Commissioner denies 'hijack' of inquiry by pro-Palestinian groups

Commissioner Virginia Bell SC has strongly denied accusations that pro-Palestinian groups attempted to "hijack" a royal commission into antisemitism. The comments came after a prominent member of the Jewish community reportedly accused lawyers representing the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) and the Palestine Action Group (PAG) of using "clickbait theatrics and gratuitous slurs" against Israel.

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I think it's important for all of us as citizens of Australia to show kindness and respect and understanding and sensitivity to others.

During a hearing on Tuesday, counsel for APAN, Ragni Mathur SC, questioned David Ossip, president of the Jewish Board of Deputies, about his views on a protest organized by PAG. Ossip testified that while he believed in showing kindness and respect to all Australians, he found it insensitive for a protest to be held on October 7, 2023, the day of the Hamas attack, given the "grievous acts of violence" against Israeli citizens. He also stated he was not in a position to comment on the death toll of Palestinians killed by the Israeli military before October 7.

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Notwithstanding any trauma those Palestinian Australians were feeling, I feel like if they were involved in organising this rally at a time when such grievous acts of violence were being committed against Israeli citizens, I think that showed a lack of sensitivity.

Commissioner Bell stated that Ms. Mathur, who appeared for APAN and PAG, "did not hijack this royal commission." Bell also revealed that Mathur had received "truly abusive" Islamophobic emails since her appearance. The commissioner did not name the individual who made the "hijack" accusation, but The Australian newspaper attributed similar comments to Alex Ryvchin of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

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The individual … was reported to have said counsel had engaged in this attempt for their clickbait theatrics and gratuitous slurs against Israel.