A meeting of the city council covered in icy hostility after a greens councilor had voted to resist a strategy designed to protect residents against rising rates of anti -Semitism.
On Tuesday evening, Waverley Council voted to endorse Australia's first 'local government strategy to combat anti -Semitism'.
Groenen councilor Dominic Wy Kanak, however, was the only voice against the strategy after his motion to change the definition of anti -Semitism was rejected.
Mr Wy Wy Kanak – who called through Zoom to the meeting and was placed a complete video of the interaction in the Waverley Council website – did not support the plan because he claimed that the definition of the Council of Anti -Semitism was too broad.
Representatives and members of the public who attended the council meeting were shocked by the opposition of Mr. Wy Kanak.
Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh told Daily Mail Australia that the decision of Mr. Wy Kanak to resist the strategy was 'rather extraordinary'.
He said that the strategy had undergone extensive public consultation and that it was “inscrutable why someone would vote against it.”
CEO of the Australian Jewish Association, Robert Gregory, agreed and told Daily Mail Australia that the move was 'unhappy'.
Greens Councilor Dominic Wy Kanak (photo) Only voted against Australia's first 'local government strategy to combat anti -Semitism'
“Last night I was delighted to tackle the Waverley Council to support the Council's anti -Semitism,” said Mr. Gregory.
'More Jews live in Waverley Council than any other council in NSW and the area has recently seen various anti -Semitic attacks, so it is greatly appreciated that the Council takes anti -Semitism seriously.
'It is a shame that a councilor of the Greens did not support this important initiative.
“The Greens have a shocking record about anti -Semitism.”
The strategy is designed to strengthen the reporting and enforcement of anti -Semitic incidents, to improve social cohesion, to increase the awareness of anti -Semitism, to strengthen existing support services and to increase safety for Jewish communities.
Mr Nemesh, who played a leading role, said it will serve as a 'blueprint' for other councils and would help Waverley Council to work more effectively with local organizations and police in combating anti -Semitism.
The definition based on the strategy comes from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and was formally adopted by the Council in 2021.
The defined anti -Semitism as “a certain perception of Jews, which can be expressed as hatred of Jews.”
“Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are aimed at Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, to Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
In one of the recent attacks on Jewish people in Sydney, many of whom have since been associated with organized crime, the former house of Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin was destroyed
Robert Gregory, Chief Executive of the Australian Jewish Association, said that the definition of Mr. Wy Kanak was founded by a 'Fringe Group of Academics'
However, Mr Wy Wy Kanak moved to add a statement at the end of the definition and clarifies that alternative definitions of anti -Semitism compared to the person adopted by the council, such as a statement of Jerusalem's statement on anti -Semitism.
The definition of Jerusalem's statement is narrower and defines anti -Semitism as “discrimination, prejudices, hostility or violence against Jews such as Jews (or Jewish institutions such as Jewish).”
Australian Jewish Association Chief Executive Robert Gregory told Daily Mail Australia that the IHRA definition is the most accepted.
'It offers useful examples of anti -Semitism to guide the authorities.
'It was adopted at federal level and in states such as NSW and Victoria with dual support in Australia.
“Internationally, the IHRA definition has been taken over by dozens of countries and American states and international organizations.”
In the meantime, the definition of Jerusalem statement has received less mainstream acceptance.
“The statement of Jerusalem was created by a frills group of academics.
Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh is depicted with deputy mayor Keri Spooner after he was chosen in October 2024
“It has no widespread support and is considered by many an attempt to hinder the fight against anti -Semitism and to legitimize some forms of extremism and anti -Semitism.”
Mr Wy Wy Kanak told the Council that the amendment allowed some 'some broader voices' to be recognized.
He said that the council's strategy is 'failed'.
“In the interest of people who have put these submissions to the council in the past, I would vote against the document because I think it should have a really wide approach to really achieve the root problem of what anti -Semitism is and how we fight it best,” he said.
Before the strategy brought a mood, Mr Nemesh seemed to criticize the decision of Mr Wy Wy Kanak to criticize the reform.
“I didn't say anything, but I'm going to say something for a very short time,” he opened a while later.
'This report … should really be a universally accepted and unanimously approved policy of this council.
'I think it would be incomprehensible to a councilor to vote against the approval of a policy to combat anti -Semitism.
“The opposite thing is that if someone voted against it, they endorse the policy of anti -Semitism or actions against Jews and hatred, especially in the Waverley community,” he said.
Participants during a Waverley Council meeting on Tuesday were surprised by the only objection
“Maybe some councilors should think about that.”
The meeting was opened with addresses of members of the public, many of whom represent Jewish organizations.
Gregory said that the Australian Jewish community '18 had endured from hell '.
He added that he and his organization had received 'many threats', while the first arrest of AFP Special Operation Avalite was made with regard to a threat to him.
Michael Gencher, executive director of the Israel Education Non-profit Standwithus, said that Waverley Council had taken a 'principle stand' in proposing the strategy.
“It's not just a policy document, it's a statement of value and I thank for that.”
Another greens councilor Ludovico Fabiano said: “In 50 years of me who lives here in Australia, I have never seen anything like that.”
“In the past we all worked together, eating together, participating, seeing each other in parks … to live like that, it is really broken my heart.”
In contrast to his fellow representative of Greens, Mr. Fabiano endorsed the anti -Semitism strategy.
Alderman DOV Fraser said that he 'cried' when he first read the strategy, which he was going to endorse with enthusiasm.
