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."
