When institutions tell Palestinian people that their identity must be erased in order to belong, they do not create cohesion, they create fear, exclusion and lasting harm.

We call on Bayside City Council to reverse its decision to withdraw a recent edition of the Let’s Talk Bayside magazine that featured 16-year-old local volunteer, Zaina, wearing a barely visible pendant with a map of Palestine and the colours of the Palestinian flag.  

This is a clear example of anti-Palestinian racism. In its 2025 national register of anti-Palestinian racism in Australian schools, APAN (Australian Policy Advocacy Network) documented 84 testimonies reporting a “climate of fear, censorship, intimidation and punishment” experienced by students, educators and allies. 

The report describes multiple cases where individuals were forced to remove Palestinian symbols, including traditional scarves, flags, badges, or were excluded from school events because of visible expression of Palestinian identity. 

These findings show that anti-Palestinian racism has become widespread and normalised within public institutions and highlights the very real harm caused to young people’s sense of belonging, safety, and civic participation. 

We believe the removal by Council of a magazine edition featuring a young volunteer wearing a Palestinian pendant mirrors this broader pattern of identity suppression, and demands transparent accountability, not further erasure.

Zaina is a highly respected young person who has volunteered extensively in Bayside and was selected by Council to appear on the magazine cover in recognition of her service. Instead of celebrating her contribution, Bayside Council removed the edition from circulation after unspecified “criticism” received from less than ten residents. Neither Zaina nor her parents were informed. After weeks of seeking clarity from the Council Zaina was told that her necklace was too “political” and the Council could not be seen to be promoting a “political” agenda. She left the meeting in tears.

However, wearing a Palestinian pendant is not a “political statement” in the sense claimed by the Council, instead it is comparable to wearing an Aboriginal flag, Star of David, or an Irish shamrock. These are personal identity markers, which cannot be restricted in the same way, without leading to cultural erasure and discrimination.  

Council’s response, withdrawing the magazine and reportedly failing to meaningfully consult or apologise to Zaina, sends a disturbing message: that Palestinian identity is incompatible with participation in civic life. This not only undermines Bayside’s stated commitments to diversity and inclusion but risks deep harm to a young volunteer whose only “offence” was expressing who she is.

We are particularly concerned that, under the guise of “social cohesion”, public institutions may be censoring Palestinian cultural expression and discouraging young people of culturally diverse backgrounds from engaging with Council. Such actions damage trust, fuel exclusion, and run counter to the values a local government should uphold.

WE CALL ON BAYSIDE CITY COUNCIL TO:

1. Immediately restore the Let’s Talk Bayside article and cover featuring Zaina.
2. Publicly apologise to Zaina and ensure her volunteer recognition is restored without censoring her cultural identity.
3. Guarantee cultural inclusion: Confirm that Palestinian symbols, along with other cultural and national expressions, are protected by Council and update any policies that risk silencing culturally diverse young people. 

Young people should never be punished for expressing their identity. Zaina deserved affirmation and appreciateion, not erasure. A truly inclusive Bayside is one where all residents, including Palestinian Australians, are welcome, respected, and represented.

We urge Bayside City Council to act transparently, restore trust, respect cultural diversity and uphold the values it claims to champion. 

Petition by Jewish Advocates for Understanding Antisemitism (JAUA). 

JAUA is a group of Jews and allies committed to confronting antisemitism in all its forms while upholding universal principles of justice and human rights. Antisemitism is prejudice or hostility toward Jews as Jews and is distinct from criticism of Israel or opposition to Zionism. We affirm that questioning Zionism or opposing Israeli government policies is not antisemitic, for anyone, regardless of their background, identity, or community. We believe that challenging all forms of bigotry requires intellectual integrity, moral courage, and an unwavering commitment to the dignity and rights of all people.