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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has linked the burning of a Melbourne synagogue to Australia’s joining a UN vote for Israel to withdraw from the Occupied Territories this week.
Australia on Wednesday split with the US and its previous practice of abstention on such votes to join 156 other UN countries in calling for “Israel bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible”.
The Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea was devastated by a fire lit at about 4.10am on Friday, with witnesses saying offenders were inside pouring liquid on the floor before lighting it.
Police are seeking three men believed to be involved.
Investigators have not speculated about motivation for the attack, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has led a chorus of condemnation describing it as an antisemitic hate crime.
Anti-terror police have also joined the investigation.
The burning of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne is an abhorrent act of antisemitism. I expect the state authorities to use their full weight to prevent such antisemitic acts in the future.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to separate this reprehensible act from the extreme…
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) December 6, 2024
In a post on X, Netanyahu, whose oversight of Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza has sparked international criticism, accusations of genocide, and mass protests in Israel, called the attack “an appalling act of antisemitism”.
“Unfortunately, it is impossible to separate this reprehensible act from the extreme anti-Israeli position of the Labor government in Australia, including the scandalous decision to support the UN resolution calling on Israel ‘to bring an end to its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as rapidly as possible’, and preventing a former Israeli minister from entering the country,” Netanyahu wrote.
Meanwhile, Israel President Isaac Herzog also took to X to confirm he had spoken with Albanese.
I spoke now with Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese @AlboMP, and expressed my firm condemnation of the horrific arson attack on the Adass Israel synagogue in Australia.
Following the atrocities carried out by Hamas against Israel on and since October 7, 2023, there has…
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) December 6, 2024
“Following the atrocities carried out by Hamas against Israel on and since October 7, 2023, there has been an intolerable wave of attacks on Jewish communities in Australia and around the world,” he said.
“I noted to the Prime Minister that this rise and the increasingly serious antisemitic attacks on the Jewish community required firm and strong action, and that this was a message that must be heard clearly from Australia’s leaders.
“I thanked him for his ongoing efforts to combat antisemitism, and expressed my trust that the local law enforcement would do everything in their power to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Synagogue board member Benjamin Klein said heightened threats and abuse extended back several months.
“There’s been a fair bit of screaming and calling and people coming past. The community has been on edge over the last couple of months,” he said.
“It’s absolutely shocking, I didn’t think this would happen to us in Melbourne.”
Police have said they are working with the Jewish community in Melbourne to provide support, and have put extra patrols in place.
The Adass Israel synagogue was built by family members of Holocaust survivors more than 70 years ago.
An online fundraiser to rebuild it has already raised more than $130,000.
Anybody with information about the attack is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.
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