A Bellevue Hill family returned from holiday to find their home defaced with a swastika and misspelled anti-Semitic graffiti, sparking fresh calls for action against rising anti-Semitism in Australia.
The attack, discovered on 15 December, targeted the home of Lesli Berger, the former president of the Jewish Board of Deputies.
A swastika and the misspelled German phrase “Jew Gate” were daubed on the family’s gate, leaving Berger and his three children feeling unsafe in their community. NSW Police are investigating, using fingerprint analysis and their graffiti tag database.
Mr Berger, whose grandparents were Holocaust survivors, expressed deep concern about the incident, saying it echoed the early signs of persecution they had described. He noted that anti-Semitic acts have surged in the past year, with incidents increasing by 316% since October 7, 2023.
Mr Berger has called for stricter enforcement of existing anti-Nazi laws and tougher decisions from magistrates to deter further hate crimes.
Woollahra Vandalism Spree
The Bellevue Hill attack comes amid another high-profile case of anti-Semitic vandalism in nearby Woollahra. On 20 November, up to 12 cars were defaced, a vehicle was set alight, and anti-Israel graffiti was sprayed on buildings, including the upscale restaurant Chiswick. Police stated that the vandalism specifically targeted Jewish individuals rather than the Israeli government.
Mohommed Farhat, 30, was arrested while attempting to leave the country for Bali. Forensic evidence, including GPS and Uber records, linked him to a vehicle used in the attacks.
During his court appearance on 18 December, the prosecution highlighted Mr Farhat’s prominent Hezbollah tattoo, citing it as evidence of ideological motivation. Mr Farhat’s bail request was denied, despite his family offering a $500,000 surety, as the court deemed him a risk to the community.
Community and Legal Responses
Community leaders and Jewish organisations have condemned the incidents, urging stronger enforcement of anti-Nazi laws, which in NSW carry penalties of up to 12 months in prison or an $11,000 fine. They argue that while such laws exist, they are not applied consistently, reducing their deterrent effect. Intelligence agencies have also warned about growing recruitment efforts by neo-Nazi and extremist groups in Australia.
David Ossip, the current president of the Jewish Board of Deputies, described the Bellevue Hill attack as “profoundly disturbing” and called for tougher judicial penalties to prevent the normalisation of such conduct. Meanwhile, Robert Gregor of the Australian Jewish Association referred to the incidents as part of an “epidemic” of anti-Semitic graffiti, particularly in Sydney.
Both incidents highlight a worrying trend of increasing anti-Semitism in Sydney, with the targeting of Jewish individuals and institutions causing widespread fear and insecurity in the community. Many see these acts as reminders of historical patterns of hate that demand immediate and decisive action.
Published 31-Dec-2024