Albanese Slams Anti-Semitism - Privately

But you can't lead from behind closed doors PM!

Anthony Albanese has privately told the Jewish community that pro-Palestinian supporters encamped at universities are ignorant of history.

The Prime Minister reportedly used the same private meeting with Jewish leaders to declare there must be an “unequivocal” fight against anti-Semitism.

His comments - including that Jewish people had a historic right to to the land of Israel and a right to defend themselves - were leaked to the press and published in today’s Australian.

And that’s the problem.

Albo has had seven months to call out anti-semitism and to slam the weekly pro-Palestinian protests that promote hate and bile against the Jewish community.

Strong, principled leadership immediately after October 7 might have constrained the worst excesses of the pro-Hamas mob.

Instead Anthony Albanese - attempting to be all things to all people - has left the door to anti-Semitism wide open.

Privately making the right noises, in hushed tones, to the nation’s rabbis is hardly a response, let alone leadership.

The current circumstances - with anti-Semitic encampments and support for terror organisations springing up on university campuses - requires a forceful and determined response.

There is not the vaguest hint that Albanese can, or will, provide that.

We learned today that he has spoken out against anti-Semitisim, but in whispered tones, behind closed doors.

They don’t call him Each Way Albo for nothing.

I’ll believe his commitment to the Jewish community when he says to the nation what he is reported to have said privately to the rabbis.

But for now, this is just Albo doing what Albo does … speaking out of both sides of his mouth; telling whatever group of people he is talking to exactly what that group of people want to hear.

It’s all very well for the PM to be against anti-Semitism from behind closed doors.

But how about being a leader?

Sadly, all we get are leaked conversations that appear to confirm that the PM, when speaking to groups in private, says whatever he thinks will make that group like him.

And then, afterwards, we get a statement from the PM’s office to the effect that “we don’t comment on discussions that happen in private meetings.”

At least in my lifetime, the country has never been so divided; and the leadership has never been so weak.