Ugly displays of hostility toward the Jewish community dominate the opening day of hearings for the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. This inquiry launched one month after the Bondi Beach terror attack, where 15 people died and dozens suffered injuries during a Hanukkah event in Sydney on December 14.
Commissioner’s Opening Remarks
Royal Commissioner Virginia Bell SC delivered introductory comments on Monday. “The sharp spike that we’ve witnessed in Australia has been mirrored in other Western countries and seems clearly linked to events in the Middle East,” she stated.
Jewish community members report a surge in antisemitism since the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel, where Hamas killed more than 1,200 people. Commissioner Bell highlighted that antisemitic “images and sentiments” encompass ugly hostility directed at Jewish Australians solely for their identity.
Focus of Initial Hearings
The first public hearings examine the definition of antisemitism, its prevalence, and effects on the Jewish community. Counsel assisting Richard Lancaster SC explained that the commission aims to grasp how antisemitism manifests in Australia and its current characteristics.
Key Witnesses
Twelve witnesses share personal experiences, including Holocaust survivor Peter Halasz. Sheina Gutnick, whose father Reuven Morrison perished in the Bondi attack, and Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, also testify on day one. Some participants use pseudonyms to protect their safety and privacy.
Ongoing Inquiry Details
The commission has gathered over 7,400 submissions, with more anticipated. Two additional hearing blocks follow, culminating in a final report one year after the terror attack. Upcoming sessions address antisemitism’s drivers, its presence in institutions and industries, online hate, and the Bondi incident context. The initial block continues until next Friday.
