Australian universities, historically vibrant hubs of activism and passionate debate, are now facing intense scrutiny from a national inquiry into antisemitism and social cohesion. This week, the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion directed its focus onto the nature of anti-Israel protest movements on campuses, unearthing disturbing accounts of racial and religious vilification.

Jewish staff and students recounted distressing experiences of being individually targeted by pro-Palestine activists. Testimonies detailed how their identity became conflated with the actions of the state of Israel, leading to feelings of profound distress and alienation. Melbourne University's acting vice-chancellor, Glyn Davis, unequivocally labelled this phenomenon as antisemitism, stating that it is an "unambiguously" problematic "conflation of the Jewish identity with the actions of a nation state."

Early Warnings Ignored, Vulnerable Students Isolated

For many within the Jewish community, these admissions from university leadership come too late. Concerns about rising antisemitism on campuses were reportedly raised well before the emergence of the 2024 protest encampments. Jeremy Leibler, representing the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA), revealed he began alerting vice-chancellors to the issue during the pandemic. He cited an example of a gay law student at Melbourne University, wearing a Star of David, who was told they were unwelcome in an LGBTQ+ group due to being a Zionist.

Mr. Leibler highlighted that many of these Jewish students are progressive and not inherently hostile to critiques of Israel. "Criticism of Israel is entirely legitimate, and these kids are very comfortable having Israel as a state criticised," he stated, underscoring that many are "left-wing Jews that are critical of the government." Despite their nuanced views, Jewish students felt increasingly isolated, with existing campus complaints processes often lacking the specific mechanisms to report antisemitic conduct, as the unique dual nature of Jewish identity (both religious and national) complicated classification.

The Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) further substantiated these claims, commissioning a survey to quantify the issue. The findings were stark: 64 percent of Jewish students reported experiencing antisemitism, and 57 percent admitted to actively hiding their Jewish identity while on campus. AUJS president Jeremy Suss testified before the Royal Commission, expressing that universities had lost sight of their fundamental duty to ensure student safety. "Universities have had a long time to act on this issue, and for the most part, they really haven't," he asserted, emphasizing that campuses should be places of study free from intimidation and violence.

Encampments Escalate Tensions and Outside Influence

The situation intensified significantly in 2024 with the establishment of protest encampments at universities across the country. These camps, set up by pro-Palestine activists campaigning against Israel's military actions in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attack, became hotbeds of tension. Reports indicated that some encampments, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, attracted a mix of students and external activists, escalating the confrontational nature of the protests.

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), the peak standards body for the tertiary sector, intervened in May, urging universities to implement measures to restrict access for non-students and, if necessary, involve law enforcement. Dr. Mary Russell from TEQSA explained that the "introduction of outside actors... saw a much more aggressive, heated and personalised expression of protests and ideas," often directly targeting Jewish students and staff.

Mr. Leibler further noted that this atmosphere turbo-charged hostility towards individual Jewish community members, who felt abandoned by university administrations. He described a narrative where Jewish students were often categorized as "the oppressor" due to their Jewish identity, connection to Israel, or even classic antisemitic tropes.

Universities Under Fire for Inconsistent Responses

The Royal Commission heard that many universities were caught unprepared by the scale and duration of the encampments, despite similar protests unfolding internationally. University of Sydney vice-chancellor Mark Scott admitted his institution "didn't anticipate an encampment," acknowledging it was an unprecedented development in the university's protest history. Both the University of Sydney and the Australian National University have since apologized for their initial "light touch" approaches, which allowed encampments to persist for months.

In contrast, Monash University vice-chancellor Sharon Pickering was lauded by some in the Jewish community for her swift action against an encampment, particularly after signs emerged stating "Zionists were not welcome." Mr. Leibler remarked on the stark difference in outcomes when university leadership was prepared to "very clearly take a stand and send signals to what they considered acceptable and unacceptable behaviour." Jennifer Westacott, Chancellor of Western Sydney University, also publicly criticized her colleagues, accusing some of hiding behind academic freedom to permit placards calling for harm against Jews.

Following his appearance before the Commission, Professor Scott reassured University of Sydney staff of the institution's "support for the Jewish community," detailing "significant steps to deliver meaningful change" since October 2023. Other universities are also reportedly implementing reforms to prevent similar future occurrences.

Navigating the Path Forward: Free Speech vs. Safety

The inquiry has underscored the immense challenge facing universities: redefining the delicate balance between upholding the right to protest and ensuring the safety and well-being of all staff and students. Achieving a consensus on this balance, particularly concerning the interpretation of contentious protest chants, remains an uphill battle.

Yasmine Johnson, a Jewish co-convener of Students for Palestine who helped organize the Sydney encampment, dismissed the idea that protests created fear for Jewish individuals as "farcical." She argued that chants like "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" are not expressions of hate or calls for genocide, as some within the Jewish community and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have suggested. This fundamental disagreement highlights the deep divisions that universities must now navigate in their quest to foster inclusive and respectful environments for all members of their diverse communities.