So we have a fuss over Jillian Segal, the anti-Semitism Envoy promoting a definition of anti-Semitism which would criminalise all criticism of Israel and its crimes and do nothing to fight anti-Semitism.
The definition has been condemned by nearly 140 organisations, including Amnesty International and the Jewish Council of Australia.
Even the original author, the United States historian Kenneth Stern has since distanced himself from the definition, arguing it too closely conflates criticism of Zionism and Israel with antisemitism.
With the reporting of the donation of $50,000 from her family trust by her husband to the extreme right group Advance Australia the story becomes darker.
Advance Australia is a hard right lobby group supported by Tony Abbott and funded in part by David Adler the recent president and spokesperson for the Australian Jewish Association, (AJA).
The AJA has been criticised by other Jewish organisations as being extremist, and for its association with far-right figures including Pauline Hanson.
The AJA is in good company. Advance Australia is an anti-immigrant anti-Muslim lobby group with links to the Liberal Party which is its biggest funder by far.
It has waged disinformation campaigns against climate change and the Aboriginal Voice to Parliament and spent millions at the last federal election ensuring the defeat of the Greens, including the loss of the leader, Adam Bandt’s seat.
Segal’s own political partisanship also stands out. She is a former president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, (ECAJ), an organisation which has consistently defended Israel’s genocide in Gaza and attacked advocates for Palestine.
In August 2023 Segal joined the Zionist Federation of Australia in condemning the Labor governments decision to oppose illegal Israeli settlements and objected to the government using the term “Occupied Palestinian Territories”.
Again in November 2023, Segal in her role as president of ECAJ co-signed a statement with the Zionist Federation of Australia denouncing the Australian government for expressing concern over Israel’s bombardment of hospitals.
She also opposed Australia’s support for a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire.
With a track record like this it should come as no surprise that Ms Segal is promoting hard line pro-Israel views and trying to criminalise criticism of Israel.
Just as Advance Australia is an oxymoron which in no way advances Australia, so too is the title anti-Semitism Envoy.
Given all the controversy it is time for a more appropriate rebranding.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Jillian Segal, Netanyahu’s Voice to Parliament.
Comments