The Zionist Federation of Australia welcomes the Government's decision to establish a Royal Commission into antisemitism and the 14 December Bondi terrorist attack, and acknowledges the breadth of the terms of reference.
This decision reflects the clear and consistent calls of the Australian Jewish community, alongside a broad cross-section of Australian society, that the scale and severity of antisemitism confronting our country demands a serious national response.
We welcome the opportunity this Royal Commission provides to examine how antisemitic hatred was able to grow and become normalised, and to ensure that the lessons drawn from this process help strengthen our institutions, protect communities, and prevent anything like this from happening again.
The ZFA will continue to engage constructively with Government and the Royal Commission to ensure that Jewish Australians can live safely, confidently and without fear. Antisemitism is a threat not only to the Jewish community, but to Australia's values and social fabric.
Quotes attributable to Jeremy Leibler, President of the Zionist Federation of Australia
"The establishment of a Royal Commission is a necessary and important step, and the scope of its terms of reference provides a strong foundation for meaningful outcomes. The work now is to ensure the Commission is able to examine all relevant issues fully and rigorously, so it can follow the evidence wherever it leads and deliver practical reforms that strengthen the safety and wellbeing of Jewish Australians and the broader community."
Quotes attributable to Alon Cassuto, CEO of the Zionist Federation of Australia
"The Jewish community has been living with the consequences of a sustained and unprecedented rise in antisemitism. This Royal Commission must help answer how this was allowed to take hold in Australia, and what must now change to ensure Jewish Australians can live their lives safely and without fear. Getting this right is critical not just for our community, but for the health and resilience of Australian society as a whole."
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