Australia appoints official to combat anti-Semitism

Sydney, Australia — AFP

Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese has appointed a special envoy to tackle anti-Semitism, promising to appoint an envoy on Islamophobia too.

As in many countries, Palestine supporters in Australia have held street rallies and university protests against Israel’s brutally genocidal war on the besieged and battered territory. Some of the slogans held by protesters have sparked concerns regarding a rise in “extremism and anti-Semitism.”

“There is no place for violence or hatred of any kind in Australia,” Albanese said.

The naming of the anti-Semitism special envoy, Jillian Segal, was a “critical step” to easing tensions in Australia as a result of the Middle East fighting, he said.

“Australians are deeply concerned about this conflict, and many are hurting. In times like this, Australians must come together, not be torn apart.”

The Australian leader told reporters in Sydney that the government would soon announce an envoy on Islamophobia, adding: “That will be important as well, working with that community to promote social cohesion.”

Albanese’s centre-left Labor Party has itself been split over how to respond to the conflict.

One Labor senator quit the party last week after she was disciplined for defying the government by voting in favour of a motion on the “need for the Senate to recognize a Palestinian state”.

The Senate motion did not mention that recognition should be part of a peace process in support of a two-state solution, which the government had insisted on.

Israel has killed at least 38,193 people in Gaza, most of them minors, children and women.