“Anti-Semitism is a cancer that spreads when leaders remain silent and do not act,” said the Israeli Prime Minister regarding the attack in Sydney that killed 11 people during a Hanukkah celebration
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Australian Government of having “thrown fuel into the fire of anti-Semitism” in the country, which led to the , which killed 12 people.
On Bondi beach, Sydney, during the celebration of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, against a crowd causing 12 deaths and 29 injuries, according to Australian authorities, who treat the case as a “terrorist act”.
“Three months ago, I wrote to the Australian Prime Minister to tell him that his policies were adding fuel to the fire of anti-Semitism,” said Netanyahu, referring to a letter sent to Anthony Albanese in August, following Canberra’s announcement to recognize a Palestinian state.
“Anti-Semitism is a cancer that spreads when leaders remain silent and do not act,” criticized Netanyahu, in a speech during an event in southern Israel, and which follows the line of other political leaders in the country.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog had already denounced the anti-Semitic nature of the attack: “Our brothers and sisters in Sydney, Australia, were attacked by ignoble terrorists in a very cruel attack against Jews”.
“We constantly repeat our warnings to the Australian government to take action and combat the massive wave of anti-Semitism that is plaguing Australian society”, added the President, in a speech.
For his part, the Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, said, on platform “The Australian Government, which has received numerous warning signs, has to get its act together,” he insisted.
Just spoke with Australian FM , at her initiative, and expressed, on behalf of Israel, our pain and sorrow over the deadly antisemitic terrorist attack in Sydney.
I said that since Oct. 7 there has been a surge in antisemitism in Australia, including violent…
— Gideon Sa’ar | Gideon Saar (@gidonsaar)
Herzog and Saar said they spoke to David Ossip, president of the Representative Council of Jews for the Australian state of New South Wales, who “was speaking at the event when the shooting began.”
The leader of the Israeli opposition, Yair Lapid, also said he was “horrified by the anti-Semitic terrorist attack” in Sydney.
“Boulder. Manchester. Washington. And now Sydney. The names of more and more cities around the world are becoming synonymous with deadly attacks on Jews. To put an end to these horrors, immediate and decisive intervention is needed at all levels,” he added, in X.
For the far-right minister responsible for National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, “the blood of the victims is on the hands of the Australian Government, which announced the recognition of a ‘Palestinian’ state and legitimized terrorism against the Jews”.
