Français
Español
English
Portuguese
Israeli PM Netanyahu responded to the attack, saying, ‘It is impossible to separate this reprehensible act from the extreme anti-Israeli position of the Labor government in Australia.’
By JNS and United with Israel
The Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, Australia, was heavily damaged in an arson attack on Friday.
The fire was reported at 4:10 a.m. local time in the suburban area of Ripponlea, the Victoria Police Center told JNS.
According to the local authorities, Fire Rescue Victoria responded to a call of a synagogue on fire. “Firefighters arrived on scene to find the single-story, 30×20-meter building fully involved in fire. The response was escalated to a third alarm with crews wearing breathing apparatus attacking the fire,” they said.
Media reports say several men were inside the synagogue at the time. According to a report on Channel 7 Melbourne, the men heard banging at the door and when they went to answer it, saw two men standing there after having poured “petrol on the front of the synagogue and then lit it on fire.”
An investigation is underway, the Victoria Police Center told JNS; police are asking witnesses to provide dash cam or other information.
“An absolute travesty. This is the realization of the worst fears of many in the Jewish community,” James Paterson, a senator in Victoria, said on X.
Jeremy Leibler, president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, posted on X: “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.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also responded to the torching of the synagogue, suggesting that the antisemitic act was inextricably linked to the Labor government in Canberra’s “extreme anti-Israelism.”
“The burning of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne is an abhorrent act of antisemitism. I expect the state authorities to use their full weight to prevent such antisemitic acts in the future,” he said in a statement issued by his office on Friday.
“Unfortunately, it is impossible to separate this reprehensible act from the extreme anti-Israeli position of the Labor government in Australia, including the scandalous decision to support the U.N. resolution calling on Israel ‘to bring an end to its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as rapidly as possible,’ and preventing a former Israeli minister from entering the country.
“Anti-Israel sentiment is antisemitism,” the premier said. Donate to vital charities that help protect Israeli citizens and inspire millions around the world to support Israel too! Now more than ever, Israel needs your help to fight and win the war -- including on the battlefield of public opinion. Antisemitism, anti-Israel bias and boycotts are out of control. Israel's enemies are inciting terror and violence against innocent Israelis and Jews around the world. Help us fight back!
Do You Love Israel? Make a Donation - Show Your Support!
