Australia Expels Iranian Diplomats Amid Anti-Semitism Claims
In late August, the Australian government revealed that evidence showed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been linked to anti-Semitic incidents in Australia since the Hamas attacks on Israel, occurring shortly after October 7, 2023. The government indicated that it would expel Iranian ambassadors in response.
This raises some questions. If the attacks were the result of desperation among Palestinians due to Israeli occupation, why would the Iranian regime stoke violence against Jews so far away? The reality is, the events of October 7 represent a much larger pattern of escalating anti-Semitism that has been brewing for nearly two decades, and it has now been laid bare.
The fundamental beliefs fueling Jew hatred have changed little over centuries, although they now take on different forms. For instance, the anti-Semitism of the Spanish Inquisition was religious, while that of the Third Reich was racial. Today, it seems to manifest as a broader civilizational conflict.
Modern anti-Semitism appears aimed at dismantling Western civilization through the eradication of Jews. This troubling perspective has prompted initiatives like Project Esther launched by the Heritage Foundation, designed to combat anti-Semitism in the U.S. and now gaining support from the Trump administration.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has played a significant role in fostering this modern wave of anti-Semitism since its inception in 1979. It views the United States, dubbed the “Great Satan,” as a key adversary, alongside Israel, the “Little Satan.” Within this ideology, both nations are seen as blasphemous entities that must be destroyed.
Iran’s involvement has ranged from supporting regional proxies such as Hamas and Hezbollah to plotting international terrorist attacks while secretly advancing its nuclear ambitions. Interestingly, sympathy for the Palestinian cause doesn’t excuse the hardened realities of these conflicts. Many in the U.S. and Israel, and even in Australia, are seen as allies of the Palestinian struggle; however, the broader jihad doesn’t boil down to the Palestinian issue alone. Here, supporters become mere tools in a much larger war against the civilization that the West embodies.
In recent months, rallies advocating for the Palestinian cause have proliferated across campuses and cities in Australia and America, despite the distance from the Middle East and relatively small Muslim demographics. Advocates often claim these protests are peaceful, framed as political expressions against the Netanyahu government. Yet, the justifications for the violence—ranging from the October 7 attacks to targeting Jewish students and property—tell another story.
Importantly, the violence has no real connection to the wars occurring in Israel and Gaza; instead, it seems directed against Jews everywhere, regardless of nationality. Now, the Australian government has linked these coordinated activities directly to Iranian forces, much like the events of October 7.
Australia’s response stands in contrast to that of the Biden administration, which earlier admitted the Iranian regime had funding protests on American campuses. Both governments have been cautious, engaging in diplomatic gymnastics since October 7 to strike a balance—advocating restraint on the Israeli side while conducting humanitarian efforts in Gaza, trying to shift Hamas from a common adversary to a negotiating partner.
In August, massive demonstrations in Sydney for a “march for humanity” called for an end to the Gaza conflict, coinciding with the announcement of Australia recognizing Palestine at an upcoming UN General Assembly. Yet, these initiatives seem futile in light of Iranian maneuvers aimed at destabilizing democratic societies from within through incitement of anti-Semitic sentiments.
