A 41-year-old man has been charged with making hate calls to Jewish groups in Perth during the peak of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel. The man is expected to appear in Perth Magistrate’s Court today charged with using a telephone to make abusive, harassing and anti-Semitic calls to Jewish community groups in Perth.

“The hate calls had been received at the Jewish community centres at the height of hostilities in the Middle East between Israel and Lebanon,” police said.

His arrest has prompted police to warn others about considering any unlawful religiously-motivated activity.

“All reports received by WA Police that are motivated by unlawful religious or racial behaviour will be treated seriously, and dealt with promptly, to ensure police maintain the trust and strengthen the good relationships that exist with all religious and cultural groups in this state,” police said in a statement.

The 41-year-old man’s arrest came after police received complaints that several interest and welfare groups associated with the Jewish Centre in WA had received hate calls between June 29 and July 29.

He was charged with four counts of using a phone service to harass.

TAN