SBS Hebrew

איזי מן מספר מה היה השבוע בהיסטוריה העולמית והישראלית. והשבוע: לכידתו של מוסוליני בסוף מלחמת העולם השנייה, 40 שנה לאסון הגרעיני בצ'רנוביל ועוד.

In the second part of this two part pre-recorded interview, award winning journalist and podcaster, Jonathan Freedland discusses with SBS the high-stakes landscape of Israeli politics ahead of the looming election, that is anything but routine. As the country stands at a critical crossroads, this vote is widely seen as a defining moment that will not only impact the country, but also the Middle East and the rest of the world. Freedland most pressingly points out that “democracy is on the ballot”.

In the first part of this two part pre-recorded interview, award winning journalist and podcaster, Jonathan Freedland speaks with SBS Hebrew about the recent surge in attacks targeting Jewish communities in London - not including the latest stabbing attack which took place in London this week. Freedland not only looks within confines of the UK, but also discusses attacks on Jewish people everywhere from Manchester to Bondi. He reflects on the growing sense of vulnerability felt by many and simultaneously examines the social and political currents driving this rise in hostility. We also hear Freedland offering a personal perspective on what it means to be an openly and proudly Jewish journalist at a time of heightened tension.

It can be in someone’s house, a community centre or even online - an initiative offering workshops to help community members and allies turn personal experiences into submissions.

In a conversation with SBS Hebrew, Iranian Australian journalist Shokoofeh Azar paints a bleak picture of Iran, describing a country battered by economic collapse. She provides a rare glimpse into Tehran’s ideological warfare, its use of paid protesters and the psychological toll of a society under siege. From three-month internet blackouts to the massacres in January, Azar reveals a nation feeling abandoned by Europe.

The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion was formally established by the Australian Government on 9 January 2026, in the immediate aftermath of the December 2025 Bondi terrorist attack, with a mandate to investigate the nature, causes and impacts of antisemitism and to strengthen social cohesion nationwide.

On Yom HaZikaron, a live-streamed ceremony brings together voices of grief, memory and resilience across borders. Broadcast to audiences in Australia and beyond, this event, co-presented by the Combatants for Peace and the Parents Circle – Families Forum and the New Israel Fund, offered an alternative lens on commemoration, foregrounding shared humanity in a time of deep division. Through testimony, music and reflection, Israeli and Palestinian participants honoured the lives lost to conflict while they challenged cycles of violence.

International law expert Michelle Lesh joins us to unpack a new report from the Australian Human Rights Commission examining the rise of both antisemitism and Islamophobia across Australia. Against a backdrop of escalating global tensions and local incidents, the report highlights growing concerns about social cohesion, discrimination and the limits of existing legal protections.

In this interview, Iranian - Australian artist and activist Nasim Nasr discusses art and resistance in the shadow of political repression. Nasr reflects on leaving Iran, her country of birth, as well as her family, and come to Australia in order to pursue a life free of artistic limitation. Through her work, Nasr transforms lived experience into a powerful form of activism by challenging authority, amplifying dissent and redefining what it means to be heard in a politically constrained world.

In an exclusive interview with SBS Hebrew, Kenneth Stern the lead author of the IHRA working definition of antisemitism argues that the text was designed as a tool for research and comparison, not as a legal weapon. Stern also draws a distinction between antisemitism and Palestinian experience, urging a broader, more nuanced public conversation.