Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to react decisively after a suspected arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne. The incident took place on Friday night when a man allegedly doused the synagogue’s front door with a flammable liquid and ignited it, while around 20 individuals were having dinner inside. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported due to the swift evacuation by the authorities.
Law enforcement is currently investigating whether this attack is related to an incident at the Miznon restaurant, a Jewish-owned establishment in Melbourne’s business district, where rioters smashed furniture and hurled abuse against the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
In light of increasing antisemitic incidents across Australia over recent months, correlating with escalating tensions stemming from the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Australian government has taken steps to combat hate crimes through implementing a special envoy dedicated to address antisemitism and enacting tougher legislation.
"The presence of antisemitism in our society must be eradicated," Albanese stated, emphasizing the government's commitment to ensuring that perpetrators of such acts face severe penalties.
Concerns have also been raised by Israeli officials, including Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who criticized the rise of antisemitism and urged the Australian government to adopt more proactive measures against hate-fueled violence.
Additionally, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has heightened unrest within Australia, resulting in protests from both Jewish and Muslim communities, and a troubling rise in Islamophobia as well as antisemitic sentiments. The Israeli military's operations in Gaza, which escalated in response to a recent attack that resulted in substantial casualties, has become a contentious political issue in Australia and beyond.
