Antisemitism does not begin with violence. It starts with words, takes root in prejudice and conspiracy, and grows when hatred is excused. The Bondi terror attack on December 14, 2025 showed with devastating clarity that the normalisation of antisemitism in our institutions and public discourse cannot be separated from the threat of extremism and violence.
When I talk about antisemitism, many people picture swastikas and Nazi salutes. Those are real, and the far right is increasingly visible. Islamic extremism is real too, and so are the hostile foreign states that have directed attacks on Jewish communities in Sydney and Melbourne. All of these require vigilance and laws that are properly enforced.
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