![Swastika, archive](https://a7.org/files/pictures/781x439/1173610.jpg)
Severe antisemitism in Australia is on the rise again, with members of the Australian Jewish Association having withdrawn money at an ATM in New South Wales and discovering that the banknotes had swastikas and derogatory words painted on them.
The local police confirmed that an investigation had been opened into two cases of "derogatory" graffiti, which was written on banknotes taken out from an ATM.
Dr. Ran Porat, a researcher of antisemitism at Monash University in Australia, said in an interview with Kan Reshet Bet: "Swastikas on banknotes are only a very small expression of the antisemitism we have experienced in Australia over the past eighteen months. Antisemitism here is expressed in all kinds of ways, mainly in visual displays on the street, pro-Palestinian demonstrations with Hezbollah flags and blatant chants against Israel and Jews. Jews are also harassed at universities and on the streets."
According to Dr. Porat: "On Sundays there is a weekly pro-Palestinian demonstration in front of the library in Melbourne. One day I walked past there with my daughter and she came home crying. Lecturers at universities encourage students to participate in these demonstrations. Jewish students are also discriminated against."
“However,” Dr. Porat emphasized, "I don't want people in Israel to get the feeling that we are walking down the street in Australia and suffering. These are isolated incidents."
Earlier this month, the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne was targeted in an arson attack. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said after the incident that all investigations show that it was an "act of terrorism."