Israel Condemns Sydney Hanukkah Attack and Accuses Australia of Fueling Antisemitism

The shooting targeted the annual "Hanukkah by the Sea" celebration on Bondi Beach.

Israeli leadership condemned a Sydney shooting incident that targeted a Hanukkah celebration, resulting in 11 fatalities on Sunday, with numerous government officials asserting that Australia had inadequately addressed antisemitism.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Canberra's policies had intensified antisemitic sentiment prior to the attack.

"Several months ago, I wrote to the Australian prime minister stating that your policy is fueling antisemitism," he remarked, referencing correspondence sent to Anthony Albanese in August following Australia's announcement recognizing Palestinian statehood.

"Antisemitism is a cancer that proliferates when leaders remain silent," Netanyahu stated during a televised address at an event in southern Israel.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar urged Australian authorities to address the "surge" in antisemitism during a telephone conversation with his counterpart Penny Wong.

In a statement published on X, Saar mentioned informing Wong "that since October 7 there has been an increase in antisemitism in Australia, including violent incitement against Israel and Jews".

"The Australian government must take decisive action against these antisemitic expressions," he added, referring to slogans frequently heard at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, such as "Globalise the Intifada," "From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will be Free," and "Death to the IDF (Israeli army)".

President Isaac Herzog described the incident as a "particularly cruel attack on Jews who gathered to light the first candle of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach".

In his address at a Jerusalem event, Herzog called upon Australia to "combat the significant wave of antisemitism" affecting its society.

The attack targeted the annual "Hanukkah by the Sea" gathering commemorating the first night of the Jewish festival at Sydney's renowned Bondi Beach.

Prime Minister Albanese denounced it as "an act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism that has struck at the heart of our nation".

"An attack on Jewish Australians constitutes an attack on every Australian," he declared.

Both Herzog and Saar confirmed conversations with David Ossip, President of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, who according to Herzog "was addressing the event when the shooting attack commenced".

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir posted on X that "the blood of the victims is on the hands of the Australian government, which announced recognition of a 'Palestinian' state and gave legitimacy to terrorism against Jews".

Opposition leader Yair Lapid expressed being "horrified" by the attack.

"Boulder. Manchester. Washington. And now Sydney. The names of increasingly more cities worldwide are becoming associated with deadly attacks against Jews. Stopping these atrocities requires immediate, decisive intervention at all levels," he stated on X.