A terrorist attack at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach was “completely foreseeable”, it has been claimed.
Robert Gregory, chief executive of the Jewish Council of Australia, said he blamed Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for failing to heed warnings and prevent a shooting in Sydney that left at least 12 people dead and many injured.
Mr Gregory said: “What happened tonight was tragic but entirely foreseeable.
“The Albanian government has been warned many times but failed to take adequate action to protect the Jewish community. Tonight, many Jews are wondering whether they have a future in Australia.”
Mr Albanese also faced criticism from Israel for failing to heed warnings and failing to mention in his initial statement about the incident that the shooting took place at a Jewish event.
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharon Haskel said: “We said this would end in bloodshed. Unfortunately, the Australian government has chosen time and time again to talk the talk without doing anything.”
“Time and time again we see hate marches, racist slogans, discriminatory behavior… We have been warning the Australian government that they must take action, not words but deeds.”
Mrs Haskell claimed the government had spread a “blood libel” against Israel over the past two years, providing “the justification for extremist and radical groups to harm and attack the Jewish community”.
Australian officials promised a “full investigation” into the police response after one of the attackers was placed on a government watch list but was not considered an “immediate” danger.
Pressure is mounting on the government to explain how the man and his accomplices were able to travel undetected through Australia’s largest city armed with at least two long-armed firearms and explosive devices before opening fire.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said it was unfair to say police failed to stop the attacker, telling reporters: “I don’t even think it’s a legitimate question.”
He said police were “aware” of the suspect but that does not mean the person posed any specific threat, adding: “This is a tragic incident. This is not the time to point fingers.
He said NSW Police knew “very little” about the man “so he’s not someone we would automatically focus on”.
A post from Israel’s foreign minister describes Australia’s “anti-Semitic atrocities” leading up to Sydney massacre
Mike Burgess, head of Australia’s spy agency ASIO, also confirmed that the man was “known” to intelligence officials but was not a “direct threat”.
New South Wales Premier Chris Mining promised a “comprehensive investigation” by the government and police.
Australia’s Jewish community of more than 110,000 people has long warned of rising anti-Semitism since the Holocaust in Israel on October 7, 2023.
The Executive Council of Australian Jews said there were 1,654 anti-Semitic incidents last year, reaching “unprecedented levels”. Anti-Israel graffiti has appeared around Bondi Beach in recent weeks.
In the days following the attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, activists held mass protests outside the Sydney Opera House, chanting “Fuck the Jews”, while businesses, homes and synagogues were subsequently firebombed.
Australia formally recognized Palestine as a country in September after facing pressure from massive pro-Palestinian protests, with thousands marching across the Sydney Harbor Bridge in August.
Two weeks before he was injured in beach attack, Arsen Ostrovsky posted about anti-Semitic graffiti on X
Two weeks ago, Arsen Ostrovsky, a Jewish human rights lawyer who had just returned to Australia from Israel and was injured in the attack, posted photos of graffiti on social media that read “F—Zionist Israel” and “Israel commits genocide.”
On November 28, he said on
Mr Ostrovsky told Channel 9 News: “October 7, that was the last time I saw this. I never thought I would see this in Australia.”
Hundreds of people gathered at a seaside Hanukkah event organized by the ultra-Orthodox Chabad movement. Hanukkah (commonly known as Hanukkah) is an eight-day Jewish festival of light commemorating the Maccabean rebellion against Greek rule.
Arson attacks and anti-Semitic graffiti were seen around Bondi Beach weeks before terror attack – AFP
The event includes live entertainment, face painting, kosher food, music and games and is expected to culminate with the lighting of a giant menorah.
One advertising poster read: “Celebrate Hanukkah with the community. Bring your friends, bring the family and let’s keep Bondi filled with joy and light.”
Chabad envoy in Sydney, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, was also among those killed.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s anti-Semitism report cited an arson attack on a Jewish catering business in Bondi, as well as firebombing, graffiti and vandalism targeting Jewish homes, cars, businesses and synagogues in Sydney and Melbourne.
Earlier this year, Australia expelled Iran’s ambassador to Canberra after the country’s spy agency discovered Tehran was behind at least two anti-Semitic attacks.
While the action against Iran was welcomed by the Jewish community, Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler told The Telegraph the Hanukkah attacks were the result of years of “uncontrolled” anti-Semitic incitement, vilification and intimidation.
“When hatred is normalized, violence will follow… Australia must respond with morally clear and decisive leadership and action,” Mr Leibler said.
The Jewish Council of Australia said in a post on
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded to AJA’s criticism, saying: “You will not find such words in the Prime Minister’s statement: Jew, anti-Semitism, terror.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog also harshly criticized the Australian government, saying: “We have repeatedly called on the Australian government to take action to combat the huge wave of anti-Semitism plaguing Australian society.”
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