Fighting for the right to hate | The West Report

#auspol Prohibition does not work, neither will these laws work. We unpack what the Hate Speech Bill is trying to do, why “adjacent terms” could become a compliance nightmare, and why vague definitions can hand enormous power to the executive to decide who counts as a hate group, and who gets targeted next. David Shoebridge on the hate group plotting: https://x.com/DavidShoebridge/status/...

Randa Abdel-Fattah on the COLLAPSE of the Adelaide Writers’ Festival with Jan Fran

In this episode, Jan Fran speaks with the woman at the centre of the Adelaide Writers Festival, Palestinian author and academic Randa Abdel-Fattah. The conversation is blunt and urgent. They talk about censorship, lobby pressure on cultural institutions, what it means to keep speaking as a Palestinian Australian as media outlets launder bad faith attacks, and the focus drifts anywhere but Gaza. Randa Abdel-Fattah on the Adelaide Writer's Festival collapse-The blatancy of anti-Palestinian racism and censorship.-Author withdrawals, Louise Adler's resignation and what 'cultural sensitivity' means.-How media fuels personal attacks and ignores live genocide.-Coordinated attacks that attempt to silence critics.-Distinguishing cultural safety from political ideologies like Zionism.-Practical steps and power of collective solidarity.-How previous attacks on her: Macquarie Uni and Bendigo Writers Festival.-How lobbyists pick their targets.-Who has the right to cultural safety?-Cathy Wilcox cartoon and SMH quasi apology.

The Antony Loewenstein Podcast: The Weaponisation Of Jewish Trauma Post Bondi by Antony Loewenstein

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In the first episode of 2026, Antony Loewenstein unpacks the political aftershocks of the Bondi attack and the fight now raging over how it’s being used. From the push for a Royal Commission to the weaponisation of antisemitism claims, to the shrinking space for Palestinian and Muslim voices in Australia’s cultural institutions, this is a clear-eyed look at how fear becomes policy and how dissent gets managed. Antony also breaks down the Adelaide Writers’ Week fallout and why Gaza has been pushed off the front page when it matters most.

The Party Line on the Bondi Royal Commission, Venezuela & Iran by Anneke Demanuele, Omar Sherrife & Jordan van den Lamb

Episode 16 - The party line on the Bondi Royal Commission, Venezuela and Iran A big one this week. The unhinged attacks on the Palestine movement and Anthony Albanese have continued for another week, and so your faithful hosts do their duty to take up the cudgels against the lies once again. Our highlight is a Canberra Times editorial calling for “rabble rousers” to be forcibly brought before a House of un-Israelian Activities Committee. It takes us some time to respond to a bunch of the rubbish being put forward to justify this McCarthyist witch hunt by some of the most racist scum in Australia. But once that’s done, we take a look at Trump’s appalling aggression against Venezuela and what it says about international politics at the moment, before wrapping up with a look at the heroic protest and strike wave sweeping Iran right now with Iranian socialist Bella Beiraghi.

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The Biggest Propaganda Campaign in Australian History? | The West Report by Michael West

Australia now has a Royal Commission into antisemitism, announced belatedly in the wake of the Bondi attacks. But how did we get here, and who shaped the agenda? We examine the terms of the RC, and the coordinated media and lobbying campaign that followed the Bondi tragedy, the role of political advocacy groups, and the pressure placed on the federal government to narrow the scope of the inquiry. To stick a PR judge in the job. We look at attempts to derail the appointment of former High Court Justice Virginia Bell, questions around the proposed terms of reference, and whether the Commission will examine all drivers of antisemitism, including political extremism, foreign influence, and institutional failures. Will it cover the behaviour and role of Israel and its proponents in Australia? We also discuss the distinction between antisemitism and criticism of the state of Israel, the use of the IHRA definition, and the implications for free speech, protest rights, and social cohesion in Australia.

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Rabbi EXPOSES Israel in Bondi Beach Attacks by Katie Halper who interviews Antizionist Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro and historian Samuel Biagetti

Antizionist Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro and historian Samuel Biagetti explain why Israel is to blame for the increase in antisemitic attacks.

Samuel Biagetti holds a doctorate in early American history. He uses his knowledge in his antique dealership, in producing the podcast Historiansplaining, in his writings, and in giving college-level lectures. Yaakov Shapiro is an international speaker, author, and pulpit rabbi for over 30 years, now emeritus. He has attained an enviable place in the arena of anti-Zionist public intellectuals, having constructed a unique oeuvre on the ideology of Zionism and its relationship to Judaism. After graduating high school at age 16, Rabbi Shapiro dedicated himself to full-time study of religion, becoming the protégé of some of the most well-regarded rabbinic scholars in Orthodoxy. Among his areas of research are religious philosophy, analytic theology, Talmud, Halachah, and Biblical exegesis. At age 19 he published his first book, משפטי הבירורים, a collection of original expositions on rabbinic principles of tort adjudication. His other books include חלקת השדה, a commentary on Judaic laws governing land disputes (2000); צדה לדרך, a commentary on Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato’s exposition of God as the Necessary Being (2009); and שופריה דיעקב, a compendium of original Biblical exegeses (2017). His most recent work, The Empty Wagon: Zionism’s Journey from Identity Crisis to Identity Theft (2018), a 1381-page treatise on the differences between Judaism and Zionism, is the most comprehensive work written on the subject and considered by many to be definitive. Rabbi Shapiro’s videos on Zionism have been seen by millions of viewers worldwide and translated into several foreign languages. His 7-minute video on President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has been viewed over 1.8 million times. He has lectured for live audiences of thousands. Rabbi Shapiro is a recipient of the Community Leadership Award from Agudath Israel of America; the Keser Torah Award from Yeshiva Torah Vodaath; Harbotzas Torah award from Yeshiva Bais Yisroel; Parent of the Year Award from Bnos Yisroel; and a post-rabbinical scholarship award from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture.

The party line on how Bondi is being weaponised against Palestine by Anneke Demanuele, Omar Sherrife & Jordan van den Lamb

'Episode 15 - The party line on how Bondi is being weaponised against Palestine ft Amy Remeikis As the dust settles on the horrific Bondi shooting, the nature of the bigoted onslaught has become clearer. This episode starts by looking at the tirade of lies and far-right propaganda spread by The Australian and other media outlets. Given Jillian Segal’s prominence, we do a little digging into her family’s history as managers of hyper-exploitative diamond mining companies in Apartheid South Africa as well as her links with racist lobby group, Advance Australia. To get a deeper look at the media landscape of the backlash we interview journalist Amy Remeikis on the media response to Bondi and how they have normalised racism and anti-Palestinian politics. We then take a look at the appalling attacks on rights going on in the UK, where the government has banned Palestine Action and has sought to criminalise support for the Palestinian people and their resistance to genocide, a direction that Australian state and federal governments appear to be moving in. NSW Premier Chris Minns gets a particular shout-out, as a key protagonist in the moves to censor pro-Palestine speech and increase authoritarianism and anti-protest laws in Australia. Finally, we explore the tensions in the ALP around this issue and why Albanese has invited the Israeli President, Isaac “no innocent civilians in Gaza” Herzog, to visit Australia.'

Content Israel's propaganda machine endangers every Jew on the planet - including me | Middle East Eye: https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion...

Politicising a Terror Attack | Michael West: https://michaelwest.com.au/politicisi...

Jillian Segal's plan to combat antisemitism straight from lobby group wish-list | Tom Tanuki: https://independentaustralia.net/poli...

Black South Africans mine-workers [including employees of the Segal family] under Apartheid | The CJPME Foundation: https://www.cjpmefoundation.org/black...

Massacre as political theatre: our shameful national response to Bonde | Amy Remeikis: https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/2512...

Chabad Picks a Side: The Ben-Gvir Alliance | Shomrim: https://www.shomrim.news/eng/chabad-b...

Huge thanks to our tireless editors Charlie Wardrop and Persephone Waxman.

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Arrested for a T Shirt: How Far Will Authorities Go to Silence Dissent | The West Report by Michael West

How the Israel lobby perverted the justice system. Police have dropped all charges against the man arrested at Bondi Beach for wearing an anti-Israel T shirt. After a year of court dates, strict bail and public scrutiny, the case ends without conviction and without explanation. This episode asks what that means for free speech in Australia and why the process itself became the punishment.

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Yes, a Bondi Royal Commission but ... | The West Report by Michael West

If there is to be a Royal Commission into the deadly Bondi Beach shootings, it must not presume blame. It must have broad terms of reference; not be concocted as a political stunt to attack Albanese, peace protestors, Muslims. Everything must be in scope - broad terms of reference and an independent Commissioner with credibility #auspol #israel #antisemitism

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Pro-Palestine Jewish journalist ANTONY LOEWENSTEIN unpacks the Bondi ter...

Independent journalist Antony Loewenstein joins Jan Fran to discuss how he's processing the Bondi terror attacks both as a Jewish man and long-time advocate for Palestine. Antony and Jan move through the tension between allowing victims time to grieve and needing to challenge political agendas that seek to curb our civil liberties. Antony talks through what he believes is driving the rise in antisemitism, and why parts of the Jewish diaspora feel increasingly alienated from Israel. He also lays out why the crowd must keep speaking and moving, even when the powerful wish the masses would go silent.

Israel is Weaponising Australia's Tragedy by Friendly Jordies

In a time that should be for reflection and support Israel immediately took action to weaponise a tragedy.

Friendly Jordies

You won't believe what was said at this Tel Aviv Weapons conference by Michael West

Exclusive footage from inside an Israeli global defence tech conference reveals how war is being openly sold as a growth industry. Weapons executives and financiers discuss Gaza as a testing ground, the normalisation of mass killing, and the profits flowing from conflict, including Australian government links. This investigation follows the money behind the arms trade, from Gaza to Iran to the next great power war, and asks who really benefits while civilians pay the price. #China #auspol

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EXCLUSIVE: Australian Jewish Journalist Exposes Israel's Weaponization of the Bondi Terr*ri$t Attack: Robert Inlakesh with Yaakov Aharon

In the aftermath of the Bondi Beach terr*ri$t attack targeting a Hanukkah gathering, public mourning was rapidly overtaken by political narratives that conflated antisemitism with criticism of Israel and fueled Islamophobic fear-mongering. In this interview with Palestine Chronicle' Robert Inlakesh, anti-Zionist Jewish journalist Yaakov Aharon reflects on the impact of the attack within Sydney’s Jewish community, the role of the Israeli government and its allies in shaping the public narrative, and the dangers of weaponizing antisemitism to silence pro-Palestinian voices. The discussion also highlights the heroic actions of Ahmed al-Ahmed, a Syrian Muslim father who intervened during the terr*ri$t attack and helped prevent further loss of life—challenging prevailing stereotypes and exposing the distortions that followed. 📚 Find Robert Inlakesh's feature about the interview here: https://www.palestinechronicle.com/an...

The Antony Loewenstein Podcast: My Comments on the Bondi Attack by Antony Lowenstein

Recorded less than 24 hours after the horrific massacre in Bondi, Sydney, this episode is a raw, urgent response to violence, fear, and the political weaponisation that has already followed. Speaking as a Jewish Australian, I reflect on grief, anger, and the dangers of conflating antisemitism with criticism of Israel. I unpack how pro-Palestine movements are being blamed without evidence, why knee-jerk calls for expanded police powers and immigration crackdowns should alarm us all, and how fear is being exploited to silence dissent. 

Politicising a Terror Attack | Scam of the Week by Michael West

IDF security guards to roam the streets of Sydney? Criticism of Israel to be outlawed? Protests banned, media and universities monitored, the threat of defunding for antisemitism? This episode examines how the Bondi Beach attacks were rapidly politicised, before the facts were established and while families were still grieving. Instead of restraint, Australia witnessed an immediate rush to blame, agenda setting by foreign leaders, and a media cycle that prioritised outrage over evidence. We look at how the tragedy was leveraged to justify new crackdowns on protest, expanded surveillance, and policies that blur the line between combating antisemitism and restricting legitimate political speech. We examine the role of lobby groups, the adoption of the IHRA definition, and the implications for media freedom, public broadcasters, universities, and civil society.

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How Israel Exploited the Bondi Beach Shooting to Attack Palestine by US Journalists Katie Halper joins Rania Khalek and Zoe Alexandra

In the immediate aftermath of the Bondi Beach mass shooting, Israeli officials rapidly moved to politicize the tragedy, with Netanyahu blaming it on Australia’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state earlier this year and Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar declaring it as a result of worldwide calls to “globalize the intifada.” Journalist Katie Halper joins Rania Khalek and Zoe Alexandra to dismantle these claims. She analyzes how the shooting has been weaponized to attack the pro-Palestine movement, arguing that equating anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism is not only inaccurate, but makes Jews less safe.

How the Bondi terror attack was reported by Antoinette Lattouf & Jan Fran

In this episode, Jan and Antoinette focus on the first 24-hours of media coverage of the antisemitic terrorist attack in Bondi that left 15 people dead. They examine how the story unfolded, which voices were given prominence, the role of social media in circulating original and often horrifying footage, and how easily misinformation spreads as well as how certain narratives take hold. It is a careful, unsparing look at how news is constructed and at politicised under pressure, and what is lost when speed overtakes care. Support Ette Media by becoming a subscriber www.ettemedia.com

The Bondi massacre and the right-wing backlash by the Party Line: Anneke Demanuele, Omar Sherrife & Jordan van den Lamb

Episode 13 - The Bondi massacre and the right-wing backlash The massacre in Bondi struck the heart of decent people across Australia. It was shocking to see the murder of 15 Jewish people by suspected gunmen with links to ISIS. This special episode was recorded in the first days after the event, and tries to unpack the first responses by the media, the ALP, LNP, Pauline Hanson and Bob Katter. In general, the horror of the attack has been amplified by the racist and anti-Palestinian response, which seeks to manipulate the tragedy for political ends. Benjamin Netanyahu’s absurd claim that Australia’s recognition of Palestinian statehood is somehow to blame was typical of this reactionary tidal wave. Also significant has been NSW Premier Chris Minn’s decision to rush through even more anti-protest laws under the guise of solidarity with the Jewish community.

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The Government is using a tragedy to crack down on free speech | The West Report by Michael West

In the aftermath of the Bondi massacre, Australian governments are moving fast. Too fast, and in the wrong direction. Before investigations are complete, before facts have settled, political leaders and sections of the media are already using the tragedy to justify sweeping crackdowns on peaceful protest and political dissent. We examine threats against Jewish peace activists, the failure of police responses, the push to expand the IHRA definition of antisemitism, and the growing pressure on Albanese to adopt measures that could reshape public debate across universities, media, arts organisations and civil society. Gun laws saved lives in the wake of the Port Arthur massacre. Curtailing free speech will not.

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How the Media is Weaponising the Bondi Terror Attack | The West Report by Joshua Barnett

In the aftermath of the Bondi attack, facts were still emerging while parts of the media rushed ahead with speculation, political framing and culture war narratives. In this episode of The West Report, we examine where journalism crossed the line into commentary, how misinformation spread in real time, and why duty of care matters most when lives are lost and communities are grieving.

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