A Melbourne council has taken decisive action by removing dozens of antisemitic stickers from street poles in Prahran, following a terrorist attack at Bondi Beach targeting Jews during a Hanukkah festival. Despite the council’s efforts, local residents express frustration, citing the issue as a persistent problem for over two years.
Businessman Shai Roitman, who works in the area, captured footage of the stickers being removed and shared it online, describing the council’s response as “too little, too late.” He explained, “It’s been horrible. I go for walking meetings with co-workers multiple times a day, and had to walk past them.” Roitman also noted the distress it caused his children, who questioned the presence of such hateful messages. “I had to explain, this is what antisemitism looks like,” he added.
Community Reaction and Council’s Response
The City of Stonnington, which hosts over 4,500 Jews, ranks as the second-largest Jewish population in Victoria. In a statement, the council acknowledged the distress caused by antisemitic or hateful material, including stickers, posters, and graffiti, in the community. A spokesperson emphasized, “Offensive graffiti, including antisemitic material, is prioritized for removal within two days of being reported, and usually within 24 hours.”
The council clarified that their procedures for removing such graffiti were established prior to the tragic events at Bondi Beach, ensuring action is taken regardless of the targeted group. However, Roitman, a commercial ratepayer, argues that offensive stickers have been accumulating near his business since 2023, following the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas. The recent Bondi attack has only heightened his frustration.
Local Efforts and Frustrations
Eugene Shafir, another local resident, reported contacting the council multiple times via the Snap Send Solve app about graffiti but received no response until this week. “I pull them down myself. There are a couple of other guys who go over them with a big black Texta, but every day there are more,” he said. Both Roitman and Shafir have welcomed the removal of the stickers this week and expect the council to maintain a proactive stance.
Understanding the Offensive Material
The offensive stickers and posters have added to the community’s distress, particularly following the Bondi massacre. One large poster featured a caricature of an Orthodox Jew alongside an offensive slogan, while another depicted a Jewish woman with words trivializing the Holocaust, a genocide that resulted in the murder of 6 million Jews.
“The offence these posters have caused to Roitman has intensified following the Bondi massacre, particularly as conspiracy theories spread online, attacking the dead, police, and 43-year-old Ahmed Al Ahmed, who bravely wrestled a gun from an attacker.”
Another sticker falsely accused Israel of killing its own citizens during the October 7 attack, despite clear evidence that Hamas and other Palestinian groups were responsible for the deaths of more than 2,000 people and the abduction of at least 251 individuals. Other stickers criticized the war in Gaza under Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which has been condemned internationally for its severity.
Broader Implications and Community Resilience
The magnitude of Israel’s response has been labeled “completely indefensible” by Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and condemned by several countries, including New Zealand, Canada, the UK, Japan, and numerous European nations. Meanwhile, local Jews like Roitman remain determined to combat antisemitism and ensure their community feels welcome and safe.
In the wake of the Bondi Beach attack, Roitman stressed the importance of standing up against antisemitism. “I’m not hiding, and I will never hide,” he declared. “Now, it’s about just keeping everyone accountable, you know, to this new standard that everyone is promising to follow.”
The council’s recent actions represent a step forward, but ongoing vigilance and community reporting will be essential to address antisemitism effectively in Melbourne.
