Antisemitism Report 2009 - World Jewish Congress

Stereotypes of Jews, most often as stingy or ostentatiously wealthy, reinforce prejudices
which facilitate more malicious vilification. A result of behaviour of this type can be the
encouragement, or rationalisation of, abuse, harassment and more serious vilification.
2.2 "Jewish Power"
Common to many variations of antisemitism identified in Australia in the period in review is
the assertion of belief in the desire and ability of Australian Jews to dictate public policy in a
way which distorts the workings of society in the interests of individual Jews, the local
Jewish community or, occasionally, international interests. In its crudest form this myth
allows easy scapegoating of Jews for the sundry ills which befall individuals in
disadvantaged economic, political or social circumstances. This conviction sustains the
followers of various anti-Jewish groups in the view that on a level playing field they would
prove triumphant and it is therefore necessary to weaken the ability of Jews to play a role in
public affairs.
Australian Jews are blamed by extremist organisations and their followers for contentious
Federal and State policies on social matters, financial programs and the weakening of
establishment institutions. The high profile of a number of individual Jewish Australians,
particularly in the business community, is used by those who seek to further this particular
anti-Jewish propaganda line as evidence of Jewish power. Government decisions which
have accorded with public positions adopted by the Jewish community are also presented as
evidence of Jewish control of the levers of political power.
A parallel myth which appears on a semi-regular basis in the mainstream media is that the
US Government is either controlled by or in thrall to the "Jewish lobby". The way in which
this is expressed not only reflects anti-Jewish prejudice but implicates Jewish Australians in
the control of international interests and indirectly of Australia, given the importance of the
US in world affairs. This slur was particularly prominent during the past four years and
includes in its promoters a number of individual Jews.
The presentation of Jews as holders of mystical "power" has the potential to propagate the
image of all Jews as part of an elite, implicitly conspiratorial, who cannot be treated as
simply another group of Australians involved in public policy debates. Further, it lays the
ground for acceptance of some of the other myths covered in this Report.
2.3 "International Jewish Conspiracy"
Extremist organisations actively propagate the myth that there is a plot by some or all Jews,
acting alone or in collusion with other "elites", to control international finance, media and
politics. This view is commonly expressed as opposition to a globally imposed "World
Order" which has as one of its aims the subjugation of the (non-Jewish) population of
Australia to serve an all-powerful United Nations.
The theme of an international Jewish conspiracy is central to the world view of each of the
overtly antisemitic organisations. Extreme elements within some migrant communities also
promote this mythology as a means of explaining circumstances in their countries of birth.
One of the sources antisemitic organisations use to support this myth is The Protocols of the
10