Australian Jews uneasy over UN push

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s latest international ambition comes at a particularly difficult time for Australia’s Jewish community.

The government has launched its campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2029 and 2030, reviving concerns about the country’s increasingly strained relationship with Israel and raising questions about how that relationship might be affected by Australia’s pursuit of international influence.

Since October 7, 2023, Australian Jews have faced unprecedented levels of antisemitism, leaving many feeling increasingly unsafe and abandoned by those entrusted to protect them. Against this backdrop, Albanese’s Security Council ambitions have added to existing concerns about the direction of Australian foreign policy and whether Israel will remain a priority as Canberra seeks international support.

In September 2025, Australia formally recognised a Palestinian state, joining Britain and Canada in what the government described as a coordinated effort to advance a two-state solution. The decision deeply troubled many within the Jewish community, particularly given the aftermath of October 7 and the absence of a negotiated peace agreement.

The government maintained that recognition would help create momentum towards peace, while critics questioned what had actually been achieved and whether the decision had diminished the incentive for a negotiated settlement.