Australia remains a safe place for Jewish people, the deputy prime minister has affirmed, despite Israel issuing travel warnings for its citizens looking to visit.
Israel has upgraded travel warnings to multiple countries, including Australia, following a rise in anti-Semitism stemming from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Travel warnings to Australia have been raised to level two, which urges Israeli citizens to take additional precautions while visiting.
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Richard Marles has urged greater social cohesion in Australia following the conflict.
“It’s really important that all of us, in what is a very difficult time globally, are looking after each other,” he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
“It is very important that as people legitimately express their views about what’s happening in the world, this is done in a peaceful manner … many in the Jewish community are finding this to be a very difficult time.”
The deputy prime minister said there had been a rise in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia since October 7, when Israel declared war on Hamas, which has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the federal government.
A temporary ceasefire, which allowed for hostages to be exchanged, has come to an end, but calls are growing for a more permanent pause in the conflict.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said the increased travel warning from Israel was a terrible stain on Australia.
“The idea that Jewish people or Israeli citizens would somehow have to take extra precautions in visiting Australia because of the rise of anti-Semitism … is something that must be tackled at the highest levels,” he told Sky News.
“We should be working to restore Australia’s reputation because we should be one of the safest countries in the world.”
The opposition has been calling for national cabinet to address rising anti-Semitism when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with state and territory leaders on Wednesday.
The upgrade to travel warnings is damning, says Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin.
“The fact that being identifiably Israeli or Jewish now comes with risks is a national shame,” he said.
“Many families have chosen to cover Jewish symbols and have warned their children not to mention Israel or anything Jewish in public.”
