class=”img” alt=”A mass shooting during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Australia follows a wave of antisemitic incidents in the country over the last two years.” fetchpriority=”high” />
A mass shooting during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Australia follows a wave of antisemitic incidents in the country over the last two years.
Saeed Khan/AFP
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Saeed Khan/AFP
The tragic incident at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach, Australia, has brought attention to the alarming increase in antisemitic attacks in the country following the conflict between Hamas and Israel. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry documented over 3,700 anti-Jewish incidents in the two years post the Hamas attack, a fivefold rise compared to the previous decade.
Similar rises in antisemitic attacks have been observed globally, prompting Jewish leaders to gather in Sydney to address the growing concern. The Australian government attributed arson attacks on a Melbourne synagogue and a kosher food company in Sydney to Iran.
The recent shooting at Bondi Beach during Hanukkah, where at least 15 people were killed, was labeled as an act of antisemitic terrorism by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The attack led to heightened security measures at Hanukkah events worldwide.
Australia’s pledge to combat antisemitism included the establishment of a special envoy and a comprehensive plan aimed at addressing the issue across various sectors. However, criticisms arose regarding potential conflation of antisemitism with criticisms of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
In a move to support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Australia joined Canada and the UK in recognizing the state of Palestine. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized this decision, linking it to the rise in antisemitic incidents.
