Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described a fire at a Melbourne synagogue as an “abhorrent act of antisemitism” and claimed it was linked to what he called the Australian government’s “extreme anti-Israel position”.
The Adass Israel synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne’s southeast had two of its three buildings gutted after suspected masked intruders allegedly broke into the building and set it alight early on Friday morning.
Two congregants were inside at the time, preparing for morning prayers, with one sustaining minor injuries.
Police are still investigating the motive behind the attack, they believe the incident was “deliberate” and “targeted”.
Netanyahu said he expected authorities to “use their full weight to prevent such antisemitic acts in the future”, before criticising the Albanese government for and denying a visa for on grounds she could threaten social cohesion.
“The burning of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne is an abhorrent act of antisemitism,” he wrote on X on Saturday.
“Unfortunately, it is impossible to separate this reprehensible act from the extreme anti-Israeli position of the Labor government in Australia.”
‘I have zero tolerance for antisemitism’, Albanese says
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among the political leaders and Jewish community members to condemn the suspected arson attack, saying: “I have zero tolerance for antisemitism”.
“This violence and intimidation and destruction at a place of worship is an outrage,” he said in a statement shared on social media on Friday morning.
“This attack has risked lives and is clearly aimed at creating fear in the community.
“This deliberate, unlawful act goes against everything we are as Australians and everything we have worked so hard to build as a nation.”
Police believe the suspected arson incident was a “deliberate” and “targeted” attack. Source: SBS News
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog later said he had spoken with Albanese about the synagogue fire and condemned the wave of attacks on Jewish communities.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Australia reverses UN stance on Israeli presence in Gaza and West Bank
Netanyahu’s comments came just days after Australia supported a UN resolution calling on Israel to “end its unlawful presence” in the occupied Palestinian territories — Gaza and the West Bank — “as rapidly as possible” and cease new settlements.
Australia was among 157 countries that supported the resolution, while eight voted against it, including the United States and Israel. Seven countries abstained from voting.
It was the first time Australia had voted in support of Israel withdrawing from Palestinian territories since 2001. In May, Australia voted to recognise Palestine as qualified to become a full UN member.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton critiqued Australia’s decision to support the resolution, saying: “The Albanese government is chasing Green votes and has been prepared to sacrifice the wellbeing of the Jewish community in Australia to do so.”
It’s believed the damage caused to the inside of the Adass Israel synagogue is significant, with one congregation member estimating millions of dollars worth of holy books and precious handwritten Torah scrolls were inside.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said “every available resource” would be deployed to find the arsonists and committed $100,000 to help rebuild the synagogue. She also confirmed there would be increased police presence in the Jewish community over the coming days, including at synagogues and in public community spaces.
With reporting by the Australian Associated Press
