Australia’s sanctions on extremist Israeli settlers have drawn accusations of antisemitism, but criticism of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians must not be confused with hatred of Jewish people.

A major national news item of 10 June, 2026: “Tensions have flared again between Australia and Israel after the federal government joined a coalition of countries to impose extra sanctions on extremist settlers in the West Bank and the organisations that support them.

“Israel lashed out at Australia and the other countries for adopting what it labelled “disgraceful” sanctions, accusing them of fuelling antisemitism in their own nations”.

What bubble of deluded self-righteousness do the Israeli leadership and its supporters worldwide live in?

It is the cruelty manifested towards Palestinians and an inexcusable grab for Palestinian property by illegal Israeli settlers on the West Bank, together with the continuing onslaught in Gaza, coupled with overreach into Lebanon, that is causing a perceived rise in antisemitism. But is it antisemitism? There can be no excuse for swastikas, racist tropes, defacing holy places, threatening Jewish citizens, let alone recourse to violence. All such actions are to be condemned. Those who engage in them – presumably out of misplaced identity with Palestine – are doing harm to Palestinians and those who support them. They are replicating the very actions they are actively opposing.

What is most frequently called antisemitism is not. It is necessary........

© Pearls and Irritations