Australia Synagogue Terror Arson

"Firefighters arrived on scene to find the single-storey, 30-by20-metre building fully involved in fire.

"The response was escalated to a third alarm with crews wearing breathing apparatus attacking the fire."

Fire Rescue Victoria

"The firebombing of a synagogue in Melbourne appears to be another shocking escalation of the hate that we have seen brazenly displayed on the streets of Melbourne every week for over a year."

"No one should be surprised; this violent attack is a direct consequence of words turning into actions."

"Jew hatred, left unchecked, endangers all Australians. Enough is enough, this is a stain on our nation. It's time for all levels of government to turn their words into actions to stamp out this Jew-hatred."

Jeremy Leibler, president Zionist Federation of Australia

 

"[This] heinous act cannot be separated from the anti-Israel sentiment emanating from the Australian Labor government."

"[Canberra decided to vote for a UN resolution demanding the end of Israel's] 'unlawful' [occupation of Palestinian territory]."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Sacred items were recovered from inside the damaged building following the attack. Getty Images

 

"Quite clearly terrorism is something that is aimed at creating fear in the community, and the attacks on the synagogue in Melbourne clearly were."

"And therefore, from my personal perspective, [they] certainly fulfill that definition of terrorism."

"The protocol is that the state jurisdictions who have the lead on this will make an assessment and a recommendation."

"That's a formal process, but quite clearly this has been aimed at creating fear and that is what terrorists aim to do."

"[The attack on the synagogue was part of] a worrying rise in anti-Semitism. But we call it out and we call it out consistently … People must be allowed to conduct their faith with peace and respect."

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

Mr. Albanese's sentiments would certainly carry more moral weight if he and his government committed to a due response to the hate emanating from the streets of Australia's cities in the ongoing campaign of anti-Israel, Jew-repressive gatherings of pro-Palestinian protesters that threaten and intimidate the Jewish communities in Australia. These gatherings are tolerated despite their chants for Israel's destruction, despite that they take place offensively, and loudly in front of synagogues where if a Jewish man in front of the synagogue carrying an Israeli flag amidst a sea of Palestinian flags can face arrest for 'antagonizing' demonstrators.

 

Government inaction to stem the tide of antisemitism freely displayed in the streets of Australia, the government's lack of interest in protecting the security of its Jewish residents, and the government's own actions at the United Nations in consistently voting against Israel and with the 'Palestinians' leave the impression with Australians, and most particularly Palestinian-Arab-Muslim Australians that the government is fully onside with their intimidating, harassing and often violently threatening assaults against the Jewish community.

The result is incidents like the Friday arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne. Reported at 4:20 am in Ripponle, a suburban area, Fire Rescue Victoria responded to the call of the synagogue on fire. At the time, several men were in the synagogue. The men were reported to have heard banging at the  door. When they approached the door to open it they saw two men who had poured "petrol on the front of the synagogue and then lit it on fire". Victoria Police have launched an investigation, with police encouraging any possible witnesses to provide any information, or dashcam footage of the event.

Firefighters gather at the scene of a fire at the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne on Friday  Tania Lee, Fox 22

 

"An absolute travesty. This is the realization of the worst fears of many in the Jewish community", commented James Paterson, a senator in Victoria. In 2015 the Chassidic synagogue had been the subject of a documentary film titled Strictly Jewish: The Secret World of Adass Israel. The St.Kilda Historical Society has a listing page for the synagogue, documenting that this was not the first arson attack on the synagogue. It had been severely damaged in a January 1995 incident, and later rebuilt.

"The dark shadow of antisemitism has been spreading from nation to nation, and over the last year, the warning signs have all been there that the Australian Jewish community is a direct and vulnerable target."

"The time for words of condemnation is over; it's now a time for strong action from governments around the world."

International March of the Living organizers

Messages and flowers are seen attached to the fence at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the Melbourne suburb of Ripponlea on December 9, 2024. - Australian police said on December 9 they are hunting for three suspects linked to a Melbourne synagogue blaze, which authorities have designated as a terrorist act. (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP)