The recent firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue, now under investigation as a potential terrorist act, underscores a disturbing trend of escalating anti-Jewish violence in Australia. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry documented over 2,000 antisemitic incidents between October 2023 and September 2024, a stark indicator of a growing problem.
The surge in antisemitism seems inextricably linked to the aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. Following this event, the Australian government's shift away from its traditional pro-Israel stance coincided with a dramatic increase in anti-Jewish incidents across the country. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry reported a staggering 738% rise in such incidents in the two months immediately after the attack, one of the highest increases globally.
This rise manifested in various forms, from the doxxing of Jewish artists and creatives, leading to harassment and job losses, to the vandalism of Jewish businesses and the firebombing of a Jewish parliament member's office. Coordinated boycotts against Jewish businesses and vandalism featuring antisemitic slogans and Hamas symbols became increasingly common. Two separate attacks in Sydney's eastern suburbs, a hub of the Jewish community, saw cars set ablaze and homes defaced with anti-Israel messages.
Public displays of antisemitism also became more brazen. Just days after the Hamas attack, a mob gathered at the Sydney Opera House chanting anti-Jewish slogans, burning Israeli flags, and creating an atmosphere of fear that prompted police to warn Jewish residents to avoid the city center. The culmination of this escalating violence was the December 6th arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, a devastating blow to a community built by Holocaust survivors seeking refuge and a symbolic attack on a place of worship and remembrance.
The Australian government's response to this crisis has been met with widespread criticism. Many argue that the government's reluctance to forcefully condemn antisemitism and implement effective policies has exacerbated the situation. The government's justification – that its policies are unrelated to the rise in antisemitism – is seen by critics as a shirking of responsibility and a failure of leadership. This situation serves as a cautionary tale, demonstrating the dangerous consequences of inadequate governmental response to rising intolerance and hate.
