Semitism threatens not only the Jewish community but our entire country because it undermines everything positive and constructive in a society.
Hatred for Jews has always existed. It can remain asleep during prosperous times until reawakening during difficult times like the pandemic we’ve recently faced, an economic depression, or a war.”
Following the October 7 terror strike in Israel by Hamas, anti-Semitic incidents surged by 700%, according to Ms. Segal.
She mentioned social media as a catalyst for the propagation of misinformation on social media.
Additionally, Mr. Albanese chastised community activity on social media, claiming that people were oversimplifying a convoluted issue into “100 characters”.
“[People] make statements that they never would face to face,” he stated.
“Social cohesion is not advanced by thinking this is a football team where you’re cheering for one team or another.”
While applauding Ms. Segal’s appointment, the Coalition insisted that more urgent action was required, including a court investigation into anti-Semitism on college campuses.
In regards to anti-Semitism, Liberal MP Julian Leeser stated that “the test for government is whether they will take action following her advice”.
In a statement, the Jewish Council of Australia, which has condemned Israel’s activities in Gaza, claimed that Ms. Segal was a “Israel lobbyist” and that her nomination would exacerbate tensions.
“We worry that this anti-Semitism ambassador won’t be able to tell the difference between being Jewish and being pro-Israel. This runs the risk of eliminating the sizable Jewish community in Australia that, like us, supports Palestinian freedom and justice and rejects Israeli violence against the Palestinian people, the group stated.
The ECAJ applauded Ms. Segal’s nomination, noting that her expertise would be valuable in guiding the creation of focused policies, legislative measures, and initiatives aimed at combating anti-Semitism.
“She will bring deep knowledge of the issues and immense energy to the role, and we are confident that she will carry out her duties with integrity and distinction,” the ECAJ stated in a statement.
