Need to call out hate

Need to call out hate

Your Editorial’s plea for societal action against exponentially growing anti-Semitism in Melbourne is being effectively undermined by governments, both state and federal (“Test we must not fail”, SHS, 6/10).

The depressing realisation that “Melbourne has become the epicentre of hatred towards Jewish people in Australia”, representing no less than 44 per cent of nationally reported “despicable” acts of racist discrimination across our once tolerant and respectful nation, is damning.

Unfortunately, it is the direct failure of governments, both state and federal, to strenuously call out and severely punish all breaches of social harmony within Australian society.

We as a nation have elected politicians to ensure that our social contract of democratic rights and freedoms are genuinely protected and defended at all times.

Our once civilised communities are being unfairly overrun, possibly terrorised, by emotionally traumatising events promoting ideological causes that divide us as a nation.

Our elected officials have a mandate to protect us all from those whose desire is to cause us harm, either mentally or physically.

While cherishing every Australian’s intrinsic right to free speech, this right is not a licence to inflict pain and distress on our fellow human nor does it sanction deliberately distressing our Jewish citizens.

Lyle Geyer, Essendon

Tricked by terrorists

David Penberthy’s column “Protesters should worry about the company they keep” (SHS, 6/10) was a tremendous commentary on how the pro-Palestine rabble are being tricked by radical terrorist activists into thinking that these demonstrations are going to make one ounce of difference in what is happening n the Middle East.

Israel has on numerous occasions offered a two-state solution but that is not conducive of what the axis of evil, Iran, wants.

Iran wants the destruction of Israel and continues to finance the likes of Hezbollah and Hamas to do their dirty work for them.

And the pro-Palestine demonstrators are being used to propagate the anti-Semitic activities in Australia

Dale J. Wise, Wallan

Labor split on Israel

Peta Credlin was spot on in her column “Weakness allows hate to march among us” (SHS, 6/10).

The moral courage shown by NSW Premier Chris Minns over the October 7 anniversary pro-Palestinian protest marchers in our major cities highlights a watershed moment for the Left and Right factions of the ALP.

Who would have thought that the baby boomers of the Labor Left who marched in unison with the Labor Right in the anti-Vietnam war protests of the 1960s are now marching side by side through our city streets with those who have sworn to wipe every Jewish person from the face of the earth in the Middle East?

Labor, the party that has always prided itself as the human rights champion of the Aussie underdog, is tearing itself apart morally and politically over Israel, a country that is fighting for its very existence in a region of fanatical anti-Semitic hatred.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong are now facing Labor’s greatest challenge of the millennium, perhaps in its history since Federation, to unite a critically fractured party that is facing moral and political bankruptcy in the Australian electorate.

John Bell, Heidelberg Heights

I’m not Jewish but I am feeling very unsafe living in Victoria. I can’t imagine what it must be like for the Jews living here. Victoria leads the nation in acts of anti-Semitism. We have a weak socialist government that enables this gross hatred.

Ian, East Ringwood

Someone should explain to Albanese and Wong that Hamas and Hezbollah are not interested in a two-state solution and are happy to sacrifice innocent lives.

Marcus