Blinded by hate? Anti-Israel vitriol in Australia against Arabic-speaking Druze, Christian and Jewish veterans

Sydney has been the scene of some serious antisemitism lately, and the anti-Israel fury wasn’t quelled by the arrival of a multicultural delegation from the Jewish state seeking to build bridges. 

The mixed group of Jews and Arabic-speaking veterans nixed the accusation of apartheid by their very existence, but the facts didn’t seem to matter.

The advocacy group ISRAEL-is which organized the trip pointed out the irony: "Protesters label Israel as an 'apartheid state' and then attack non-Jewish young people who represent Israel's diversity and complexity and who themselves fight for its existence. This isn’t just absurd – it’s a missed opportunity to engage in the very dialogue they claim to promote."

ISRAEL-is was established by three Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officers who were exposed to a sea of negative views about Israel in the course of their post-army travels. Believing that sharing personal stories is a good way of building connections and challenging perspectives, the delegation went to Australia in the hope that dialogue would promote more understanding.

The group included Druze, Christian, and Jewish IDF veterans, as well as bereaved families from the Gaza war, and planned to tour university campuses across Australia. Instead of fostering connection, however, they were met with aggression and demonstrations.

Protesters denounced the group with signs warning students that there were “IDF soldiers on campus”. The diverse group who came hoping for a more nuanced interaction without simplistic slogans were disappointed, according to YNet News.

Shiran, the delegation leader, said, "We came to talk on an equal footing, not to argue. The participants' stories speak for themselves – they authentically reflect Israel’s true and diverse reality, challenging the narrative protesters are trying to create."

Gideon Abbas, a Druze fighter who lost his brother in Gaza, also said, "I am Druze, I am Israeli and I lost my brother in this war. It hurts to see people shouting at me without knowing anything about who I am or what I’ve been through. I came to talk, not to fight."

The delegation had come ready to share their own stories and perspectives, as well as giving students the opportunity to hear testimonies from Oct. 7 through the powerful virtual reality experience, “Survived to Tell”.

Challenging misconceptions about the IDF, Arab Christian combat veteran, Odelia from Ma’alot, traveled to Australia to share her point of view after losing her brother in the war. Also joining the group in Australia was Anthony, who came from a family of South Lebanon Army veterans but grew up in Israel. Now studying in Sydney, Anthony was able to share his perspective on the complexities of the Middle East. 

The trip was not wasted however, as some meaningful conversations did take place with students despite the protests and warnings.

Moreover YNet reported that the delegation were able to meet with members of parliament and with public figures. Some open discussions were held, albeit with tight security in place, and perhaps it is even more meaningful that despite the hostile circumstances there are still people eager to engage in peaceful discussion.