Key Facts

• In December 2025, a shooting attack during a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney killed 15 people.
• The Australian government created a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion in response to this attack.
• The commission used the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism, which includes some criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic.
• Critics say this definition confuses criticism of Israel’s policies with attacks on Jewish people.
• The report warns this confusion limits free public debate about Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
• Australia’s official stance supports Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself, but this is seen by some as allowing harsh Israeli actions without enough scrutiny.
• The report highlights that Australian Jews have diverse views, and not all support the Israeli government’s actions.
• The commission stresses that hatred or violence against Jews is unacceptable, but criticizing Israel’s government should be allowed.