A shopkeeper who abused two Israeli backpackers in what critics called a “venomous and disgraceful outburst” has defended her anti-Semitic spray.
He broke his silence after video of the heated exchange with the young tourists outside his shop in Townsville, northern Queensland, went viral.
The backpackers, in their 20s, were reportedly browsing the store on Saturday night when they saw a donation sign for Palestine relief near the counter.
They approached the merchant and suggested she consider checking where the donations were going, prompting an anti-Semitic rant from the woman.
Two days later, the shopkeeper claimed she was unaware of the wide circulation of the images, but did not care about the online reaction.
She doubled down after seeing the clip, adding that there was more to the story than the 11 seconds that were posted online.
“People can take away from that video, I really don’t give a damn,” he told Townsville Newsletter on Mondays.
The merchant accused the tourists of “testing” the donation box on her.
Jewish advocates have condemned a Townsville shopkeeper’s anti-Semitic speech against two Israeli backpackers as a “venomous and disgraceful outburst”.
‘The guy is from Israel and he sees this (box) and starts talking bad. So, I say get out of the store,” he said.
“I came out and also told him: I don’t know if you can hear it, but I said my boss is Arab.”
He added that the rest of the confrontation “would not be a good look” for tourists if it had been published.
The woman said she had had previous run-ins with tourists who “made a big deal” over the donation jar.
Those confrontations, and the nature of Townsville’s CBD, are what led her to keep a shovel next to her cash register.
He allegedly told the backpackers: ‘Get the hell out of my tent.’
The short clip shared online showed the woman, dressed in black, shouting at tourists in the street while holding a shovel.
“I don’t give a damn about Israel, but I do care about the fact that you’re a dirty, disgusting Jew,” the woman shouted as one of the backpackers filmed.
The footage showed one of the Israeli backpackers, who was not filming, confronting the shopkeeper about his comments while remaining calm and collected.
‘Do you want to hear what I have to say?’ asked the other tourist, dressed in a brown shirt and pants.
‘No. ‘Fuck you,’ the shopkeeper responded.
“I said check what you say,” the tourist continued calmly.
The woman then told the backpackers to “fuck off” two more times.
Footage of the heated confrontation showed the shopkeeper brandishing a shovel while shouting obscenities at tourists.
Daily Mail Australia has chosen not to identify the store involved.
The Australian Jewish Association condemned the incident and brutally attacked the Albanian government following recent anti-Semitic attacks across the country.
‘The wave of anti-Jewish hatred continues to rise across Australia. “Free Palestine” has brought an ugly division to this country,” the association captioned the online video.
‘Many of the government’s actions have contributed to the rise of anti-Jewish hatred.
“Incidents like this happen every day across Australia.”
One of the Israeli backpackers (left) questioned the shopkeeper about his language.
The Anti-Defamation Commission also condemned “pure, unfiltered anti-Semitism.”
President Dr. Dvir Abramovich went so far as to call the incident a “national crisis.”
‘This horrific episode sends a brutal message to both Australian Jews and international visitors: that they are not safe in our country. What does it say about us that backpackers, far from home, must fear for their lives because of their identity? he said news.com.au.
Dr Abramovich added that the confrontation would not only have left tourists feeling “fear and humiliation” but would have suggested a broader attitude across Australia.
He also asked authorities to take the incident seriously.
‘This incident is not an isolated flash of hate. It is part of a much broader and deeply disturbing trend. “Anti-Semitism is seeping into the everyday fabric of our society, eroding the very principles we claim to hold dear,” Dr. Abramovich added.
‘Australia is at a crossroads. Will we let this cancer of hate define who we are, or will we stand up and reclaim our values of decency, safety, and inclusion?
The latest incident comes after a car was set on fire and buildings were vandalized with shocking anti-Israel insults in Woollahra, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, early Thursday morning.
Cars were vandalized with the words “f**k Israel”, while at least three premises, including a restaurant, were also attacked.
Hours later, Federal Court Judge Michael Lee described the wave of anti-Semitic incidents in eastern Sydney as such as attacks on his family in a powerful speech at a gala dinner in a Jewish home.
In an impassioned speech, he said any attack on the Jewish community is an “attack on my wife and my children.”