Benjamin Netanyahu demands Anthony Albanese take stronger action against ‘vile’ antisemitic attacks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has furiously demanded the Albanese Government take stronger action against antisemitism after a series of “vile” attacks in Melbourne.

In the latest act of religious hatred, the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation was targeted about 8pm Friday while about 20 people, including children, were inside observing Shabbat.

The front door of the synagogue was set alight, forcing the worshippers to flee to safety.

It came about the same time as protesters stormed a restaurant in Melbourne’s CBD chanting “death to the IDF”, terrifying diners as they threw food, smashed chairs against windows, and overturned tables.

In a statement, Mr Netanyahu strongly condemned both attacks.

“I view with utmost gravity the antisemitic attacks that occurred last night in Melbourne, which included attempted arson of a synagogue in the city and a violent assault against an Israeli restaurant by pro-Palestinian rioters,” he said.

“The reprehensible antisemitic attacks, with calls of ‘death to the IDF’ and an attempt to attack a place of worship, are severe hate crimes that must be uprooted.

“The State of Israel will continue to stand alongside the Australian Jewish community, and we demand that the Australian government take all action to deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law and prevent similar attacks in the future.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said there have been “too many antisemitic attacks in Australia” and also urged the Federal Government to act.

“I strongly condemn last night’s vile antisemitic attacks in Melbourne, including the arson attack on the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation synagogue and the targeted violence at the Israeli restaurant Miznon,” he said.

“Israel stands firmly with the Jewish community in Australia. There have been too many antisemitic attacks in Australia. The Australian government must do more to fight this poisonous disease.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog described the attempted arson as a “chilling,” warning: “This must be the last.”

Angelo Loras, from Toongabbie in NSW, was arrested in Melbourne’s CBD on Saturday night over the synagogue attack.

The 34-year-old has been charged multiple offences including reckless conduct endangering life, criminal damage by fire and possession of a controlled weapon.

He faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday and was remanded in custody until July 22.

Police are now investigating the accused man’s intent and ideology to determine if the incident was an act of terrorism.

It is the latest in a string of antisemitic attacks across the country since the October 7 terror attack. In December, the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne was firebombed, which police labelled an act of terrorism.

The following month, a Sydney synagogue and a childcare centre was vandalised with antisemitic graffiti, with several cars vandalised with anti-Israel graffiti and torched.

At a press conference on Sunday, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke condemned the latest synagogue targeting as “an attack on Australia” and warned people not to “import hatred”.

“There’s been some reporting that no one was physically injured, that doesn’t mean no one was harmed,” he said. “The community here was harmed, the Jewish community in Australia was harmed and we were harmed as a nation.

“There were three attacks that night and none of them belonged in Australia. Arson attacks, the chanting calls for death, other attacks and graffiti, none of it belonged in Australia and they were attacks on Australia.”

Mr Burke added: “Hatred has no place in Australia. Antisemitism has no place in Australia.”

“The dream of this country is no matter where you come from in the world, no matter what your heritage is, we stand together, we welcome each other, and we do not import hatreds and violence from overseas to life in Australia.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made a statement on Saturday also condemning the attack.

“Last night’s arson attack on the synagogue in East Melbourne is cowardly, is an act of violence and antisemitism, and has no place in Australian society,” he said.

Rabbi Dovid Gutnick said the outcome could have been far worse.

“We were lucky the response was quick,” he said.

“They could have opened the door to a person who clearly had bigger plans.

“There were children playing … it could have been a lot worse because those doors are wooden and there’s carpet. You wonder if he had more stuff in that bag to do more harm.”

Mark Dreyfus, the nation’s most senior Jewish politician, met with members of the synagogue on Sunday and urged the public to unite and “make sure that this never happens again”.

“This attack on this old synagogue here in the centre of Melbourne is an attack not just on the Jewish community - It’s an attack on the entire Australian community,” he said.

“Let’s make sure that this never happens again. And that hatred of this kind is banished from our country.”

Multicultural Affairs Minister Dr Anne Aly joined Burke in condemning the attack saying antisemitic acts violated the fundamental right to safety.

“All Australians have a right to safety. Acts of antisemitism violate that right and should face the full force of the law,” she said.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan described the attack as “disgraceful” and “abhorrent,” especially as it occurred during Shabbat.

“That this happened on Shabbat makes it all the more abhorrent,” she said in a statement.

“Any attack on a place of worship is an act of hate, and any attack on a Jewish place of worship is an act of antisemitism.

“To our Jewish community: I stand with you in the fight against hate and fear, and the Victorian people stand with you, too.”

Shadow Minister for Women Melissa McIntosh on Sunday said that several Liberals — including Leader Sussan Ley — had wrote to the PM three weeks ago, urging him to strengthen the response to antisemitic attacks.

“There’s been a letter that’s been sitting there for three weeks... imploring the government to protect the Jewish community of more security in light of what’s been going on in the Middle East,” she told ABC.

“They have not received a response from the Prime Minister.

“What about National Cabinet? Why isn’t he convening National Cabinet and bringing the states together with urgency to address this issue?

“There’s a number of things that the Government could be doing yet we’re sitting here today discussing another horrible attack where there are kids inside the synagogue.”