The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) condemns the recent harmful rhetoric from Australia’s antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal, Liberal Senator Dave Sharma, and former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.
Their inflammatory comments over recent days smear peaceful Palestine solidarity protests as hateful, distorting the truth and vilifying those calling for an end to Israeli apartheid and genocide.
They deflect attention from Israel’s crimes, including genocide – confirmed last week in a meticulously researched Amnesty International report – while stoking division and emboldening hate. These leaders’ prioritisation of defending the genocidal apartheid state of Israel over tending to the delicate social fabric of the Australian community and modelling inclusion, justice, equality and care only deepens the fractures in our society.
Palestine solidarity protests across Australia have been overwhelmingly peaceful and inclusive, grounded in justice and human rights. Segal and Frydenberg betray their roles as leaders by misrepresenting these protests and undermining the fight against racism.
Meanwhile, the Australian government’s silence on rampant Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism is deafening, especially in response to Sharma’s denial of Islamophobia as “fictitious.” This erases the lived experiences of Muslims and Palestinians facing daily hostility, oppression and violence, including death threats, fire bombings, bomb scares. A weekend arson attack on an Islamic school bus in Adelaide is just one example of hate that has been met with disturbing media and political indifference. Where is the call for justice? Where is the government’s protection for Muslim communities?
It is clear that the antisemitism envoy role is being used to divide communities, rather than confront the true scourge of racism. APAN calls for the scrapping of this role and its equivalent, and a shift towards genuine, holistic and evidence-based action against all forms of racism.
Australian leaders cannot continue condemning hate while enabling policies and rhetoric that perpetuate and provide cover for racism, apartheid and genocide. They must take immediate steps to protect vulnerable communities from Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism, and confront this country’s complicity in Israel’s war crimes.
This is not a time for cowardice – it is a pivotal moment for moral clarity and principled action. We call on the Australian government to end its support for Israel’s war machine and stand unequivocally for justice, equality, and human rights for all.
Comments attributed to APAN President Nasser Mashni:
Jillian Segal, Dave Sharma, and Josh Frydenberg are shamelessly distorting the truth, vilifying those people of good conscience across this continent who stand for justice, while whitewashing Israel’s ongoing genocide and apartheid.
Their reckless, opportunistic rhetoric fuels hate and division, shifting the focus from Israel’s documented war crimes and the systemic racism faced by Palestinians and Muslims.
If the Australian leaders are serious about fighting racism, about unity, they must stop sowing division with their dangerous rhetoric, they must stop supporting apartheid Israel, and instead support all marginalised communities, including Palestinians and Muslims, in their fight for justice.