The Divergence of Judaism and Islam. Interdependence, Modernity, and Political Turmoil

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Jews and Muslims “Downunder”: Emerging Dialogue and Challenges · 103

that Muslims have replaced Jews as the new “others” as “Muslims in the
West, like Jews before us, grapple with the same issues that Jews of the
past did: integration or isolation, tradition or reform, intermarriage or
intra-marriage.”^19


(^) Members of the Muslim community and academic scholars argue that
media comment has heightened Islamophobia in Australia. The media
focus on the Muslim background of gang rapists resulted in Muslim
women being further targets of ethnic hatred.^20 A 2004 study by Dr. Paul
White highlighted the problem of anti-Muslim media comments creating
a sense of alienation among young Muslims. White interviewed more
than eighty young Lebanese Australians. He noted that “Lebos. Wags.
Ninjas. Towel heads. Wogs. Terrorists. Osama bin Laden. Stupid Arab.
Abos. Bimo Lebs. Greasy Legs. Camel-spit. Lebanese Shit. Lebanese are
lesbians. Yous are scums, yous are all rats. Go back to your own country”
were all insults that young Lebanese Australians have to endure in their
daily life in Sydney. Understandably, most of the respondents empha-
sized their feeling of not being accepted into Australian society due to this
racial stereotyping, which they claimed was fostered by politicians, the
media, and police statements. The majority of those interviewed called
for “mutual tolerance and acceptance as they were all Australians.”^21
Similarly, journalist Peter Manning conducted a study of the media for
one year before and after September 11, 2001, and found stereotyping of
Arabs and Muslims.^22 A strong critic of Israel who opposes the concept
of a “Jewish state,” Manning virtually equated sympathy for Israel with
anti-Muslim extremism.^23
The difficulties of Arab Muslim acculturation and integration were
highlighted by the riots at the Sydney southern beachside suburb of
Cronulla in December 2005, which were followed by violent reprisal at-
tacks by young Arab Muslims. Racist groups, such as White Pride, and
Christian religious extremists used the assault by Muslim youths on two
lifeguards to attack all Muslims.^24 This strong negative reaction to Mus-
lims in Australia has created a sense of ambivalence and even alienation
toward Australia. Andrew Markus has noted: “Alienation is not, how-
ever, to be explained simply in terms of failures within Australian society
and government. Radicals within the Muslim community reject secular
and pluralistic institutions. They present a major problem for Australian
society—one that is magnified in Muslim-Jewish relations.”^25 Muslims
have been both the victims and the victimizers in Australia, particularly

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