Now is the time to simply say: Jewish lives matter. May we rise above the horror and national shame to be a better and stronger country
I for one am reeling. I am overwhelmed with sorrow and grief for the murdered and their families, friends and communities.
It is a time, above and well before all else, for supporting them – no community or religious group should be killed or live in fear no matter their beliefs, customs or even allegiances.
Children, Holocaust survivors, religious leaders all have had their fundamental right – to life – abridged by a father and son on a mission. Because they were Jewish. No more, no less – just because of their faith.
And in this initial period, I know what it is not time for. It is not time to blame Anthony Albanese for failing to do what Benjamin Netanyahu or some in the Jewish community demanded. It is not time to stifle criticism of Israel under the guise of stopping antisemitism. It is not time (yet) to investigate the possible failings of our intelligence services in anticipating and stopping this. It is not time to ban protests and shy away from our international obligations. It is not time to dilute democracy with overreach laws. And it’s certainly not time to politicise by introducing an immigration system based on religion.
