Australian authorities on Friday condemned anti-Semitic graffiti on a synagogue amid a surge in anti-Jewish attacks, including a recent attack on another religious centre investigated as a possible “terrorist act”.
“This is a crime and those responsible will face the full force of the law,” said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, referring to the graffiti discovered early this morning at the Allawah synagogue in Sydney.
The president said Australia was a “multicultural nation” and there was no place for such acts of hate, according to a transcript of his comments on the government website.
The New South Wales Jewish Deputies' Centre, which includes Sydney, called the attack on a Jewish place of worship "unacceptable" and said no one should live in fear of anti-Semitic crimes.
“Laws must be enforced more effectively to address hate speech and incitement to violence,” the group said in a statement on X.
HURSTVILLE SYNAGOGUE IN SOUTHERN SYDNEY THIS MORNING
— Australian Jewish Association (@AustralianJA) January 9, 2025
Anyone want to argue this is not ugly raw antisemitism?
ANOTHER synagogue attacked in Australia. This is a consequence of weak political leadership and lack of effective law enforcement.
President of the synagogue George… pic.twitter.com/51kP66l3Mu
Since the start of the war between Israel and the Islamic terrorist group Hamas in October 2023, acts against the Jewish community in Australia, a community that represents 0,4% of the population of more than 26 million people, have increased.
Most of them are graffiti, but there have also been attacks and in early December an arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne left two people injured and the building damaged, which is why the authorities are investigating it as a possible “terrorist act”.
The attack prompted the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to announce days later the creation of a special force to combat anti-Semitism. EFE and Aurora