The following link broadens this discussion - for those
interested in debating issues:

http://abc.net.au/religion/derja-iner-islamophobia-antisemitism-australia-shared-challenge/104841086

Mhaze

Lots of words. The fact remains there is a lot of angst - and increasing physical danger - in this country because of 800,000 Muslims and 117,000 Jews; out of a population of 27 million people.

Australian politicians are suckers for malcontented, demanding minorities: unless they are a very small minority like the Jews. If it's not Muslims, it's aborigines. Or homosexuals. Or gender benders. The majority is expected to sit back and take it. If the average Australian wasn't so docile and naive about politics, all the shite would stop. Sadly, there is not much hope of that happening. I'm glad that I am on the way out. Australia is no place for old men.

The answer to all the questions about what will happen in Australia after the Trump election? Buggerall.

Hi Foxy
An interesting read, as is the article it responds to.

I think Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism are equally abhorrent and basically come from the same place. Anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents have both increased in Australia since October 2023, both rooted in prejudices that hate Australian Jews because of the actions of Israel or Australian Muslims because of the actions of Hamas.

It is seriously wrong-headed to say that the significance of one is diminished by the prevalence of the other. These are not competing victimhoods. Yet both the Iner and Oboler articles, while professing otherwise, tend to do just that – Oboler emphasising the rise and virulence of Anti-Semitism, Iner the ubiquity and perhaps under-reporting of Islamophobia.

Seeing both as basically an expression of the same thing, and seeking to understand their roots and how to deal with them, seem sensible and constructive suggestions. I do agree, though, with some of ttbn’s points about the Australian Government’s response to the rise in racism in the past 16 months being totally inadequate.

The question was why has the current government seemingly adopted a stance more antagonistic to Israel than has been traditional in Australia.

The answer is due to the relative political clout of the Jews and the Mohomadians within the Australian electorate.