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An Australian Lesson: Voters Reject Identity Politics and Imported Extremism
Arsonists heavily damaged the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, Australia, on Dec. 6, 2024. Photo: Screenshot
In the lead-up to Australia’s 2025 federal election on May 21, 2025, the Jewish community harbored cautious optimism. Many hoped that the electorate would deliver a rebuke to the rising tide of antisemitism and the radicalization of political discourse, particularly from the Greens and certain “Teal” independents. There was a genuine desire for a government that would prioritize social cohesion, reject imported hatreds, and reaffirm Australia’s commitment to its Jewish citizens.
However, the election results delivered a sobering reality. The Australian Labor Party secured a decisive majority, surpassing expectations and eliminating the need for alliances with the Greens or Teal independents. For many in the Jewish community, this outcome was unexpected and deeply concerning. There had been a belief that Australians would reject the divisiveness creeping into politics from the far-left fringes. Instead, the Labor Party’s clear majority sent shockwaves through a community already grappling with rising antisemitism and a volatile international climate.
Labor’s victory was also marred by internal controversies that further unsettled the Jewish community. The abrupt removal of Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, a senior Jewish MP, from the cabinet raised serious questions about the party’s direction. While opinions on Dreyfus’ record are mixed within the community, his departure, alongside that of Ed Husic, the only Muslim cabinet minister, was widely viewed as a ruthless factional play — one that sidelined two prominent figures in favor of internal power deals. These developments have heightened concerns that Labor’s commitment to addressing antisemitism and managing Middle Eastern issues with a policy of balance and sensitivity may falter without clear, principled leadership.
Yet, amid these challenges, there was a glimmer of light. The Greens, long criticized for their embrace of radical rhetoric and their tolerance of antisemitic narratives under the guise of anti-Zionism, suffered a significant electoral blow. The loss of several key seats, including that of leader Adam Bandt, was not just a political defeat but a clear rejection of their extreme positions by the Australian public. For a Jewish community increasingly under siege from fringe activism and imported Middle Eastern conflicts, this was a welcome repudiation of divisive identity politics.
Similarly, the Teal independents — once seen as centrist and pragmatic — faced a reality check. While some retained their seats, their influence diminished, and their ambiguous stances on antisemitism and foreign policy left many Jewish voters wary. The failure of certain Teal MPs to unequivocally condemn antisemitic incidents or to articulate clear, principled positions on Israel contributed to a growing disillusionment among voters, who had once viewed them as a moderate alternative.
The 2025 election has thus served as both a wake-up call and a complex lesson for the Jewish community. While the diminished influence of the Greens and Teals offers some reassurance, the Labor majority — and the internal shifts within its leadership — raise new concerns. This outcome has reinforced the need for vigilance and proactive engagement. It is not enough to hope for political parties to “get it right” on their own. Sustained advocacy, education, and a unified voice are essential to ensure that the fight against antisemitism and the defense of democratic values remain central to Australia’s political discourse.
Ultimately, while the election results were not what many in the Jewish community had hoped for, they revealed important fault lines — and opportunities. The electorate’s rejection of extremism signals that Australians are not prepared to embrace the imported hatreds and ideological purity tests that have plagued other Western democracies. There remains a strong foundation of support for pluralism, social cohesion, and common-sense governance.
Australia’s experience is a valuable example for other Western democracies: voters will tolerate diversity of opinion, but not the politics of division and hate. For the Jewish community, and indeed for all Australians, the path forward is clear — stay engaged, stay vigilant, and never assume that the moral clarity of the majority will prevail without effort.
Michael Gencher is the Executive Director of StandWithUs Australia, an international education organisation that supports Israel and fights antisemitism.
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Brooklyn Nets Select Israeli Basketball Players Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf in NBA Draft
The opening tip between the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards, at Barclays Center, in Brooklyn, New York, Dec. 13, 2020. Photo: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect
In a landmark night for Israeli basketball, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf were selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft by the Brooklyn Nets, marking the first time two Israeli players have been drafted in the same year.
Saraf, a 19-year-old guard known for his explosive athleticism and creative playmaking, was taken with the 26th pick. A standout with Maccabi Rishon LeZion and a rising star on Israel’s youth national teams, Saraf gained international attention with his electrifying scoring and commanding court presence.
With the 27th pick, the Nets selected 7-foot center Danny Wolf out of the University of Michigan. Wolf, who holds dual US-Israeli citizenship and represented Israel at the U-20 level, brings a versatile skill set, including sharp passing, perimeter shooting, and a strong feel for the game. After his name was called, Wolf grew emotional in an on-air interview, crediting his family for helping him reach the moment.
“I have the two greatest brothers in the world; I have an unbelievable sister who I love,” Wolf said. “They all helped me get to where I am today, and they’re going to help me get to where I am going to go in this league.”
The historic double-pick adds to the growing wave of Israeli presence on the NBA stage, led by Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija, who just completed a breakout 2024–25 season. After being traded to Portland last summer, Avdija thrived as a starter, averaging 16.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. In March alone, he posted 23.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game, including two triple-doubles.
“I don’t think I’ve played like this before … I knew I had it in me. But I’m not really thinking about it. I’m just playing. I’m just free,” Avdija told reporters in March
With Saraf and Wolf joining Avdija, Israel’s basketball pipeline has reached unprecedented visibility. Israeli President Isaac Herzog called the moment “a national celebration for sports and youth,” and Israeli sports commentators widely hailed the night as “historic.”
Both Saraf and Wolf are expected to suit up for the Nets’ Summer League team in July. As the two rookies begin their NBA journey, they join a growing generation of Israeli athletes proving that their game belongs on basketball’s biggest stage.
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Iran Denies Any Meeting With US Next Week, Foreign Minister Says
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi attends a press conference following a meeting with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. Photo: Tatyana Makeyeva/Pool via REUTERS
Iran currently has no plan to meet with the United States, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday in an interview on state TV, contradicting US President Donald Trump’s statement that Washington planned to have talks with Iran next week.
The Iranian foreign minister said Tehran was assessing whether talks with the US were in its interest, following five previous rounds of negotiations that were cut short by Israel and the US attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The US and Israel said the strikes were meant to curb Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons, while Iran says its nuclear program is solely geared toward civilian use.
Araqchi said the damages to nuclear sites “were not little” and that relevant authorities were figuring out the new realities of Iran’s nuclear program, which he said would inform Iran’s future diplomatic stance.
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Ireland Becomes First European Nation to Advance Ban on Trade With Israeli Settlements
A pro-Hamas demonstration in Ireland led by nationalist party Sinn Fein. Photo: Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne
Ireland has become the first European nation to push forward legislation banning trade with Israeli communities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem — an effort officials say is meant “to address the horrifying situation” in the Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday, Irish Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Simon Harris announced that the legislation has already been approved by the government and will now move to the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade for pre-legislative scrutiny.
“Ireland is speaking up and speaking out against the genocidal activity in Gaza,” Harris said during a press conference.
The Irish diplomat also told reporters he hopes the “real benefit” of the legislation will be to encourage other countries to follow suit, “because it is important that every country uses every lever at its disposal.”
Today Ireland becomes the first country in Europe to bring forward legislation to ban trade with the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Ireland is speaking up and speaking out against the genocidal activity in Gaza.
Every country must pull every lever at its disposal. pic.twitter.com/Z4RTjqntEY— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) June 24, 2025
Joining a growing number of EU member states aiming to curb Israel’s defensive campaign against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, Ireland’s decision comes after a 2024 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared Israel’s presence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal.
The ICJ ruled that third countries must avoid trade or investment that supports “the illegal situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
Once implemented, the law will criminalize the importation of goods from Israeli settlements into Ireland, empowering customs officials to inspect, seize, and confiscate any such shipments.
“The situation in Palestine remains a matter of deep public concern,” Harris said. “I have made it consistently clear that this government will use all levers at its disposal to address the horrifying situation on the ground and to contribute to long-term efforts to achieve a sustainable peace on the basis of the two-state solution.”
“Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are illegal and threaten the viability of the two-state solution,” the Irish diplomat continued. “This is the longstanding position of the European Union and our international partners. Furthermore, this is the clear position under international law.”
Harris also urged the EU to comply with the ICJ’s ruling by taking a more decisive and “adequate response” regarding imports from Israeli settlements.
“This is an issue that I will continue to press at EU level, and I reiterated my call for concrete proposals from the European Commission at the Foreign Affairs Council this week,” he said.
Last week, Ireland and eight other EU member states — Finland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden — called on the European Commission to draft proposals for how EU countries can halt trade and imports with Israeli settlements, in line with obligations set out by the ICJ.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the latest move by European countries, calling it “shameful” and a misguided attempt to undermine Israel while it faces “existential” threats from Iran and its proxies, including Hamas.
“It is regrettable that even when Israel is fighting an existential threat which is in Europe’s vital interest — there are those who can’t resist their anti-Israeli obsession,” the top Israeli diplomat said in a post on X.
It is regrettable that even when Israel fighting an existential threat which is in Europe vital interest – there are those who can’t resist their anti-Israeli obsession.
Shameful! https://t.co/lxm9qm8sM1— Gideon Sa’ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) June 19, 2025
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