Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the suspected arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne as an act of terrorism. The fire at Adass Israel synagogue, which occurred early on Friday, caused significant damage and injured one person. Speaking at a press conference in Perth on Sunday (8 December), Albanese said the attack appeared intended to instil fear in the community, fitting the definition of terrorism.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later linked the fire to what he called the “anti-Israel spirit” of the Australian government, pointing to policies like Australia’s support for a UN motion backing Palestinian statehood. Netanyahu suggested these policies could have contributed to the incident.
The Australian government defended its position on antisemitism. Since Albanese took office in May 2022, the government has allocated A$25 million to improve security at Jewish sites, including schools. It also banned the Nazi salute and symbols of terrorist groups and has taken steps to address hate speech.
Police are continuing their investigation into the fire, searching for two people suspected of deliberately starting it. This incident comes amid an increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents across Australia, particularly since the Israel-Gaza war began in October 2023. Some Jewish groups feel the government has not done enough to address these issues.
Though pro-Palestinian protests have been mostly peaceful, the Australian government has raised concerns about the potential for these protests to fuel tensions and disrupt social harmony.
