Australian Jewish Democratic Society (AJDS)

02/06/2026

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐉𝐃𝐒 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐦. Link: https://tinyurl.com/3ubmpcjp
The submission is based upon an extensive study of local reporting and monitoring mechanisms. Reports such as those from the ECAJ or CSJ are variable in quality and can be politicised. The Exec summary covers the main issues. Key points.

1. Antisemitism is real and should be taken seriously.
2. Measurement is not the same as classification.
3. Not all reported incidents are equivalent.
4. Clear distinctions are needed between antisemitism and political speech.
5. Perceptions matter, but they are not the same as verified incidents.
6. Current monitoring systems need greater transparency.
7. Media and social media amplify perceptions of threat.
8. Antisemitism should be studied using the same methodological standards applied to other forms of racism.
9. A national collaborative monitoring framework is needed.
10. The public interest requires balancing protection from genuine antisemitism with protection of democratic freedoms, including free speech and legitimate political debate.

25/05/2026

Moving, and straight to the point. Listen to the stories of Gaza's women to fully grasp the horrors Israel is inflicting on us | Olfat al-Kurd

I survived months of bombardment before escaping. The systematic dismantling of our home has harmed every aspect of women’s lives, says B’Tselem field researcher Olfat al-Kurd

23/05/2026

Very symbolic, but still. That said, AJDS suggested some years ago to the Australian government sanctions on settlement-related activity, as well as charitable donations from this country. Why not?

Australia joins the UK, Italy, France, Germany, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands and New Zealand in condemning illegal settlements

23/05/2026

This is so good and scary. Thank you Alex Fein

One Nation's surge isn't a lurch to the far right. It's what happens when a sophisticated information operation meets an electorate the major parties stopped listening to.

19/05/2026

𝐈𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎, 𝐀𝐉𝐃𝐒 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐏𝐀𝐍 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐁𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐁𝐂 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐇𝐑𝐀. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐁𝐂 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬.

This was the response on December 10 2020 from the then MD, David Anderson.

"Thank you for your letter concerning the issue of the International
Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.

As you are probably aware, the ABC has an editorial standard dealing with discrimination, Harm and Offence 7.7: Avoid the unjustified use of stereotypes or discriminatory content that could reasonably be interpreted as condoning or encouraging prejudice.

In addition to this enforceable standard, further instruction is
provided in editorial guidance on reporting hate speech. The guidance states that the ABC should not, `...provide an uncritical platform for hate speech or the promotion of prejudicial ideas that are antithetical to the values of non-discrimination expressed in the
ABC´s editorial policies and Australian anti-discrimination
legislation.´

The guidance also addresses anti-Semitism: `There are identifiable
patterns that can help distinguish hate speech and prejudice from
legitimate debate. For instance, the point at which legitimate
criticism of the state of Israel and the actions of some Israeli´s
becomes antisemitism reveals itself when the target becomes `Jews´
rather than `Israel´.

Senior editorial policy advisors have considered the IHRA definition
of antisemitism, but the ABC is satisfied current editorial standards
and guidance are appropriate."

17/05/2026

Read every word. Link http://archive.today/2P1vp

“The perverse comfort of the false belief that Israeli or Palestinian sexual violence is the worst ever betrays every victim around the world. Claiming uniqueness means that our suffering ranks higher – and counts more – than everyone else's.

Suffering-supremacy is inseparable from evil-enemy supremacy. The purpose is clear: If your enemy is uniquely evil, then you can justify the most extraordinary measures against it. "Finish the job" against Palestinians in Gaza. Dismantle Israel as a country (whatever that means).
Authors from Christopher Browning of "Ordinary Men" to Hannah Arendt's "Eichmann in Jerusalem" have demonstrated how any human being can deteriorate to such depravity, not just inherently evil Nazis.”

You received a gift article from Haaretz
Everybody Loses in the Cynical Israeli-Palestinian Sexual Violence Competition

Efforts to Discredit Israel's Civil Commission Report on Sexual Violence on October 7 – or the New York Times' Report on Sexual Abuse of Palestinians – Both Rely on the Dangerous Notion That These Instances Are Uniquely Evil