Bondi beach terror attack
Australian PM rejects Netanyahu’s linking of Palestine recognition to Bondi beach attack
Israeli PM on Sunday accused Anthony Albanese of doing ‘nothing to stop the spread of antisemitism’
• Bondi terror attack: full report https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... ondi-beach
• What we know so far about the attack https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... -australia
Jason Burke International security correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... ach-attack
Mon 15 Dec 2025
Australia’s prime minister has rejected accusations from his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, that Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state earlier this year had contributed to Sunday’s deadly antisemitic terrorist attack https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... ondi-beach on Bondi beach in Sydney.
In an interview with national broadcasters, Anthony Albanese was asked if he accepted
any link between that recognition and the massacre in Bondi.
Albanese said, https://www.nationaltribune.com.au/aust ... abc-730-7/ adding:No, I don’t,
Fifteen Jewish people died and dozens more were injured after two local men opened fire on a crowd gathered to celebrate the religious festival of Hanukah. Both men were shot by police, one fatally.Overwhelmingly, most of the world recognises a two-state solution as being the way forward in the Middle East.
Albanese did not directly respond to Netanyahu’s accusation that he had
when fighting antisemitism.replaced weakness with weakness and appeasement with more appeasement
Albanese said.This is a moment of national unity where we need to come together … We need to wrap our arms around members of the Jewish community who are going through an extraordinarily difficult period,
Tensions between Australia and Israel have been high since August, when Israel revoked the visas https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... ity-ntwnfb of Australian diplomats in occupied Palestine, which Australia’s foreign minister, Penny Wong, said at the time was anMy job is … to make it clear that Australians overwhelmingly stand with the Jewish community at this difficult time.
Australia’s government said the decision was part of a coordinated international effort to build new momentum for a two-state solution, a ceasefire to halt the bloody Israeli offensive in Gaza and the release of hostages taken by Hamas in its lethal surprise raid into Israel on 7 October 2023.unjustified reaction, following Australia’s decision to recognise Palestine.
At the time, Netanyahu called the move an “absurdity” and a
On Sunday, the Israeli prime minister, who heads the most rightwing government in Israel’s history and faces an election within a year, said Albanese’s governmentreward for terrorism.
did nothing to stop the spread of antisemitism in Australia.
Netanyahu said.We are worrying right now about our people, our safety, and we do not remain silent … We fight those who try to annihilate us,
Albanese, who leads the centre-left Labor party, on Monday said his government was prepared to take whatever action was necessary. At a press briefing, Albanese listed actions his government had taken, including criminalising hate speech and incitement to violence and a ban on the Nazi salute.
Funding for physical security for Jewish community groups would be extended, he said, and he pointed to the need for tougher gun laws in Australia, which already has among the world’s most restrictive firearms curbs.
A special envoy appointed by the government last year to tackle a spate of graffiti and arson attacks on synagogues and Jewish businesses said Sunday’s terrorist attack
did not come without warning.
the envoy, Jillian Segal, said in a radio interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Monday.The writing has been on the wall,
Jewish community leaders echoed the call for more action.
said Levi Wolff, the lead rabbi at Sydney’s Central Synagogue.There has been a shocking level of antisemitism that has been rearing its head in this country as it has in other countries. When antisemitism goes unchecked from the top, these are the things that happen,
The leader of Australia’s conservative Liberal opposition party said Labor had allowed antisemitism to “fester”.
Sussan Ley told a press conference, adding that Albanese must implement all of the recommendations in a report issued by Segal in July, including a focus on university campuses.Everything must change from today in how governments respond,
Standing with Segal when the report was released in July, Albanese had condemned antisemitism as an “evil scourge”, and said his government would spend A$25m to boost security at Jewish community sites, including schools, among other measures.
It was also important to separate antisemitism from legitimate criticism of the Netanyahu government’s actions, Albanese said at the time, noting that he and other international leaders had criticised Israel.
he said in July.You should be able to express your view here in Australia about events overseas. Where the line has been crossed is in blaming and identifying people because they happen to be Jewish,
Along with calling for strengthened hate crime laws, Segal urged tougher screening of visa applicants for antisemitic views, and a focus on universities, cultural bodies and broadcasters.
According to 2021 census data, there are about 116,967 Australians with Jewish identity, 0.46% of the national population of 25 million, mostly living in inner Sydney and Melbourne.
The Labor government has been mindful of Australia’s multicultural society, including the numerous and electorally powerful migrant community from Lebanon.
Since 2023, police have allowed weekly protest marches through against Israel’s war in Gaza.
Australia expelled Iran’s ambassador earlier this year, after intelligence agencies attributed at least two antisemitic arson attacks to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Reuters contributed reporting