Imams council claims commitment to Jewish community

The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) says it remains “committed to working constructively” with the Jewish community and other faith groups, in a submission to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.

It also urges a clear separation between antisemitism and criticism of Israel.

In the 21-page submission dated 18 May, ANIC condemned antisemitism in “the strongest possible terms”, defining it as “harassing, intimidating, discriminating against, or advocating violence toward Jewish people because they are Jewish”.

The council reiterated its condemnation of the Bondi terror attack and said it stood in solidarity with the Jewish community against the “evil act”.

However, formal interfaith dialogue between the Muslim and Australian Jewish communities collapsed in the weeks following October 7 and has not resumed.

The AJN has approached the Imams Council on multiple occasions seeking comment on matters affecting both Jews and Muslims in Australia and has yet to receive a single response.

The submission argues that recent responses to antisemitism have prioritised one community over others.

ANIC singled out the NSW Government’s amendments to Section 93Z of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) and the federal Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Act 2026, saying both focused on race and ethno-religious identity while leaving religious hatred, including Islamophobia, inadequately addressed.

The council also criticised the decision by the NSW Premier, Chris Minns, to illuminate the Sydney Opera House in the colours of the Israeli flag following October 7, arguing similar gestures had not been extended to tragedies affecting other communities.

ANIC took aim at the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, citing concerns from some Jewish scholars and organisations that its application risked capturing legitimate political criticism.

The submission referenced the fringe Jewish Council of Australia’s position that “antisemitism is the hatred of Jewish people as Jews… it is not antisemitic to criticise Israel’s military actions or support Palestinian freedom”.

The submission quoted unrepresentative Jewish figures such as journalist Antony Loewenstein, child Holocaust survivor Dr Gabor Maté, Israeli historian Professor Ilan Pappé and writer Naomi Klein in arguing that equating Jewish identity with Israeli state policy can itself reinforce harmful stereotypes.

ANIC recommended that efforts to combat antisemitism maintain a clear distinction between hostility toward Jewish people and criticism of governments or political ideologies such as Zionism.