A New South Wales Labor parliamentarian has formally accused the Israeli government of potentially engaging in foreign interference activities on Australian soil. Anthony D’Adam, a member of the NSW Legislative Council, raised these concerns after discovering his inclusion in a controversial dossier compiled by Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs in September.
The document, which purports to track ‘anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism’ within Australia, identified D’Adam as ‘an advocate of Palestinian rights’ within the Labor Party and referenced his parliamentary statements characterizing Israel’s war for independence as containing ‘acts of terrorism.’ In a January 5 correspondence to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, D’Adam urged an official investigation into whether the dossier’s creation and distribution might constitute foreign interference under Australian law.
The situation has created diplomatic ripples as Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli has maintained an active presence in Australia following the Bondi Beach terror attack. Last week, Chikli sent his own letter to Minister Burke criticizing the Australian government’s response to security matters while offering counter-terrorism training for Australian police forces.
The controversial dossier designates NSW, Victoria, and Queensland as primary hotspots for alleged anti-Semitic content, with Canberra reporting the highest per capita incidence. It further identifies several pro-Palestine organizations including the Palestine Action Group, BDS Australia, and Students for Palestine USYD as ‘anti-Semitic/anti-Israel generators and influencers.’ Multiple politicians across party lines were named, including Senators Fatima Payman and Mehreen Faruqi, alongside Lidia Thorpe and Adam Bandt.
D’Adam vehemently denies any anti-Semitic rhetoric, asserting the document deliberately conflates legitimate criticism of Israeli policies with religious prejudice. ‘The dossier does not provide any examples of anti-Semitism or criticism of Jewish people generally based on racial, ethnic, or religious identity,’ he stated in his letter.
The controversy emerges against a backdrop of internal Labor Party tensions regarding Palestinian solidarity. D’Adam previously claimed he was silenced during party conference debates on Palestine and faced significant backlash after criticizing Premier Chris Minns’ handling of related issues, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge protest. While Minns acknowledged ‘tough debates’ occur within party rooms, he denied allegations of bullying behavior.
Minister Burke’s office confirmed that correspondence containing allegations of unlawful conduct would be forwarded to appropriate agencies per standard procedure. The Israeli government has yet to provide official comment on these allegations.