Top UNSW lecturer forced to apologise after shocking Israel rant: ‘A good Zionist is a dead one’

A senior lecturer at a top university has apologised for saying ‘a good Zionist is a dead one’ during a heated exchange on one of Sydney’s most popular beaches.

Dr Naama Carlin, a senior lecturer in Sociology and Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), was filmed making the comment in Hebrew during a confrontation with counter-protesters on Bondi Beach two weekends ago.

After being approached by the Daily Mail, Dr Carlin apologised for her comments.

‘An edited video shows me using unacceptable language,’ she said.

‘I unreservedly apologise for making this comment. As a Jewish woman who grew up in Israel, I understand how hurtful my comments are.’

It is understood that Dr Carlin was herself subjected to prolonged verbal abuse and racial vilification that was not caught on camera.

At one stage, she was allegedly told that she was not really Jewish and that her ancestors should have died in the Holocaust.

The academic was at the beach with her partner and three-year-old son, who were also abused.

CEO of the Australian Jewish Association Robert Gregory, who originally published the video, called for Dr Carlin to be sacked.   

‘There is never justification for calling for violence or death because of someone’s identity,’ he said.

‘The vast majority of Australian Jews identify as Zionists, so this amounted to a call for the death of almost all Australian Jews.

‘It’s understandable that Jewish students would not feel safe at UNSW while a senior lecturer calls for their death.

‘Recently we have seen the tragic consequences of where violent rhetoric leads. UNSW must act swiftly and terminate Dr Carlin’s employment.’

A spokesperson for UNSW said they had ‘been made aware of the video and will manage this incident in accordance with our internal policies and procedures’.

Dr Carlin is an executive member of the left-wing Jewish Council of Australia which supports ‘Palestinian freedom and justice and are united in our opposition to Israel’s continued policies aimed at the destruction of Palestinian life’.

The orgnisation took out an advert in the Daily Telegraph this week which read: ‘There is a genocide in Gaza. Jews say sanction Israel now.’ 

Dr Carlin’s outburst came on a day of ugly scenes on Bondi Beach.   

A pro-Palestine protest was met by counter demonstrators, many of whom saw the decision as provocative, given the large Jewish population in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. 

‘Off the beach,’ the crowd chanted, as many waved Australian and Israel flags.

One woman was filmed yelling at the pro-Palestinian activists to ‘go back to Lakemba’.

‘This is our land,’ she shouted. ‘We don’t come to Lakemba, don’t come to Bondi.’

Another man pointed at the pro-Palestine protesters, telling police: ‘They don’t live here, I live here, they’re terrorists, get them out of here.’

The protest spiralled into violence after a number of demonstrators were seen scuffling, with police forced to intervene in the brawl.

Last Friday, a 29-year-old man was arrested at an address at Edmonson Park in Sydney’s south west following the alleged brawl.

‘He was taken to Liverpool Police Station where he was charged with affray and common assault,’ NSW Police said.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court on Thursday 9 October.

Inquiries into the alleged brawl are ongoing.  

NSW Premier Chris Minns condemned the ‘reprehensible’ behaviour and insisted there would be ‘zero tolerance’ for political violence.

‘Any rhetoric like that is the opposite of what we need in Australia,’ he said.

‘Anyone that brings political violence to Australia, to Australian streets, is reprehensible.

‘In fact a lot of people come to Australia precisely because we don’t have political violence in our country and we have to have zero tolerance in relation to it.

‘There is no place for anybody assaulting another person because of their political views.’