Australian man charged over alleged antisemitic threats against Zionist council

A 52-year-old man from northern Queensland has been charged with two hate crime offenses after allegedly sending antisemitic threats to the Queensland Zionist Council.

Chris McComb, from Mossman, is accused of calling for Jews and Israelis to be expelled from Australia, among other demands. The council said it received an online message through its website’s contact form in early July containing “explicit threats.” Police took steps to protect the identity of the council representative who received it.

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Anti-Zionism has increasingly become a tool for a modern form of anti-Jewish hatred.

The council and the Zionist Federation of Australia supported the decision to keep that person’s identity private. The council also used the case to warn that terms such as “Zionists” and “anti-Zionism” can serve as a cover for statements directed at Jews and Israelis.

“Anti-Zionism has increasingly become a tool for a modern form of anti-Jewish hatred,” the council said. It said such rhetoric “presents itself as political commentary, while in practice it is used as a means of threatening, defaming, and intimidating Jews and Israelis.”

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presents itself as political commentary, while in practice it is used as a means of threatening, defaming, and intimidating Jews and Israelis.

Police arrested McComb on Aug. 27 north of Cairns. The newly established joint hate crime team, combining Queensland counterterrorism investigators with Australian Federal Police national security investigators, is handling the investigation. McComb has not been charged with terrorism offenses.

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The harm to social cohesion at the local community level ultimately affects Australia’s national security.

“The harm to social cohesion at the local community level ultimately affects Australia’s national security,” Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Anthony Conway said. “We will not allow divisive and hateful rhetoric to grow and spread.”

The case comes as Queensland reports a sharp increase in antisemitism. Jason Steinberg, president of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies, told The Australian that more than 100 incidents had been reported in the state this year. “It is deeply concerning to know that antisemitism, hatred, and the intent to harm Jews have not stopped in our country,” he said.

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It is deeply concerning to know that antisemitism, hatred, and the intent to harm Jews have not stopped in our country.