Virginia Bell rejects suggestion Palestinian group’s counsel ‘hijacked’ commission

The antisemitism royal commissioner has defended questioning by counsel for the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, saying Ragni Mathur SC “did not hijack this royal commission” and reproached the authors of “truly abusive, Islamophobic emails” directed at Mathur after Tuesday’s hearing.

At the hearing Mathur asked a Jewish leader about the timeline of Israel’s response to Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack in the context of a protest held at the Sydney Opera House two days later. Alex Ryvchin, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s co-chief executive, told the Australian newspaper it was “deeply concerning that these groups predictably used the opportunity to hijack an examination of lethal antisemitism for their clickbait theatrics and gratuitous slurs against Israel”. The NSW premier, Chris Minns, later described Mathur’s questioning as “disappointing”.

Bell, without naming Ryvchin, defended Mathur who “did not hijack this royal commission” and said counsel appearing should not become subject of attacks.

The hearing was also told the aesthetics, language and grievances of the radical right were capable of enticing youth without espousing a traditional political ideology, with online content from groups such as involuntarily-celibates or manosphere creators was among the exploitative movements responsible. Hearings will continue on Thursday.