Brief
Israeli leaders have expressed strong criticism of the Australian government following a tragic shooting at a Jewish celebration in Sydney. The attack, which occurred during a “Chanukah By The Sea” event, resulted in the deaths of at least 11 people and left 29 others injured.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the issue during a government meeting, reading a letter he sent earlier to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. In the letter, Netanyahu asserted that Albanese’s support for a Palestinian state has intensified antisemitism, arguing that inaction has allowed hate against Jews to flourish in Australia.
“Your government did nothing to stop the spread of antisemitism… You let the disease spread,” Netanyahu lamented. He urged Albanese to take a stronger stance against such intolerance.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also condemned the shooting, emphasizing the urgency for Australia to address the increasing antisemitism in society. Herzog called for action to combat this rising wave of hate, while Saar labeled the incident a direct result of neglecting clear warnings about growing Islamist extremism.
At the scene, police have confirmed that at least two gunmen were involved in the attack. Investigators are also looking into the discovery of improvised explosive devices near the incident location.
Prime Minister Albanese has publicly denounced the attack, reaffirming his condemnation of any violence directed toward Jewish communities in Australia.
