Neo-Nazi flyers target Caulfield Jewish Community
Video of Neo-Nazis dressed as Hasidic Jews targeting polling booth in Kew on social media
Neo-Nazi flyers titled “Giving the Jews everything they want” have been delivered to homes across Caulfield, Melbourne, an area with one of Australia’s highest Jewish populations.
It’s sparked widespread condemnation from community leaders and politicians.
The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) said the pamphlets were authorised by the National Socialist Network, describing them as “flagrantly antisemitic and designed to unnerve the Jewish community.”
ZFA President Jeremy Leibler denounced the incident, stating: “Jewish people, like all Australians, have a right to feel safe in their own homes, and not under siege from extremists who want to do us harm.”
“Over the last 18 months, ridiculous and hateful conspiracy theories have been spread about Australian Jews. It’s dangerous, and it must be rejected by all Australians,” Leibler added.
Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) CEO Naomi Levin ihas called for stronger action against the man behind the flyers.
“Joel Davis, the individual who has authorised these pamphlets, should not be on the streets. This is the same person who stood on the steps of Victoria’s Parliament House and incited violence against our community, who is on bail in South Australia for displaying a Nazi symbol,” Levin said.
“This grotesque flyer is the latest in a string of dangerous and racist behaviour by Davis. This is not free speech. It is hate speech. Enough is enough”.
Liberal candidate Benson Saulo condemned the materials featuring a manipulated Liberal logo, saying, “There is no place for racism in Australia, and I am always proud to stand with the Jewish community and Israel.”
State MP for Caulfield, David Southwick, revealed that the flyers had been delivered directly to his office.
“Overnight, neo-Nazi flyers were letterboxed across Caulfield — a community with one of the largest Jewish populations in the country. My staff arrived at work this morning to find one slipped under my office door,” he said.
Southwick noted this follows the “defacement of Benson Saulo’s campaign corflutes with swastikas across the electorate — including at my own home.”
“Let me be crystal clear: this is not politics. This is hate. And it has no place in our community,” Southwick stated.
Later on Wednesday, people dressed in crude outfits meant to look like Hasidic Jews were seen at a polling booth in Kew handing out the pamphlets and saying things like “Give the Jews free money”.
Labor MP for Macnamara, Josh Burns, also experienced antisemitic vandalism overnight, with his billboard defaced with a red Star of David painted over his face.
“These are not isolated incidents. This has been the lived reality for me, and my Jewish staff members, for a long time now. It hurts. But it doesn’t just hurt us,” Burns said.
“Australia has one of the highest populations of Holocaust survivors in the world. This graffiti is reminiscent of the worst times in my community’s history,” he added.
Referring to the pamphlets delivered overnight in Caulfield, Burns said “After being on pre-poll the overall majority of people are polite and hopeful – our community won’t be intimidated by hatred and idiots who seek to divide us. Our country is stronger and better than their ugly racism”.
Burns declared he would wear his Star of David necklace “even prouder than I was yesterday – because hate and racism will never win.”
UPDATE
An election poster for the Liberal candidate for Chisholm, Dr Katie Allen, was also vandalised with a red Star of David on Wednesday.
The AJN has contacted Dr Allen for comment.
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