Israeli Woman’s Job Hunt in Australia Turns Ugly

A 24-year-old Israeli woman, who recently relocated to Australia seeking new opportunities, was left stunned and humiliated after a local business owner rejected her job application with a barrage of inflammatory accusations tied to the recent Israel-Gaza war.

Eden, whose full name has been withheld for privacy, applied for a part-time position at The Garden of Eden, a plant nursery in Melbourne's upscale Albert Park suburb. In a text message that has since gone viral, co-owner Brett Dahan didn't mince words. "Your lack of humanity is not a good look for a job here," he wrote, before escalating: "The role has been filled by someone with a semblance of humanity who cares about plants, animals, and the environment. Good luck on your journey and I hope you leave Melbourne soon! Free Palestine and end genocide NOW."

The message, which Eden shared with Israel's N12 news channel, explicitly linked her Israeli nationality to alleged complicity in what Dahan called "genocide" in Gaza, a charge that has fueled global debates amid Israel's military operations following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. Eden, who emphasized she is a civilian with no ties to the conflict beyond her heritage, described the rejection as "vicious" and deeply personal. "None of them have a clue," she told N12 in a tearful interview. "Hopefully they won't wake up when it's too late."

Dahan has not publicly responded to requests for comment, but the incident has ignited outrage among Australian Jewish communities and human rights advocates. Dr. Dvir Abramovich, chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), condemned the text as a "cowardly act of discrimination" that crosses into hate speech territory. "This isn't just about a job rejection – it's a blatant example of antisemitism masquerading as political activism," Abramovich said in a statement. The ADC has called on Victoria Police and the state's Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission to launch an immediate investigation, warning that such rhetoric could embolden further hostility toward Jewish and Israeli expatriates.

Australia, home to a vibrant Jewish diaspora of around 120,000, has seen a surge in antisemitic incidents since the Israel-Hamas war escalated nearly two years ago. According to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, reports of harassment, vandalism, and online abuse spiked by over 300% in the months following October 2023, with many targeting individuals perceived as "Zionist" based solely on their Jewish or Israeli identity. Eden's case adds to a growing tally of workplace discrimination claims, including similar stories of rental rejections and social media pile-ons reported in Sydney and Brisbane.

For Eden, the fallout has been isolating. Just weeks into her Australian adventure, she's now weighing whether to report the incident formally or simply move on. "I came here for a fresh start, not to be hated for where I'm from," she said.