Out of the darkness

We are horrified by the targeted killing and injuring of Jewish people at Bondi Beach in Australia, who had come together to celebrate the first night of Chanukah. As secularists and humanitarians, we assert the rights of people of all religions and none to celebrate their customs and traditions in safety, and we condemn this antisemitic violence. As well as being wrong in itself, this not only destroys lives but also threatens the bonds of solidarity between Jews, Muslims and other minorities that are fundamental to our collective safety and wellbeing.

The Jewish Socialists’ Group is also appalled by the immediate use of the tragedy by politicians, the media and some religious leaders to incite hatred by conflating these murderers with people who are steadfastly campaigning for peace and justice, and against occupation and apartheid. We also condemn as antisemitic, the instant assertion by conspiracy theorists who claim to support the Palestinians that this was a a “false flag” operation.

We send our love and condolences to the Australian Jewish community and to the families and everyone close to those who have been killed or injured.

This Chanukah, we rededicate ourselves to working for a world in which peace, justice, freedom and enlightenment prevail for everyone.