Mark Dreyfus says antisemitism surge hits Jewish Australians after Oct 7 Gaza war

Former Attorney‑General and Labor MP Mark Dreyfus testified before Australia’s royal commission on antisemitism, saying the Jewish community has experienced a “breach of sense of safety” since the Oct 7 Hamas attack on Israel. He recounted personal abuse, including being called a “genocidal Zionist” outside Victoria’s State Library and a “kapo” in online comments, and expressed shock at the rise in antisemitic language.

Dreyfus highlighted the broader climate of threat to Jewish Australians, noting that community security groups are coordinating with law‑enforcement agencies. He also pointed out the division within the Australian‑Jewish community over the Gaza conflict and the political pressures faced by Jewish public figures.