2022-06-24
As a party fundamentally opposed to all forms of bigotry and discrimination, the Greens must have a clear framework for understanding and combatting antisemitism. The J-Greens in Victoria have developed a statement that can be used to guide a Greens’ position, anchored in our values and responsibility as a party committed to justice.
By Dan Coleman and Dr. David Zyngier
For many, understanding of antisemitism begins and ends with the Nazi Holocaust. We are not taught the long and tragic history of antisemitism across the centuries nor of the countless Jews who, like Anne Frank, hid, fled from, or were murdered by the persecutors of their time and place.
As this map shows, expulsion (ethnic cleansing) of Jews was a common feature of the Middle Ages across Europe. As staggering as this picture of the years 1100-1600 may be, antisemitism did not abate through the subsequent centuries into the modern era. Pogroms (mass murder of Jews) were common in Eastern Europe and Russia well into the 20th century.
After the defeat of Nazi Germany, the full extent of Hitler’s “Final Solution to the Jewish Question” became known. This was the determined and systematic effort to exterminate the Jewish population of Europe, leading to the murder of 6 million Jews including over a million children. These revelations were accompanied by photos and eyewitness accounts of unspeakable horrors witnessed during the liberation of the Nazi death camps. As a result, antisemitism, while never disappearing, retreated to the margins.
‘Work Makes You Free’, was the ‘welcome’ sign at Auschwitz.
Source: Plus61J Media (republished with permission).
Only in recent years has antisemitism emerged from the shadows, urged on by demagogues, social media, and, most recently, by far-right infiltration of anti-government protests. Although violent attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions are more common in the U.S. and across Europe, antisemitic incidents in Australia saw a 35 percent rise just last year.
The Jewish Greens Working Group (J-Greens) of Victoria believes that, as a party fundamentally opposed to all forms of bigotry and discrimination, the Greens should have a clear framework for understanding and combatting antisemitism. To that end, we have developed, from our lived experience, cultural memory, and understanding of the history of antisemitism, the following statement which we believe conveys with clarity a Greens’ position anchored in our values and in our responsibility as a party committed to justice.
Fighting antisemitism1
The Australian Greens are conscious of the historical persecution of the Jewish people and of the universal lessons of the Holocaust. As we view, with alarm, the reassertion of antisemitism by groups that mobilise hatred and violence in politics and society, we assert our commitment to identifying, challenging and eradicating antisemitism in Australia.
Our understanding of antisemitism starts with the definition that “antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” That is to say, antisemitism is – broadly speaking – animosity, prejudice, or discrimination against Jewish people, and their history, religion and culture. Antisemitism is a complex form of oppression with deep historical roots, often with brutal expressions, and has evolved to adapt to various historical and cultural contexts. It employs dehumanisation, exploitation, marginalisation, ethnic cleansing, violence, and genocide.
Like all forms of racism and discrimination, antisemitism can be invisible to those outside that group. Effort must be made to understand the often insidious and unconscious penetration of antisemitism across society. The Greens are cognisant of, ready to acknowledge, and deeply ashamed of past instances of antisemitism that have occurred within our own ranks.
We recognise that, in Australia, the anti-vaccination, anti-lockdown so-called “Freedom” movement has become a fertile ground for neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups for recruiting. The far right contains aggressive, violent extremists whose hatred and targeting of Jews is an explicit part of their ideology and practice and who have attempted to infiltrate conservative political parties. We call on all political parties to join us in condemning these movements as well as those who encourage them with antisemitic and racist dog-whistles.
Nonetheless, we cannot overlook the existence of antisemitism in left and progressive movements. In particular, while criticisms of Israel or Zionism are not inherently or inevitably antisemitic, they may assimilate and animate antisemitic ideas and tropes. Antisemitic commentary of this nature needs to be distinguished from legitimate discourse about Zionism and Israel and challenged when it arises.
Even as we commit to fighting antisemitism, we recognise that we cannot do it alone. The Greens seek engagement and partnership with the Jewish community both to educate ourselves and to forge a stronger foundation for a common struggle.
1. Note: this Fighting Antisemitism statement has not been endorsed by any party body beyond J-Greens.
Dan Coleman and David Zyngier are co-convenors of the J-Greens. Dr. Zyngier is a Greens councillor on the Glen Eira City Council. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors.
To contact the J-Greens, see J-Greens Victoria | Facebook.
Hero image: Tim Pierce via Flickr, published under the Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) Creative Commons licence.