New Zealand is not free from anti-semitism. When two Israeli citizens, likely Mossad agents, attempted to steal the identities of New Zealanders, a Jewish cemetery in Wellington, of all places, was desecrated with anti-Semitic graffiti. John Key, one of few recent National Prime Ministers, was targeted as a "money hungry Jew". In 2012, a Jewish cemetery in Auckland was covered with swastikas and anti-Semitic statements.

Throughout the world, and in New Zealand, far-right nationalism and anti-semitism is becoming all the more vitriolic, weaponised, and dangerous. Recent reporting has uncovered the far-right groups forming online, with too many New Zealanders blaming the "deep state" on Jews, or claiming the progressive and truly uncontroversial UN Migration Compact is part of "Zionist programming", and a Jewish plot to take over "Catholic" society.

This is not unique to New Zealand. Throughout the United States under President Trump, anti-semitism is surging. Nobody can forget the haunting images of white nationalists marching through Charlottesville, chanting "jews will not replace us"- the conspiracy theory that elite Jews are destroying the United States by enabling and encouraging mass (and non-white) immigration. Data from the Anti-Defamation League showed that 2017 and 2018 saw the highest numbers of anti-Semitic incidents in 40 years.

Part of that is the attacks, something the President himself has participated in, on prominent Jews such as George Soros, who has long been under attack by anti-Semites for financially backing liberal causes. In Hungary, the far-right government has waged a sustained attack on Soros, using him as a Jewish bogeyman for all the ills the nationalist government stands in opposition to. Just 5 months ago, parliament moved a motion critical of the Hungarian government's attacks on Soros, opposed only by New Zealand First and TOP MPs.

It's in this context that the use of anti-semitic tropes by Alexa, TOP MP, becomes all the more obvious and egregious. Globally and locally, as anti-semitism rears it's ugly head once more, we have elected parliamentarians repeating the lines of the alt-right and fringe left. In their attempts to attack the ruling coalition government, Alexa claimed that the coalition government was controlled by one man, puppeting the governing parties. "It's time for change in New Zealand, and we won't be getting it when one man controls the leading party in the coalition like puppets from behind the scenes". Accusations of a shadowy figure holding the country back, subverting democracy, puppeting politicians. These dog-whistles to the far-right have not gone unheard, yet TOP's leadership and MPs have rallied around the use of this trope.

It is perhaps not surprising to see the new TOP leader defending such remarks to appeal to a broader, more right wing, base. TOP has changed significantly from it's early days under the progressive, socially liberal leadership of the Right Honourable Silicon_Based_Life, who of even his harshest critics in the Greens admit was a stalwart against xenophobia and anti-semitism. Unlike his predecessor, Eelsemaj99 is from the political conservative right, having served as a Minister under the Liberal/National coalition as part of the conservative National Party, and later having served as the Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party. Voters will remember his controversial campaign in Wellington, arguing for supply drops of blu-tack to the United States, a candidacy clearly bought by Bostik. With the steady hand of Silicon_Based_Life now absent to guide the party through the sensible centre, TOP's desperate search for relevancy has it attempting to appeal to the most unsavoury of voters.

Perhaps more egregious was The Opportunities Party weaponising accusations of mental illness in order to discredit their critics. In response to criticism of their flagrant use of such tropes, the TOP MP for Te Tai Tokerau (seemingly modelling his emotional intelligence too after Sir Hone Harawira), publicly questioned former PM imnofox about his mental health. "Are you feeling fine? I am enquiring about your health. You are getting older now. We the people of NZ are concerned for your health! Hey, it's ok if you want to talk with someone. People need some companionship when they lose the only support groups they have as you have just done [sic]. All of us here are here for you, imno. Now, now, no need to get worked up, we understand what you are going through. Its [sic] alright to be a bit, ahh, "outspoken" when you are as venerable as you indeed are", tweeted NTDW. In a country with the highest youth suicide rate in the OECD, a country with a mental health crisis after years of inaction under successive governments, the attempt to use mental illness as a political and personal attack is inexcusable. It is not entirely surprising New Zealand has such negative statistics regarding suicide and mental illness when mental illness is stigmatised this way. We must all be fostering a culture where those suffering in silence feel safe to seek help, free from the fear that their mental health will be used against them, or to discredit them, as the MP for Te Tai Tokerau has done. This stigma costs lives. Mental illness is not a weakness, it does not make you any less, or your opinions and perspectives any less important.

Today's parliament must stand up, both against the harmful perpetuation of anti-Semitic stereotypes, and the weaponisation of mental illness as a political and personal attack. We, personally, may not suffer the unique discrimination faced by Jewish New Zealanders, nor may we all suffer from the stigma that surrounds mental health. But these two oppressions, often invisible to white or healthy Kiwis, cause real damage. They damage the safety of our communities, damage the standards of political discourse, and damage people's lives. That we cannot stand for, and must fight against.

Freedom and liberalism cannot be taken for granted. Nor can our health and wellbeing. Together, we must stand for better.

Where to find help and support:

• Need to Talk? - Call or text 1737
• What's Up - 0800 WHATS UP (0800 942 8787)
• Lifeline - 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
• Youthline - 0800 376 633, text 234, email [email protected] or online chat
• Samaritans - 0800 726 666
• Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757
• Suicide Crisis Helpline - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)