Holocaust Survivor Sees Parallels to Nazi Era in Australia

George Foster, president of the Australian Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants, stated this week that a rise in antisemitism across Australia bears "disturbing parallels" to the social atmosphere of Nazi Germany. Foster made these remarks while testifying before the antisemitism royal commission.

While Foster clarified that he does not believe Australia is "becoming another Germany in the 1930s," he expressed concern over the exclusion of Jewish people from public life. He emphasized that Australia's democratic institutions are fundamentally different from those of 1930s Germany. However, he found it impossible to ignore certain parallels in the current social climate.

The testimony highlights growing concerns about antisemitism within Australia. The royal commission is examining the nature and extent of antisemitism and its impact on the Jewish community. Foster's comparison, drawn from his direct experience as a Holocaust survivor, underscores the gravity of the situation and the potential implications for democratic societies when prejudice begins to marginalize specific groups.