Gold Coast to host mayors summit on antisemitism
Mayor Tom Tate confirmed Gold Coast will host an Australian Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism in September.
Hundreds of mayors from across the nation will receive invitations in the week ahead to attend Combat Antisemitism Movement’s (CAM) inaugural Australian Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism, to be held in the Gold Coast from September 3-5.
CAM’s Israel-based chief operating officer Yigal Nisell – who lived and worked in Sydney from 2016-2022 as JNF’s NSW Shaliach – said Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate confirmed last week that his Local Government Area will proudly host the summit, which CAM will deliver in partnership with Never Again is Now (NAIN), the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies, and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
High level local government officials and managers, Australian and international experts on antisemitism, representatives from Australian Jewish organisations, and religious figures committed to promoting inter-faith ties, will also participate in the summit.
It will be co-chaired by summit organising committee members, esteemed members of the Australian Jewish community David Gonski, Stanley Roth, Dr Orna Triguboff, and Dr Ron Weiser.
Nisell told The AJN, “Because the Jewish community in Australia is so close to me personally, and knowing the unprecedented level that antisemitism has reached in Australia in the past 14 months, the fact that we [CAM] are bringing this summit to fruition in the Gold Coast, is really a dream come true”.
“CAM has worked all over the world in recent years – with 1,400 mayors at mayoral summits in North America, Latin America, and Europe – to discuss, engage, and set action plans to address antisemitism,” Nisell said.
“Just two months ago, almost 200 mayors from North America participated in our our latest summit in Beverley Hills.
“So we know that these summits actually work, and make a tangible difference.
“Mayors live in, represent, and understand their local communities, so they have a unique ability to be proactive in countering antisemitism, with city-focused strategies.
“And we have already just seen the impact of what Australian mayors can do in Greater Sydney, with 21 mayors signing a united statement to condemn the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents, as well as violence, hatred and extremism targeting racial and faith-based communities.
“One of the key drivers of that was Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh, and we will be bringing that up at the summit.”
Nisell said he is hopeful that up to 150 Australian mayors will attend the summit, where they will have the opportunity to participate in panel discussion, ask questions, share ideas, learn best practices, and foster collaborations.
“We will also ask summit participants to commit to utilising our Municipal Antisemitism Action Index, to develop and implement strategies to counter antisemitism in their municipalities.
“We are grateful that Mayor Tate has taken the lead to host this summit in the Gold Coast, and we’re thankful to all our summit co-chairs and partners.”
Nisell said CAM would welcome additional corporate sponsorship support to help cover the summit’s cost.
Expressions of interest can be made by email at yigal@combatantisemitism.org
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