A Jewish author, Mr Anthony Halas, is considering legal action against a literary editor who has refused to work on his Holocaust-themed book.

The editor has stated publicly she could not "comfortably work with someone who supports Israel's actions" in terms of the ongoing conflict there.

Mr Halas said growing up he never experienced antisemitism, but recently he told the Bondi Royal Commission, hatred of Jews has gotten so bad he might leave Australia altogether.

http://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/the-radio-national-hour/how-antisemitism-has-changed-life-for-this-jewish-australian-/106650424

Mr Halas is now seeking legal advice to explore whether the refusal breaches Australia's protections against discrimination and our anti-discrimination laws.

We have seen many cases over the years where people have tried to push a discrimination line for/against:

1. Bakers not wanting to bake wedding cakes for gay weddings.
2. Gay nightclubs not allowing hetrosexual people into their venues.
3. Transwomen not allowed to participate in women's sports.

These are just some examples.

Are we an inclusive society in Australia or is it O.K to discriminate against people of a Jewish background considering what many Jewish people have been put through over the years?

Don't forget

4. A biological man wanting to be a member of Giggle Group.

5. The death of George Floyd leading to discriminatory policing, recently resulting in the horrific death of Henry Nowak.

What I accept is that we all have our own view of things. Provided that a view is not a harm to others, it should not be legally restricted. The fault I see is that the legal interpretation of what is harmful is far too broad.

Society will always have good people and aholes. Sometimes they are the same people, but I don't see much point in a legal system throwing aholes in prison. Jailing aholes is like weeding out the bad people, which is a defining feature of authoritarian regimes.

Hi NathanJ,

"Are we an inclusive society in Australia or is it O.K to discriminate against people of a Jewish background considering what many Jewish people have been put through over the years?"

It's a complicated question, my response might need some thought.
I've listened to half of the podcast, and wish to firstly respond to:

Anthony Halas says he believes the starting point for discussion should be:
(Q1) 'Do you believe in Israel's right to exist'

I think the question is a trap, and a two-part question.
If I say yes, then it just prompts the next part of the question, which is:

(Q2)'Does Israel have a right to defend itself?'
- And from there Israel attempts to justify all the things I oppose, dressing up ethnic cleansing and land theft as 'defense'.

It complicated.
Someone like me would respond to Q1 with 'Firstly state your borders' and 'How much of that stolen land exactly are you planning to return?' or 'Do Palestinians also have a right to exist?', 'Do they have a right to defend themselves' or not respond to the stupid trap-question at all.

What makes them think Israeli's have a right to a State if Palestinians don't?
What makes them think Israeli's have a right to defend themselves if Palestinians don't?
What make them think Israeli's have some right to peace, dignity, safety or anything else if the Palestinians don't?

They don't have any right to those things.
Israelis have a right to reap what they sow.
To have what they put out into the world returned to them.

Israeli's like to torture Palestinians.
Do the Palestinians have a right to torture Israelis?
Israelis like to murder women and kids.
Do the Palestinians have a right to murder Israeli women and kids?

They don't have any 'right' to even 'claim a right' that does not also exist equally for Palestinians.

Volunteers patrol Lag Ba’omer bonfires to rescue animals from flames
http://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/volunteers-patrol-lag-baomer-bonfires-to-rescue-animals-from-flames-490742

>>For the sixth year in a row, Liani and volunteers around Israel were leading patrols to “stop the horrific phenomenon of burning animals on Lag Ba’omer,” according to her Facebook event page. This year, the group recruited hundreds of people to join the effort, with nearly 900 signed up to observe bonfires and save animals from abuse.<<

Maybe I should just answer the question with another question?
- Israeli's like to throw puppies and kittens into bomfires once a year.
Do the puppies and kittens have a right to exist?