Submitted by Shtetler Robert who says the grass isn’t always greener of the other side

J-Post report Sunday quoting JTA - with further research and reporting by MyShtetl

Almost one-quarter of Australians harbour anti-Semitic prejudices, according to the largest study on racism ever undertaken in the country.

The 12-year study, conducted by several leading universities, surveyed 12,512 people across the country and found that 23.3 percent were negative towards Jews.

Almost half, 48.6 percent, were negative towards Muslims, and 27.9 percent were negative towards Indigenous Australians (Aborigines).

Still, the survey's head researcher, Professor Kevin Dunn, said overall the results of the Challenging Racism Project were positive, showing Australia's multicultural society was alive and well. “About 87 percent of Australians say that they see cultural diversity as a good thing for society,” he said.

But Professor Andrew Markus, the former head of the Centre for the Study of Jewish Civilization at Monash University in Melbourne, said the results “may be seriously flawed.” The length of time it took means some of the data is a decade old, he said.

Markus also said he had "major problems" with the conclusions about people being anti-Semitic or anti-Muslim because they were only asked how concerned they would feel if one of their close relatives were to marry a person of Jewish/Muslim/Asian/Aboriginal descent.

"A respondent can be concerned about a close relative marrying a member of another faith or culture without being anti that faith," Markus said.

Australian Jewish students report anti-Semitism

In response to increased reports of anti-Semitism on campus and intimidation of Jewish students [see picture above -ED], the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) invited Jewish students in Victoria, Australia to fill in a questionnaire about their on-campus experiences.

More than two-thirds (68%) of respondents reported experiencing or witnessing some form of anti-Semitism. Written material, such as posters and signs, were the most common form of anti-Semitism, followed by verbal attack and prejudice