In the wake of a horrific attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Australia, columnist John Robson delivers a stark analysis of antisemitism, describing it as a stubborn, vicious, and demonic force that uniquely defines moral standing in the modern world.
The Bondi Beach Massacre and the Twisted Response
The catalyst for Robson's examination is the tragic event of December 14, 2025, when two gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. The attack claimed 15 lives, including that of 10-year-old Matilda, the youngest victim. Yet, as Robson notes, the public and media reaction to this slaughter of Jews revealed a disturbing pattern. Instead of unified condemnation, segments of commentary quickly pivoted to accusations against the victims and Israel.
He highlights a quote from a visiting Ivy League professor and former Human Rights Watch executive, who framed the outrage over the killings as an obscene opportunity for the right to advance an "Islamophobic, anti-Palestinian agenda." Similarly, Robson criticizes a Globe and Mail report that framed the massacre as part of "a string of attacks on synagogues, Jewish institutions and individuals in Australia since Israel’s 2023 invasion of Gaza," a formulation he compares to blaming Polish forces for German aggression in 1939.
The Perverse Logic of Hating Virtue
Robson argues that to effectively combat antisemitism, one must first understand its irrational core. Jews are not hated for their failings, real or imagined, but for their virtues. He points to the historical resilience of the Jewish people—the rebirth of Israel and the Hebrew language after nearly two millennia—and traits like charity, intellectual passion, community cohesion, and effective self-defence.
These qualities, he contends, are celebrated in others but denounced in Jews. Efforts by Jewish communities to contribute to broader society, such as supporting gentile hospitals or museums, often fail to mollify critics and can instead inflame hatred further. This perverse dynamic sets antisemitism apart from other forms of bigotry, making it a persistent and uniquely corrosive ideology.
A Unique and Enduring Hatred
The column underscores that antisemitism is not a transient prejudice but a historical constant. Unlike other persecuted nations or groups that faded after conquest, the Jewish people and their identity have endured and thrived against all odds. This very endurance, Robson suggests, fuels the hatred.
He concludes that society cannot afford to dismiss antisemitism as just another regrettable hatred or lump it in with other forms of discrimination. Its persistence, "harder to kill than slime mould," rots minds, hearts, and the fabric of societies. The Bondi Beach attack and the twisted narrative that followed are not anomalies but manifestations of this ancient, demonic hatred that demands clear-eyed recognition and unequivocal opposition.
