Outcry as Australian Conference Caves to Hamas Sympathizers, Axes Jewish Mental Health Leader

The Frontline Mental Health Conference in Australia’s Gold Coast has faced intense criticism for excluding Dr. Moshe Farchi, a leading Jewish trauma expert. Organizers withdrew his invitation just days before the event, even though he had been invited six months earlier and had already arrived in Australia. Dr. Farchi is well-known as the head of the Stress, Trauma, and Resilience Studies at Tel-Hai College in Israel. This decision has ignited accusations of antisemitism against the conference.

The conference organizers reportedly cancelled Dr. Farchi’s registration and hotel accommodation due to unspecified threats, a decision that has led to outrage and condemnation from various quarters, including the Australian Jewish Association (AJA).

The controversy escalated following the emergence of a dangerous Change.org petition titled “Rescind Moshe Farchi’s Invitation to the Frontline Mental Health & Wellbeing Conference.” This petition, influenced by Islamic-tied groups sympathetic to Hamas, such as Families For Palestine, Australia Palestine Mental Health Network, Australian Social Workers For Palestine, Mental Health Workers For Palestine, and the Shifa Project, put significant pressure on the conference organizers. Critics have condemned the conference’s decision to yield to this radical campaign, accusing them of aligning with terror supporters instead of standing by a targeted Jewish speaker.

Robert Gregory, CEO of the AJA, lambasted the organizers’ actions as “a stain on Australia’s reputation,” likening them to the boycotts faced by Jewish academics during the Nazi era. He emphasized that the appropriate response to threats should have been to enhance security rather than to exclude a Jewish participant.

AJA STATEMENT – GOLD COAST CONFERENCE 'CANCELS' JEWISH, TRAUMA EXPERT

The Frontline Mental Health Conference being held at the JW Marriott in the Gold Coast invited world respected trauma expert, Dr Moshe Farchi to attend.

Dr Farchi is the founder and the Head of the Stress,… pic.twitter.com/G53O26SrFv

— Australian Jewish Association (@AustralianJA) March 4, 2024

Dr. Farchi expressed his shock over the incident, noting that it was the first time he had encountered such overt antisemitism in his extensive academic career. The AJA has called for the immediate dismissal of the individual responsible for the decision to expel Dr. Farchi and has urged the Queensland Government to clarify its association with the conference and its stance on the exclusion of individuals from events based on their ethnicity or religious background. The organization also encouraged attendees to request full refunds from the conference organizers.