Jewish Human Rights Lawyer Labeled 'Traitor' in Online Abuse Campaign

A Jewish human rights lawyer has become the target of an intense online harassment campaign, facing accusations of being a "traitor" and "Hitler's Jew" due to her advocacy for Palestinian rights. Sarah Schwartz, executive director of the Jewish Council of Australia, described the abuse as having a "neo-Nazi flavour" and originating from both pro-Israel and neo-Nazi groups.

“

It's incredibly alarming and concerning to have images of Jewish persecution used against me as a Jewish person.

Schwartz testified before the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, detailing the "voluminous" number of offensive messages she has received. These messages include accusations of being "self-hating" and "a traitor," along with circulated memes and images depicting her as a rat. Most disturbingly, she reported being called "Hitler's Jew" and receiving images of herself wearing a yellow star and being transported to a concentration camp.

“

It's incredibly disturbing and distressing and I think it sends a chilling message to other Jewish people when they want to speak out [about the Israeli government].

She believes the abuse is a direct consequence of her advocacy for Palestinian rights and her criticism of the Israeli government. Schwartz expressed alarm that such attacks are used against her as a Jewish person and stated that it sends a "chilling message" to other Jewish individuals who wish to speak out against the Israeli government. She noted that questioning the "Jewishness" of those who criticize Israel is not uncommon.

“

These are messages that refer to me as self-hating, as a traitor, there have been memes circulated about me … images of me as a rat.

The situation escalated when Victoria Police, concerned about her personal information being accessed by extremist groups, applied for a personal protection order on her behalf. However, Schwartz only learned of this when a newspaper contacted her for a story that subsequently ran on its front page. The article, she stated, claimed she sought the order to suppress free speech and republished some of the offensive slurs and images she had received. Fearing further harassment and a "media circus," Schwartz requested the police drop the protection order.

“

I have been described as "Hitler's Jew" and been sent images of myself depicted wearing a yellow star and riding a train to a concentration camp in Nazi Germany.