Holocaust Survivor Warns Australia Risks Echoing 1930s Europe Amid Rising Antisemitism
Nina Bassat, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor and former leader of the Jewish community in Victoria, testified before Australia's Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion on Wednesday. Bassat, who arrived in Australia in 1949 after surviving the Holocaust in Poland and a displaced persons camp in Germany, sharply criticized Australian political leaders for their response following the Hamas terror attacks on October 7, 2023. She warned against the misuse of the term "genocide" in discussions about the Gaza conflict.
Bassat described a significant shift in Australian society since October 7, noting a loss of empathy and social cohesion that had characterized the country for decades. She lamented the rise of division and labeling, saying Australians no longer see each other simply as human beings. Bassat recalled witnessing a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Sydney shortly after the attacks and expressed her heartbreak over the lack of empathy shown toward Israel during its time of mourning.
In November 2023, Bassat and about 100 other Australian Holocaust survivors signed an open letter condemning antisemitism and hatred, drawing parallels to the rhetoric of 1930s Germany. She emphasized that antisemitism is not just a Jewish problem but a societal issue that harms all Australians. Bassat criticized the silence of federal, state, and local leaders who failed to strongly condemn antisemitism after the October attacks, calling for leadership that speaks out against hate.
She also addressed the problematic use of "freedom of speech" and "right to protest," arguing these rights come with responsibilities and should not be used to justify hate speech. Bassat stressed that the term "genocide" has a specific legal meaning related to systematic state-sponsored extermination, as defined by the UN and coined by Raphael Lemkin after the Holocaust. She warned that misusing the term dilutes its significance and disrespects the memory of Holocaust victims.
Bassat concluded by urging Australians to recognize the dangers of rising antisemitism and to restore social cohesion through empathy and responsible leadership.