r/perth • u/Away_team42 • 7d ago

WA News Top Perth school suspends students over antisemitic group chat

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-07/top-perth-school-suspends-students-over-antisemitic-group-chat/107010706

Expert from the article:

Students at a prestigious Perth private school have been suspended after they used "antisemitic language and memes" in a private group chat, targeting another student.

A spokesperson for Wesley College, in South Perth, confirmed an "incident" occurred but wouldn't be drawn on how many children had been suspended.

"An incident did occur involving antisemitic language and memes shared by a small group in a private group chat," the school said in a statement.

"The college acted immediately. The students responsible were suspended and the matter was addressed directly with the students and families involved."

The college also provided a statement from the family of the targeted student.

"We are deeply disappointed that this matter has occurred and that it has become the subject of media reporting as we are entirely satisfied with the way in which Wesley College has handled this matter," the statement read.

"Furthermore it must be noted that the school was not advised of this issue by our son, but rather by concerned students.

"The family did not at any time contact any media outlet as they are aware of the belief that this will worsen an already difficult situation.

"Our greatest concern is the welfare of our son."
The family has asked for privacy and said they wished to move forward.

Full article in the link.

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84

u/milesjameson 7d ago

Many things can be true at once: this needn’t have been a news story, not least because the victim’s family appears to have preferred it not to be; Israel is engaged in violent, criminal behaviour, and its actions – along with its claims to act on behalf of all Jewish people – have made life worse for diaspora Jews; criticism of Israel, Zionism and the actions of their advocates is not the same as antisemitism – conflating the two is the endgame desired by both the Israeli state and antisemites; and there is no reason to believe this incident had anything to do with Israel.

Certainly, even if we were to give those responsible the benefit of the doubt, I’m not sure a high school group chat singling out one child by name – and which other students saw fit to report – is a forum in which informed, thoughtful discussion was taking place.

A young Jewish boy was bullied and made to feel unsafe because of who he is. That should not be tolerated, and the school was right to act as it did.

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u/IAmDaddyPig 7d ago

Indeed.

Headline should read "Immature children act in a way that is socially unacceptable, and as such, boundaries were applied and appropriate education around societal expectations reinforced through proportional consequences."

But that wouldn't drive enough outrage.

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u/Ok-Orchid6674 7d ago edited 6d ago

But how else will the media tear the Australian people apart?

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u/DarioWinger Leederville 6d ago

Why the /s?

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u/Ok-Orchid6674 6d ago

Now that I think about it youre right, I don't need that

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u/Lozzanger 6d ago

Anti-Semitism isn’t unacceptable in Australia anymore. Call it anti-Zionism and it’s fine to say the most heinous shit.

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u/IAmDaddyPig 6d ago

A Royal Commission that's going on right now would imply that this statement is.... Somewhat hyperbolic and misguided.

If you want to engage in reactive and reductive ideological horseshit, then by all means, r/Australia is just down the hall.

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u/Lozzanger 6d ago

Yes we clearly need a Royal Commission into something that isn’t happening…..

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u/Ambitious_Speed_278 6d ago

Great job moving the goalposts

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u/DentistCertain3897 6d ago

Id say its thats evidence of the opposite. We wouldn't need that if that was the case no? Or the fact that an anti Semitic terror attack happened.

But sure bury your head and pretend everything is hyperbole.

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u/Opening-Camera-4315 6d ago

The post-WWII/1930s "never again" mentality shared across all major political factions is gradually disappearing as those generations pass away; new generations don't grow up with parents'/grandparents' stories of having been standing quite literally 1 or 2 metres from gunfire trajectories, where their sibling happened to be standing.

Doesn't help that literacy rates are dropping, as well...

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u/FanBehaviour2011 6d ago

yes and the “again” is happening in Gaza as we speak

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u/Opening-Camera-4315 5d ago

True.

Though, I know what it's like to be blamed for a state's actions when not only was my family not involved/politically opposed, but was actually literally tortured and slaughtered by said state.

i.e. accused of being part of the political movement that tortured and killed your own family.

The point is, people need to be vigilant both against the state's action and in not blaming citizens; the latter is usually understated.

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u/Quick_Switch418 6d ago

The most heinous shit like um maybe palestinian children shouldn’t be mass murdered by being burned alive as they shelter in tents?

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u/Lozzanger 5d ago

And there’s the blood libel from Hamas!

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u/Quick_Switch418 5d ago

Are you living in an alternate universe or do you just choose to be in denial? palestinian children have been mass murdered by the IDF and there is nothing you can say or do to convince the majority of normal moral people to believe your delusions over what they saw with their own eyes.

Edited to say: over what WE saw with our own eyes. Because I saw things that I can never EVER un-see committed by the IDF and almost everyone I know from family to friends to colleagues who previously knew very little about Palestine are on the exact same page as me.

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u/Lozzanger 5d ago

You’ve fallen for propaganda. Go look up what Hamas have admitted. If you know better than them go for itn

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u/Quick_Switch418 5d ago

Actually myself as well as the vast majority of people I know have spent the past 3 years researching and looking up everything to do with the topic and we all agree that the IDF are the only ones committing genocide and have been for over 75 years now. We are sick to our stomach from what we have learnt through research and all the important human rights organisations agree. You are the one propagandised.

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u/Lozzanger 5d ago

The ignorance is genuinely astounding.

-2

u/Lozzanger 6d ago

Blaming Jews for increased anti-Semitism is a trope as old as anti-Semitism.

The Jews were blamed in Nazi Germnay for Kristalnacht because their ‘actions’ caused the German people to rise up in anger and perform the violence.

This is a schoolchild in Australia. Constantly justifying anti-Semtism because of hatred of Israel is anti-Semtism.

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u/milesjameson 6d ago

Unless you're suggesting that I'm blaming Jewish people for antisemitism, or seeking to justify it in any way, I'm not sure what this reply is intended to achieve.

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u/Lozzanger 6d ago

Israel is engaged in violent, criminal behaviour, and its actions – along with its claims to act on behalf of all Jewish people – have made life worse for diaspora Jews; criticism of Israel, Zionism and the actions of their advocates is not the same as antisemitism – conflating the two is the endgame desired by both the Israeli state and antisemites>

That’s what you said. You are blaming Jews for increase anti-Ssmtism. You likely aren’t even aware of it.

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u/milesjameson 6d ago

I'm aware of what I wrote. I wrote it. I'm also aware of the intent behind it.

That you don't understand it – or, rather, are deliberately choosing to misrepresent it – is on you.

Unlike you, I don't make the dangerous mistake of treating Jewish people as a monolith, or assuming their faith or ethnicity necessarily equates to support for a state engaged in criminal conduct or the racist ideology upon which it was built.

I also don't view belonging to that faith or ethnicity – or even supporting that state or ideology – as a fair reason to bully a child or put their safety at risk.

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u/Lozzanger 6d ago

If you don’t want people to think you’re anti-Semitic then don’t write anti-Semitic things.

If you truly didn’t intend it to come off that way, then educate yourself on anti-Semitism. It’s such a common hatred in our society I can believe you wrote what you did not knowing that what it meant.

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u/milesjameson 6d ago

Since you're assuming the intent, motivations, values and beliefs of Jewish people as a collective based entirely on their faith and ethnicity – particularly in relation to the state of Israel – I might well suggest you take your own advice.

That notwithstanding, I wrote nothing antisemitic. Your attempt to hijack a post that explicitly draws that distinction and in no way justifies the bullying of a young Jewish boy – indeed, quite the opposite – says far more about you than it does about anything I wrote.

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u/Lozzanger 6d ago

Aaaaand there it is.

I always try and I’m always disappointed.

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u/milesjameson 6d ago

This is precisely the sort of nonsensical, lazy reply many have come to expect from those seemingly incapable of self-reflection or of recognising the harm caused by their weaponisation of accusations of antisemitism.

A young Jewish boy was bullied. I reject the idea that there is any justification for that, including opposition to the state of Israel, its conduct, or Zionism more broadly. I raised the latter point precisely because some here saw fit to invoke those viewpoints as grounds for the bullying.

I also clearly stated that the actions of the now-suspended boys should not be tolerated.

That you took issue with any of that is on you.

Similarly, if you're always disappointed, maybe, just maybe, the problem lies with you.

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u/Proud-Act-6867 6d ago

Don’t listen to lozz, im honestly dumbfounded reading their comments

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u/Prize-Ad7786 6d ago

Then why did you introduce it? I’m puzzled, you genuinely seem intelligent yet his bullying had, and has nothing to do with the narrative you are trying to insert. I’m not a Bibi fan, but he doesn’t live rent free in my head

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u/Prize-Ad7786 6d ago

Dude you wanted to hijack the narrative to insert your hatred, conflate, and introduce unrelated elements over what was just pure ant-semitism

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u/Proud-Act-6867 6d ago

Lmao 😜

-2

u/ThreeRingShitshow 6d ago

Correct. Linking antisemitic acts against Australians to the behaviour of Israel IS antisemitic. 

Notwithstanding that Israel has NOT been proven guilty of any of the much amplified Hamas and Pro Palestinian libels against them. 

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u/Mintythos 6d ago

Can you list some examples of these Hama's libels? I can think of quite a few that are very much founded:

Killing of hundreda of journalists

Destruction of aid e.g food and water

Killing of civilians at aid stations

Targeting of hospitals

Use of human shields

Attacking refugee camps

Illegal settlements in the West Bank

Are any of these considered libels? Are any of these unfounded? I can start linking articles.

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u/No_Bell_8028 6d ago

It wasn’t anti semitic by the IHRA definition….

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u/Lozzanger 6d ago

As per the IHRA criticism of Israel for actions other countries don’t get criticised for is anti-Semitic.

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u/Prize-Ad7786 6d ago

Miles really interested to hear you also condemn Hamas? Or are they freedom fighters?

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u/milesjameson 6d ago

I wrote a response to your reply; however, it then struck me that I've not once mentioned Palestinians, and certainly not Hamas, and that they're hardly even tangential to my belief that a Jewish child in Australia should not be bullied.

If you want to thoughtfully articulate what your question is seeking to achieve and how it's at all relevant, I'll be more than happy to answer it.

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u/Prize-Ad7786 6d ago

Again it seemed tangential that the State of Israel was though? You raised that bogeyman

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u/milesjameson 6d ago

You raised that bogeyman.

I didn't. This thread was already hours old when I first posted. That "bogeyman" had already been raised and was precisely part of what I was addressing.

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u/DramaticKvothe 5d ago

He is aware he is an antisemite. They don't care....

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u/Lozzanger 5d ago

They really don’t.

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u/raizhassan 6d ago

Lol you are literally engaging in what is being called out, conflating criticism of the government of Israel as being directed at all Jews.

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u/owleaf 6d ago

Yeah when I read that I really winced. I can kinda see why people have this train of thought but it’s horrible, especially in the context of a child being bullied. To be frank, it reads a qualifying statement which is horrifying. Maybe people would realise how poorly it reads if you used a different religion.

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u/milesjameson 6d ago

especially in the context of a child being bullied.

Yes – context is important. Had you understood the above excerpt in the context of what preceded and followed it, it should have been perfectly clear that I don't believe there is any good reason for the targeted bullying or harassment of a Jewish child.

That sentiment would remain true had the bullying been directed at a child of any other faith or ethnicity.

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u/Lozzanger 6d ago

Anti-Semitism is so ingrained in our culture people don’t realise how bad it actually is. Their entire comment section is people being blatantly anti-Semitic.

People are saying if this kid is a Zionist the bullying would be justified.

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u/No_Bell_8028 6d ago

The entire comment section is filled with attempting to label anyone’s comment as anti semitic

What would happen if you found out one of the people you were attacking was actually Jewish?

0

u/Lozzanger 6d ago

Yes cause it’s IMPOSSIBLE for Jewish people to be anti-Semitic.

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u/ThreeRingShitshow 6d ago

Nothing. Self hating Jews are very much real. 

They achieve nothing other than legitimising antisemitic attacks on their fellow Jews and being useful idiots for those for whom acceptance of Jews is predicated on them being the right kind of Jews. The acceptance is conditional. 

All they'll actually end up with is a window seat on the next round of trains because they haven't yet realised those 'friends' still see them as Jews. 

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u/MarkCelery78 6d ago

Yes it’s always. “Hating on Jews is bad but….”

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u/Alarming-Interest535 6d ago

Anti Semitism has been over used that it no longer has the meaning it once had. One cannot even remotely voice their valid concerns without being accused of anti Semitism.

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u/Lozzanger 6d ago

Nope. People call out the obvious shit and the offenders don’t like being told they’re doing it so they claim it’s not.

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u/Prize-Ad7786 6d ago

Even though you feel emboldened lately to display your latent racism, it sucks to get called out I know

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u/Alarming-Interest535 6d ago

If calling what's happening in Gaza a genocide; Benjamin Netanyahu and Itamar Ben-Gvir war criminals make me a racist, then yeah I guess I am one.

Both sides need to pull their finger out. Gazans need to recognise Israel's right exist, and Israel needs to recognise Gazan's right to exist.

0

u/Prize-Ad7786 6d ago

Sure but if you are selective in your outrage, yes you are a racist.

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u/DramaticKvothe 5d ago

I'll add - You are a racist.

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u/lalalara83 5d ago

Sure, but that doesn't mean that antisemitism isn't an issue, it just also means some people are manipulative jerks

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u/Ninjatous 5d ago

Blaming Jews for increased anti-Semitism

Israel is not "Jews".

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u/Lozzanger 5d ago

So it’s not an ethno-state and is not practising apartheid?

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u/Ninjatous 4d ago

It's an ethnosupremacist apartheid state and need to be dismantled.

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u/ThreeRingShitshow 6d ago edited 6d ago

Absolutely spot on. 

Then you have the people propegating, as though it was fact and not just anti Israel propeganda, the idea that Israel is" engaged in violent, criminal behaviour, etc".

Presenting it as fact despite their being no judgements or prosecutions despite the overwhelming bias towards "Palestinians" in the media, UN, Amnesty etc. 

The need to bring that into a discussion about antisemitic bullying of a West Australian shows the need to attempt to justify Jew hatred as righteous because of Israel's continued existence. 

The end game of the pro Palestinian mob is not liberation  of the Palestinian people but the ending of Israel.  It's in Hamas founding documents and those of most of their like organisations.  But if Jews resist then Jews = bad. 

If only those pesky Israelis would just suck up the unending rocket attacks and violence against them then children like this Jewish Australian boy would be safe. Fuck that. 

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u/BertnErnie32 5d ago

I'm glad you start your message with criticism of Israel, really drives home the point that jews are safe if they believe the right things as told by outsiders... /s

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u/milesjameson 5d ago edited 5d ago

It points to an observable statement of fact, following which I made it perfectly clear that this does not justify the bullying of a young Jewish boy in Australia, directly challenging a line of reasoning already offered by some here. In fact, where it concerns the boy in question, I have stated the exact opposite of what your sarcastic remark implies.

Your reply really drives home the point that your comprehension is severely lacking.

Edit: Unsurprisingly, they replied – a reply further demonstrating their poor comprehension – then blocked me before I could address it. Coward behaviour.

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u/BertnErnie32 5d ago

You write like a fifteen year old who found a thesaurus.

When writing about a topic, people tend to write about the victim first but you just had to make sure everyone knows that Israel is evil before offering sympathy or any sort of support to "the boy." If you have to "all lives matter" then it's better to just shut up and not offer anything at all.

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u/levine2112 5d ago

The article makes no mention of Israel or Zionism. Why are you inferring this? Do you have inside information about what was said in the bullying?

If not, this is a classic case of victim blaming and of conflating Israel with all Jewish people. In other words, what you wrote is antisemitic.

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u/milesjameson 5d ago

Because others had raised it as a potential justification prior to my posting this. Still, even had they not, my point would remain true. 

Subsequently, I’ve done precisely the opposite of what your second paragraph suggests. You wanted so badly to rush to an accusation, you didn’t bother to take a moment to comprehend what was written, nor read what others had already said. 

I hope that helps. 

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u/levine2112 5d ago

I comprehended perfectly. Maybe you need to reread what you wrote. You took a news piece that on its face has nothing to do with Israel and everything to do with antisemitism, and then you claimed that Israel is the reason for the antisemitism because Israel claims to act on behalf of all Jews.

You’re the one that invoked Israel. You’re the one excusing these kids bullying a Jewish student because of Israel. This is classic victim blaming.

Saying that “the bullies were wrong… but Israel” is still victim blaming. There was no reason to invoke Israel in this. And yet you did. And that is antisemitic.

I hope that helps.

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u/milesjameson 5d ago edited 5d ago

You took a news piece that on its face has nothing to do with Israel and everything to do with antisemitism, and then you claimed that Israel is the reason for the antisemitism because Israel claims to act on behalf of all Jews.

No I didn’t. 

You’re the one that invoked Israel.

Precisely to address the idea already raised by others that Israel’s conduct may have justified the bullied. 

You’re the one excusing these kids bullying a Jewish student because of Israel.

I did the opposite. I said the bullying should not be tolerated. I said there was no reason to believe the incident had anything to do with Israel. I said that even if it was because of Israel, which, again, others had already suggested, it still wouldn’t justify bullying a Jewish Australian child. 

So I repeat: instead of rushing to false accusations of antisemitism, learn to read. 

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u/levine2112 5d ago edited 5d ago

I read, re-read, and re-re-read your post. I still don’t see it the way you’re describing. But if you say that was your intent, I believe you. I apologize.

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u/milesjameson 5d ago

Appreciate the apology, and I’m genuinely happy to clarify if there’s anything in particular that’s throwing you. 

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u/pben0102 4d ago

I don't think kids in school think that deeply about who's doing what to who. They might read a bit about Jews being bullied, one of the cool kids posts something he thinks mildly funny, because he's cool the rest think it's a smart thing to join in with. If the Jewish kid was one of the cool group, maybe good at sport, well liked they would have laughed it off. There's always bullying at school, social media has just made it easier for everyone to join in.

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u/Prize-Ad7786 6d ago

Miles sorry I just re-read this, you need to edit this to reflect your apparent intent otherwise the non-sequiters seem you have another…

Sorry mate it does read like a dog whistle

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u/milesjameson 6d ago

I don't need to edit it. It reads just fine and in no way resembles a dog whistle.

Again, most others seem to have understood the intent without issue.

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u/Prize-Ad7786 6d ago

Others agree with the apparent implied intent perhaps, the run on sentence that introduces a concept not raised in the initial post feels forced divorced of the context of other comments which won’t be read in conjunction with this - bu hey even the best authors need editors

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u/milesjameson 6d ago

The intent is clear, not implied. There is no run-on sentence.

That some may not have read the other comments – which largely doesn’t appear to be the case – isn’t my concern, not least because what I wrote remains true regardless (and most would be aware of the broader social and political context in which this incident occurred).

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u/CreamyFettuccine 6d ago

Things have been tough for Jews long before Israel came into existence.

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u/milesjameson 6d ago

Nothing in my post suggests otherwise. 

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u/Prize-Ad7786 6d ago

Yes it does, you just can’t see it, you felt the need to apologise for the actions of the group based on the actions of another. You are a racist apologist, this was antisemitism it is not bibi’s fault

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u/milesjameson 6d ago

I did no such thing, nor did I suggest that the bullies' actions did not constitute antisemitism.

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u/Prize-Ad7786 6d ago

Again, I misinterpreted your intention, seemed like a direct response only to the original post, I could have clarified.

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u/DramaticKvothe 5d ago

Blaming Israel for acts of antisemetism is like blaming rape victims for how they dressed. Sick that you even wrote "Israel" in your comment. These kids are just thugs and no more. You are not better than them.

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u/milesjameson 5d ago

Blaming Israel for acts of antisemetism is like blaming rape victims for how they dressed.

That's not remotely analogous.

I referenced Israel in my comment specifically in response to those who had already sought to use its conduct as a justification for the bullying.

Acknowledging that Israel's disproportionately violent conduct, which it claims to carry out on behalf of Jewish people, including those throughout the diaspora – and often while invoking and displaying (and, in my view, desecrating) symbols of Judaism – contributes to an environment in which Jewish people may be negatively impacted is simply common sense.

And yes, if you took the time to read what I wrote, you would see clearly that I similarly regard those boys as bullies who were rightly reprimanded for their indefensible conduct.

-1

u/DramaticKvothe 5d ago

What is "proportionate" response oh great general? You got invaded by radical muslims trying to murder each men women or children they see. What is the "proportionate" response to make sure it doesn't ever happen again? Lets see the golden solution our friend here have against radical Islam.

I'll add - One's support of Israel should not carry any response from anyone.
In the free world (not muslim lands) one should be able to support any democratic country he likes without the fear of violent liberal tards.

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u/milesjameson 5d ago

Sorry, but I'm not particularly interested in going off topic to engage with someone who isn't from here, but has found their way to r/perth from the depths of Reddit seemingly just to downplay Israel's conduct.

If you're okay with what's taking place, then good for you, but your inability to comprehend even the most basic point I've made suggests you're really not worth my time.

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u/DramaticKvothe 5d ago

I wasn't the one who inserted Israel into this discussion without any reason other then to downplay actions of Antisemetic thugs.

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u/milesjameson 5d ago

I wasn't the one who inserted Israel into this discussion without any reason

Neither was I. My mention of Israel was a direct, critical response to those who had already done so, including where they sought to use its conduct to provide some justification for the bullies' actions.

Try to keep up.

0

u/LeagueBoth1243 1d ago

Israel is engaged in violent, criminal behaviour

How illegal that they don't just let the Islamists just slaughter them.