Fears for next anti-Semitic firebombing on home soil

The Advertiser

3 days ago

Australia's Jewish community is bracing for more anti-Semitic attacks as a task force is charged with doing whatever it takes to tackle hate.
Calls for action have sharpened after four incidents in Victoria over the weekend, including a fire at East Melbourne Synagogue which forced worshippers to flee.
"It's terrifying," Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion told AAP.
"I don't know where the next attack will be or when or how, all I can say is that it is statistically likely that it will occur.
"So far, we have been lucky in that no one has died."
He welcomed Victoria's new task force to tackle hate which will examine police powers, but said the state government took too long to act.
He urged authorities to disallow weekly pro-Palestine protests in their current form and introduce changes such as protest zones.
Some demonstrators at Sunday's rally in Melbourne reportedly chanted "Death to the IDF" (Israel Defence Forces).
Australia's anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal said the synagogue attack was not a random incident because hatred and intimidation had been allowed to fester, calling for stronger policing and punishments.
"Violent or intimidating protest activity which targets the Jewish community is not protest, it is anti-Semitism," she said in a statement.
Sydney man Angelo Loras, 34, has been charged with setting fire to the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors on Friday night, forcing about 20 people inside to flee.
The attack came seven months after part of the Adass Israel Synagogue was destroyed.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan met with synagogue leaders on Monday, pledging mental health support.
She said there were no plans to ban the weekly pro-Palestine demonstrations because freedom of protest was a central tenant of democracy, while hitting out at the protesters' chanting as "odious, hateful behaviour".
She was confident anti-vilification laws coming into force in September would give police more powers to crack down on extremist behaviour, as would future legislation to ban masks at protests.
Rally organisers hit back at criticism, stressing they were opposed to the Israeli occupation of Gaza.
"To combat anti-Semitism, Jacinta Allen needs to learn to distinguish between the IDF which is responsible for war crimes, and Australian Jews," a spokesperson said in a statement.
Soon after the synagogue fire, Israeli restaurant Miznon was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters.
A window was smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as police directed them to leave the area, with one person arrested.
Later the same night in the city's northeast, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight.
CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires outside a Greensborough business, with detectives looking for five people seen fleeing on e-bikes.
A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a Holocaust museum in Elsternwick.
The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter-terrorism officers to examine any links.
The Jewish Council of Australia denounced the synagogue attack but said it was "irresponsible and inflammatory to link this anti-Semitic act with separate protest actions".
"Such language inaccurately conflates Jewishness with support for Israel, and undermines the fight against real anti-Semitism," executive council member Ohad Kozminsky said.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin said hate speech was the "root cause" of Jewish people feeling unsafe, as he pushed for police to review 'move on' laws and potentially recommend changes to the premier.
"It is vital now that we stop these crimes in their tracks, we stop the violent speeches happening across the state and that will actually stop the actions that are happening and protect people," he said.
The attacks drew international condemnation, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against "rioters".
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible must face the full force of the law and federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to discuss what happened.
Australia's Jewish community is bracing for more anti-Semitic attacks as a task force is charged with doing whatever it takes to tackle hate.
Calls for action have sharpened after four incidents in Victoria over the weekend, including a fire at East Melbourne Synagogue which forced worshippers to flee.
"It's terrifying," Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion told AAP.
"I don't know where the next attack will be or when or how, all I can say is that it is statistically likely that it will occur.
"So far, we have been lucky in that no one has died."
He welcomed Victoria's new task force to tackle hate which will examine police powers, but said the state government took too long to act.
He urged authorities to disallow weekly pro-Palestine protests in their current form and introduce changes such as protest zones.
Some demonstrators at Sunday's rally in Melbourne reportedly chanted "Death to the IDF" (Israel Defence Forces).
Australia's anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal said the synagogue attack was not a random incident because hatred and intimidation had been allowed to fester, calling for stronger policing and punishments.
"Violent or intimidating protest activity which targets the Jewish community is not protest, it is anti-Semitism," she said in a statement.
Sydney man Angelo Loras, 34, has been charged with setting fire to the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors on Friday night, forcing about 20 people inside to flee.
The attack came seven months after part of the Adass Israel Synagogue was destroyed.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan met with synagogue leaders on Monday, pledging mental health support.
She said there were no plans to ban the weekly pro-Palestine demonstrations because freedom of protest was a central tenant of democracy, while hitting out at the protesters' chanting as "odious, hateful behaviour".
She was confident anti-vilification laws coming into force in September would give police more powers to crack down on extremist behaviour, as would future legislation to ban masks at protests.
Rally organisers hit back at criticism, stressing they were opposed to the Israeli occupation of Gaza.
"To combat anti-Semitism, Jacinta Allen needs to learn to distinguish between the IDF which is responsible for war crimes, and Australian Jews," a spokesperson said in a statement.
Soon after the synagogue fire, Israeli restaurant Miznon was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters.
A window was smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as police directed them to leave the area, with one person arrested.
Later the same night in the city's northeast, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight.
CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires outside a Greensborough business, with detectives looking for five people seen fleeing on e-bikes.
A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a Holocaust museum in Elsternwick.
The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter-terrorism officers to examine any links.
The Jewish Council of Australia denounced the synagogue attack but said it was "irresponsible and inflammatory to link this anti-Semitic act with separate protest actions".
"Such language inaccurately conflates Jewishness with support for Israel, and undermines the fight against real anti-Semitism," executive council member Ohad Kozminsky said.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin said hate speech was the "root cause" of Jewish people feeling unsafe, as he pushed for police to review 'move on' laws and potentially recommend changes to the premier.
"It is vital now that we stop these crimes in their tracks, we stop the violent speeches happening across the state and that will actually stop the actions that are happening and protect people," he said.
The attacks drew international condemnation, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against "rioters".
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible must face the full force of the law and federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to discuss what happened.
Australia's Jewish community is bracing for more anti-Semitic attacks as a task force is charged with doing whatever it takes to tackle hate.
Calls for action have sharpened after four incidents in Victoria over the weekend, including a fire at East Melbourne Synagogue which forced worshippers to flee.
"It's terrifying," Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion told AAP.
"I don't know where the next attack will be or when or how, all I can say is that it is statistically likely that it will occur.
"So far, we have been lucky in that no one has died."
He welcomed Victoria's new task force to tackle hate which will examine police powers, but said the state government took too long to act.
He urged authorities to disallow weekly pro-Palestine protests in their current form and introduce changes such as protest zones.
Some demonstrators at Sunday's rally in Melbourne reportedly chanted "Death to the IDF" (Israel Defence Forces).
Australia's anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal said the synagogue attack was not a random incident because hatred and intimidation had been allowed to fester, calling for stronger policing and punishments.
"Violent or intimidating protest activity which targets the Jewish community is not protest, it is anti-Semitism," she said in a statement.
Sydney man Angelo Loras, 34, has been charged with setting fire to the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors on Friday night, forcing about 20 people inside to flee.
The attack came seven months after part of the Adass Israel Synagogue was destroyed.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan met with synagogue leaders on Monday, pledging mental health support.
She said there were no plans to ban the weekly pro-Palestine demonstrations because freedom of protest was a central tenant of democracy, while hitting out at the protesters' chanting as "odious, hateful behaviour".
She was confident anti-vilification laws coming into force in September would give police more powers to crack down on extremist behaviour, as would future legislation to ban masks at protests.
Rally organisers hit back at criticism, stressing they were opposed to the Israeli occupation of Gaza.
"To combat anti-Semitism, Jacinta Allen needs to learn to distinguish between the IDF which is responsible for war crimes, and Australian Jews," a spokesperson said in a statement.
Soon after the synagogue fire, Israeli restaurant Miznon was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters.
A window was smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as police directed them to leave the area, with one person arrested.
Later the same night in the city's northeast, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight.
CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires outside a Greensborough business, with detectives looking for five people seen fleeing on e-bikes.
A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a Holocaust museum in Elsternwick.
The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter-terrorism officers to examine any links.
The Jewish Council of Australia denounced the synagogue attack but said it was "irresponsible and inflammatory to link this anti-Semitic act with separate protest actions".
"Such language inaccurately conflates Jewishness with support for Israel, and undermines the fight against real anti-Semitism," executive council member Ohad Kozminsky said.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin said hate speech was the "root cause" of Jewish people feeling unsafe, as he pushed for police to review 'move on' laws and potentially recommend changes to the premier.
"It is vital now that we stop these crimes in their tracks, we stop the violent speeches happening across the state and that will actually stop the actions that are happening and protect people," he said.
The attacks drew international condemnation, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against "rioters".
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible must face the full force of the law and federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to discuss what happened.
Australia's Jewish community is bracing for more anti-Semitic attacks as a task force is charged with doing whatever it takes to tackle hate.
Calls for action have sharpened after four incidents in Victoria over the weekend, including a fire at East Melbourne Synagogue which forced worshippers to flee.
"It's terrifying," Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion told AAP.
"I don't know where the next attack will be or when or how, all I can say is that it is statistically likely that it will occur.
"So far, we have been lucky in that no one has died."
He welcomed Victoria's new task force to tackle hate which will examine police powers, but said the state government took too long to act.
He urged authorities to disallow weekly pro-Palestine protests in their current form and introduce changes such as protest zones.
Some demonstrators at Sunday's rally in Melbourne reportedly chanted "Death to the IDF" (Israel Defence Forces).
Australia's anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal said the synagogue attack was not a random incident because hatred and intimidation had been allowed to fester, calling for stronger policing and punishments.
"Violent or intimidating protest activity which targets the Jewish community is not protest, it is anti-Semitism," she said in a statement.
Sydney man Angelo Loras, 34, has been charged with setting fire to the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors on Friday night, forcing about 20 people inside to flee.
The attack came seven months after part of the Adass Israel Synagogue was destroyed.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan met with synagogue leaders on Monday, pledging mental health support.
She said there were no plans to ban the weekly pro-Palestine demonstrations because freedom of protest was a central tenant of democracy, while hitting out at the protesters' chanting as "odious, hateful behaviour".
She was confident anti-vilification laws coming into force in September would give police more powers to crack down on extremist behaviour, as would future legislation to ban masks at protests.
Rally organisers hit back at criticism, stressing they were opposed to the Israeli occupation of Gaza.
"To combat anti-Semitism, Jacinta Allen needs to learn to distinguish between the IDF which is responsible for war crimes, and Australian Jews," a spokesperson said in a statement.
Soon after the synagogue fire, Israeli restaurant Miznon was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters.
A window was smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as police directed them to leave the area, with one person arrested.
Later the same night in the city's northeast, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight.
CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires outside a Greensborough business, with detectives looking for five people seen fleeing on e-bikes.
A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a Holocaust museum in Elsternwick.
The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter-terrorism officers to examine any links.
The Jewish Council of Australia denounced the synagogue attack but said it was "irresponsible and inflammatory to link this anti-Semitic act with separate protest actions".
"Such language inaccurately conflates Jewishness with support for Israel, and undermines the fight against real anti-Semitism," executive council member Ohad Kozminsky said.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin said hate speech was the "root cause" of Jewish people feeling unsafe, as he pushed for police to review 'move on' laws and potentially recommend changes to the premier.
"It is vital now that we stop these crimes in their tracks, we stop the violent speeches happening across the state and that will actually stop the actions that are happening and protect people," he said.
The attacks drew international condemnation, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against "rioters".
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible must face the full force of the law and federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to discuss what happened.