Three years on from the atrocities of October 7 in the most horrific massacre of Jews since the Holocaust (where many non Jews were murdered as well), and ten months since the devastating Bondi massacre, the process of healing remains slow and painful. Yet, trauma without lessons is merely suffering. As we look back, several critical truths have crystallized — truths that demand the attention not just of our political and institutional leaders, but of everyday Australians from all walks of life.
Conviction Over Public Tides
The resilience of the Jewish community in standing tall together—despite internal differences—remains a cornerstone of our survival. To be sure, a very small minority has lost its anchor, pandering to those who seek our destruction. Often, this stems not from pure malice, but from naivety, ignorance, or a desperate bid for social acceptance.
However, our core conviction must remain absolute: our values cannot and must not depend on the shifting, populist trends of public opinion.
A Threat to All Liberal Democracies - A Call to Every Australian
The threats facing the Jewish people and the state of Israel are symptoms of a much wider contagion. They represent a direct assault on the pillars of tolerance, equality, and liberty. Illiberal ideologies and authoritarian forces are actively attempting to sow disparity and polarization within Western democracies.
Because of this, we are far from alone. Countless Australians who champion liberal democratic values stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us. But waiting for institutions or politicians to fix this alone is a dangerous delusion.
This is a direct wake-up call to ordinary Australians from all walks of life.
Whether you are a teacher, a nurse, a tradie, a student, or a retiree in the suburbs, the preservation of our free society depends on you. We need the silent majority to find its voice and speak up. Defending our shared core values is not merely about protecting the Jewish community from an orchestrated international campaign; it is about fortifying our communities against forces that manipulate empathy and good intentions to undermine our own social fabric.
History Has Proven Huntington Right
Following the fall of the Soviet Union, Francis Fukuyama famously predicted "The End of History"—an optimistic vision arguing that humanity had reached the final ideological evolution with the universal triumph of Western liberal democracy and peace.
In sharp contrast, Samuel Huntington warned in The Clash of Civilizations of a fracturing world defined by deep cultural, religious, and ideological fault lines. History has proven Huntington tragically right. Rather than a smooth march toward global harmony, we are witnessing the stark reality of aggressive, illiberal forces challenging the free world.
Just as Russian aggression has forced Europe into a sobering rearmament and a hard-nosed reality check, so too did October 7 shatter the illusions of the Israeli peace movement. Tragically, many of those murdered along the Gaza border were peace activists—people who dedicated their lives to coexistence, only to be targeted by those driven by absolute extremism. We ignore these global fault lines at our peril.
The Leadership Test: Chamberlain or Churchill?
Today's leaders face a historic hour. They must rise above narrow, short-term political interests and place the national interest of Australia above all else.
Those who choose the path of the Chamberlain approach—appeasement masquerading as diplomacy—will rightly be condemned by future generations. Conversely, those who embrace Churchillian resolve will be remembered as courageous leaders who prepared their people with the clarity and strength required for what lies ahead.
Some may dismiss these warnings as alarmist or agenda-driven. To them, I offer a matter of public record: back in July 2024, I warned that a dangerous lack of leadership courage and realism would inevitably lead to an escalation of violent attacks.
At the time, that view was privately dismissed by prominent Government figures as merely "subjective."
Subsequent events proved otherwise—culminating in burning cars in Sydney, the arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue, and the horrific violence at Bondi.
A Final Plea to Every Citizen
We cannot afford to wait for further tragedy to validate reality. Democratic freedom has never been a spectator sport. For the future of this great country, I genuinely hope our leaders—and everyday Australians in every corner of society—listen now, wake up, and raise their voices to meet the immense responsibility of this moment.
Ayal Marek is the President of ARZA Australia