UNSW lecturer apologizes for 'dead Zionist' remark after Bondi Beach clash

A senior lecturer at the University of New South Wales apologized on Tuesday for a remark directed at counter-protesters during a confrontation on Bondi Beach two weekends ago, saying in Hebrew that 'a good Zionist is a dead one.' The video of the exchange circulated after it was obtained by the Daily Mail, prompting renewed scrutiny of the charged debate over Israel and Gaza that day.

Dr Naama Carlin, a sociologist who teaches at UNSW, is seen during a heated moment on the popular Sydney beach making the controversial comment. She later told the Daily Mail that an edited version of the clip did not convey the full context and that her language was unacceptable. "An edited video shows me using unacceptable language," she said. "I unreservedly apologise for making this comment. As a Jewish woman who grew up in Israel, I understand how hurtful my comments are."

The university said it had been made aware of the video and would manage the incident in accordance with its internal policies and procedures. The episode occurred amid a day of clashes on Bondi Beach between pro-Palestinian activists and counter-protesters, with police called to intervene as scuffles broke out along the sand and promenade. Demonstrators waved Palestinian, Australian, and Israeli flags as tensions escalated; at one point, a counter-protester shouted, "go back to Lakemba" as the crowd surged.

NSW Police said a 29-year-old man was arrested last Friday at an address in Edmonson Park in Sydney's southwest following the melee. He was charged with affray and common assault and granted conditional bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court on Oct. 9. Inquiries into the brawl are ongoing.

NSW Premier Chris Minns condemned the behavior, saying there would be zero tolerance for political violence. "Any rhetoric like that is the opposite of what we need in Australia," Minns said. "Anyone that brings political violence to Australia, to Australian streets, is reprehensible. There is no place for anybody assaulting another person because of their political views."

Carlin is an executive member of the Jewish Council of Australia, a group described in notes as opposing certain Israeli policies while advocating Palestinian freedom and justice. The council has previously run advertisements in national papers voicing its stance on Gaza, including a recent message asserting that there is a genocide in Gaza and calling for sanctions on Israel. The event on Bondi Beach occurred as demonstrations over Israel and Gaza drew intense emotion from communities across Sydney’s eastern suburbs, where supporters and opponents of both sides clashed in public view.

The unfolding incident underscores the volatile mix of public protest and international conflict playing out in Australian streets. While UNSW said it would handle the matter through its policies, the episode adds to a broader discourse about political rhetoric, safety, and the responsibilities of educators and public figures when engaged in highly charged political debate. Authorities and community leaders have urged restraint as investigations continue and as institutions determine appropriate responses to the remarks and the surrounding conduct.