Anti-Semitic cases are on the rise in Australia, according to an annual report by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. The council's Report on Anti-Semitism in Australia, discussed in a general meeting in Melbourne revealed anti-Jew incidents rose 21 per cent.

According to the report, there 657 cases reported involving racial violence against the Jewish community in Australia between October 2012 and September 2013. Serious physical attacks were at their lowest rate with reported incidents fewer than 20.

The council's research officer, Julie Nathan, said Australians in general "do not particularly like or dislike Jews." Ms Nathan is also the author of the report together with Jeremy Jones, director of international and community affairs at the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council.

The authors said stereotypes of Jews are part of Australian culture, but it is not deeply ingrained in the people unlike those in the Middle Eastern and European cultures. Although Anti-Semitism "remains at the fringes of Australian politics and society," it is not generally a part of a larger issue.

It was worth noting that the 202-page report did not include the recent assault on five Jews who were walking home from a Shabbat dinner in Bondi. The brutal incident happened in October 2013 and described as the worst anti-Semitic case since historical records were started in 1989.

The five Jews, four men and one woman, were attacked in a violent encounter that left 66-year-old Eli Behar with brain hemorrhage. He was treated for his injuries and released from the hospital after two days.

In August, a political candidate made an interview gaffe when she said that Jews are not following "haram" since they have their own religion - following Jesus Christ. Jews do not actually follow Jesus Christ's teachings since Judaism views Jesus as an ordinary man. Stephanie Banister, dubbed as the "Sarah Palin of Australia," has dropped out of the election race on Aug 10 after committing several interview blunders and calling Islam a country.