Holocaust Survivor's Daughter Condemns Rising Antisemitism Following Sydney Shooting Tragedy

A demonstrator holds up a wooden Star of David as people gather to honor victims of the Bondi Beach shooting.

The daughter of a Holocaust survivor wounded in the Bondi shootings has stated that Australian government authorities failed to adequately combat antisemitism, allowing hatred toward Jews to intensify following October 7.

Victoria Teplitsky, 53, a retired childcare center owner, expressed that the father and son duo who allegedly conducted a 10-minute shooting rampage killing 15 people had been "taught to hate," which she believes was more significant than gun accessibility in motivating the attack.

"The issue isn't merely that these two individuals possessed firearms. The problem is that antisemitism has been permitted to grow against the Jewish minority in Australia," she explained to Reuters during an interview.

"We're frustrated with our government because leadership starts at the top, and they should have firmly defended our community. They should have eliminated the hatred rather than allowing it to continue unchecked," she stated.

"Our concerns have been disregarded. We question whether we're considered sufficiently Australian. Does our government not value us?"

The assailants opened fire on hundreds attending a Jewish festival during their approximately 10-minute assault, forcing attendees to flee and seek shelter before police neutralized both attackers.

Antisemitic incidents have escalated in Australia since the Gaza conflict began after Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis in an attack on October 7, 2023. Israel's military response in Gaza has subsequently resulted in over 70,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza health authorities.

The surge in such incidents over the past sixteen months prompted Australia's primary intelligence agency head to declare antisemitism his foremost threat concern.

"The Jewish community wasn't surprised by this attack. We repeatedly warned government officials about this possibility," Teplitsky remarked.

"We've experienced synagogues defaced with graffiti everywhere, and some synagogues have been bombed," she added, referencing a 2024 arson attack in Melbourne that fortunately caused no fatalities.

Teplitsky's father Semyon, 86, suffered severe bleeding after being shot in the leg. He now faces multiple surgeries as doctors reconstruct bone fragments with cement, which will later be removed from his leg that he might still lose.

"Despite his positive attitude, he's deeply angered. He's angry this happened, that such an incident was allowed to occur in Australia—the country he brought his children to for safety, to escape antisemitism and hatred toward Jews."

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Monday that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese "did nothing" to address antisemitism.

On Tuesday, Albanese reiterated Australia's commitment to a two-state solution. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been common throughout Australia since Israel launched its military campaign.

During Monday's press briefing, Albanese detailed various government measures including criminalizing hate speech and incitement to violence, banning the Nazi salute, and pledging to extend funding for security protection of Jewish community organizations.