Hunt continues for culprits behind anti-Semitic attacks
There were at least four anti-Semitic attacks in Melbourne at the weekend, including the alleged firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night.
Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside.
Israeli restaurant Miznon was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters not long after the alleged arson, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)".
Three cars were set alight and a wall spray-painted with anti-Semitic "inferences" at a Greensborough business in the city's northeast in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Police said overnight they were releasing CCTV of five people they want to speak to in relation to the incident, with detectives saying the group's members - who all wore black hooded jumpers, backpacks and gloves - left the business via a back fence and fled on e-bikes.
A link has not been found between the attacks, nor a fourth incident in which stencils were used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick.
A 28-year-old from Footscray remains the only other arrest for allegedly hindering police at Miznon but was released.
Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved.
The incidents have thrown down the gauntlet to the federal and Victorian governments, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters".
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus visited the East Melbourne synagogue on Sunday and described the alleged firebombing as an "attack on Australia".
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as police continue to investigate whether it constitutes terrorism.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, who condemned the attack as an "act of hate", is expected to attend the site on Monday.
She promised state bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December.
The legislation is yet to be introduced to parliament, although the state has previously strengthened anti-vilification laws and banned the public display of the Nazi salute and symbols.
Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for the prime minister to convene an urgent meeting of national cabinet to deal with the issue.
But Victoria's opposition police spokesman David Southwick, who is Jewish, said there was no need for another "talkfest".
"The time for talk is over. We need action," the Caulfield MP said.
Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who presented a documentary on anti-Semitism in Australia following Hamas' October 7 terror attacks, called the wave of Melbourne incidents a "hate crime".
"Violent anti-Semitism is a threat to us all and until it's called out for what it really is, it will continue," he wrote on social media.
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Australia's anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal said the synagogue attack was not a random incident because hatred and intimidation had been allowed to fester, calling for stronger policing and punishments. "Violent or intimidating protest activity which targets the Jewish community is not protest, it is anti-Semitism," she said in a statement. Sydney man Angelo Loras, 34, has been charged with setting fire to the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors on Friday night, forcing about 20 people inside to flee. The attack came seven months after part of the Adass Israel Synagogue was destroyed. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan met with synagogue leaders on Monday, pledging mental health support. She said there were no plans to ban the weekly pro-Palestine demonstrations because freedom of protest was a central tenant of democracy, while hitting out at the protesters' chanting as "odious, hateful behaviour". She was confident anti-vilification laws coming into force in September would give police more powers to crack down on extremist behaviour, as would future legislation to ban masks at protests. Rally organisers hit back at criticism, stressing they were opposed to the Israeli occupation of Gaza. "To combat anti-Semitism, Jacinta Allen needs to learn to distinguish between the IDF which is responsible for war crimes, and Australian Jews," a spokesperson said in a statement. Soon after the synagogue fire, Israeli restaurant Miznon was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters. A window was smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as police directed them to leave the area, with one person arrested. Later the same night in the city's northeast, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires outside a Greensborough business, with detectives looking for five people seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a Holocaust museum in Elsternwick. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter-terrorism officers to examine any links. The Jewish Council of Australia denounced the synagogue attack but said it was "irresponsible and inflammatory to link this anti-Semitic act with separate protest actions". "Such language inaccurately conflates Jewishness with support for Israel, and undermines the fight against real anti-Semitism," executive council member Ohad Kozminsky said. 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Australia's anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal said the synagogue attack was not a random incident because hatred and intimidation had been allowed to fester, calling for stronger policing and punishments. "Violent or intimidating protest activity which targets the Jewish community is not protest, it is anti-Semitism," she said in a statement. Sydney man Angelo Loras, 34, has been charged with setting fire to the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors on Friday night, forcing about 20 people inside to flee. The attack came seven months after part of the Adass Israel Synagogue was destroyed. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan met with synagogue leaders on Monday, pledging mental health support. She said there were no plans to ban the weekly pro-Palestine demonstrations because freedom of protest was a central tenant of democracy, while hitting out at the protesters' chanting as "odious, hateful behaviour". She was confident anti-vilification laws coming into force in September would give police more powers to crack down on extremist behaviour, as would future legislation to ban masks at protests. Rally organisers hit back at criticism, stressing they were opposed to the Israeli occupation of Gaza. "To combat anti-Semitism, Jacinta Allen needs to learn to distinguish between the IDF which is responsible for war crimes, and Australian Jews," a spokesperson said in a statement. Soon after the synagogue fire, Israeli restaurant Miznon was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters. A window was smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as police directed them to leave the area, with one person arrested. Later the same night in the city's northeast, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires outside a Greensborough business, with detectives looking for five people seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a Holocaust museum in Elsternwick. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter-terrorism officers to examine any links. The Jewish Council of Australia denounced the synagogue attack but said it was "irresponsible and inflammatory to link this anti-Semitic act with separate protest actions". "Such language inaccurately conflates Jewishness with support for Israel, and undermines the fight against real anti-Semitism," executive council member Ohad Kozminsky said. Opposition Leader Brad Battin said hate speech was the "root cause" of Jewish people feeling unsafe, as he pushed for police to review 'move on' laws and potentially recommend changes to the premier. "It is vital now that we stop these crimes in their tracks, we stop the violent speeches happening across the state and that will actually stop the actions that are happening and protect people," he said. The attacks drew international condemnation, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against "rioters". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible must face the full force of the law and federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to discuss what happened. Australia's Jewish community is bracing for more anti-Semitic attacks as a task force is charged with doing whatever it takes to tackle hate. Calls for action have sharpened after four incidents in Victoria over the weekend, including a fire at East Melbourne Synagogue which forced worshippers to flee. "It's terrifying," Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion told AAP. "I don't know where the next attack will be or when or how, all I can say is that it is statistically likely that it will occur. "So far, we have been lucky in that no one has died." He welcomed Victoria's new task force to tackle hate which will examine police powers, but said the state government took too long to act. He urged authorities to disallow weekly pro-Palestine protests in their current form and introduce changes such as protest zones. Some demonstrators at Sunday's rally in Melbourne reportedly chanted "Death to the IDF" (Israel Defence Forces). Australia's anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal said the synagogue attack was not a random incident because hatred and intimidation had been allowed to fester, calling for stronger policing and punishments. "Violent or intimidating protest activity which targets the Jewish community is not protest, it is anti-Semitism," she said in a statement. Sydney man Angelo Loras, 34, has been charged with setting fire to the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors on Friday night, forcing about 20 people inside to flee. The attack came seven months after part of the Adass Israel Synagogue was destroyed. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan met with synagogue leaders on Monday, pledging mental health support. She said there were no plans to ban the weekly pro-Palestine demonstrations because freedom of protest was a central tenant of democracy, while hitting out at the protesters' chanting as "odious, hateful behaviour". She was confident anti-vilification laws coming into force in September would give police more powers to crack down on extremist behaviour, as would future legislation to ban masks at protests. Rally organisers hit back at criticism, stressing they were opposed to the Israeli occupation of Gaza. "To combat anti-Semitism, Jacinta Allen needs to learn to distinguish between the IDF which is responsible for war crimes, and Australian Jews," a spokesperson said in a statement. Soon after the synagogue fire, Israeli restaurant Miznon was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters. A window was smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as police directed them to leave the area, with one person arrested. Later the same night in the city's northeast, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires outside a Greensborough business, with detectives looking for five people seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a Holocaust museum in Elsternwick. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter-terrorism officers to examine any links. The Jewish Council of Australia denounced the synagogue attack but said it was "irresponsible and inflammatory to link this anti-Semitic act with separate protest actions". "Such language inaccurately conflates Jewishness with support for Israel, and undermines the fight against real anti-Semitism," executive council member Ohad Kozminsky said. Opposition Leader Brad Battin said hate speech was the "root cause" of Jewish people feeling unsafe, as he pushed for police to review 'move on' laws and potentially recommend changes to the premier. "It is vital now that we stop these crimes in their tracks, we stop the violent speeches happening across the state and that will actually stop the actions that are happening and protect people," he said. The attacks drew international condemnation, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against "rioters". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible must face the full force of the law and federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to discuss what happened.
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Israel's retaliatory military campaign against Hamas has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health authorities, led to a hunger crisis, displaced nearly all the population and left most of the territory in ruins. Israel and Hamas are set to hold indirect talks in Qatar for a second day, aimed at securing a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, before a meeting in Washington between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump. The US president has said a deal could be reached this week. Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Netanyahu that Israeli negotiators had been given clear instructions to achieve a ceasefire under conditions that Israel has accepted. An Israeli official described the atmosphere at the Gaza talks, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, as positive. Palestinian officials said initial meetings on Sunday had ended inconclusively. A second Israeli official said the issue of humanitarian aid had been discussed in Qatar, without providing further details. The truce talks have been revived following June's 12-day Israeli air war against its arch-foe Iran, which backs Hamas. The US-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza and discussions on ending the war entirely. Ending the war has been the main sticking point in past rounds of talks, with Hamas demanding a full end to the conflict in return for releasing all hostages, and Israel insisting it would fight on until Hamas is dismantled. Some of Netanyahu's hardline coalition partners oppose ending the fighting, but, with Israelis having become increasingly weary of the 21-month-old war, his government is expected to back a ceasefire. The war was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing about 1200 people and taking 251 hostages. About 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to be still alive. Israel's retaliatory military campaign against Hamas has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health authorities, led to a hunger crisis, displaced nearly all the population and left most of the territory in ruins. Israel and Hamas are set to hold indirect talks in Qatar for a second day, aimed at securing a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, before a meeting in Washington between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump. The US president has said a deal could be reached this week. Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Netanyahu that Israeli negotiators had been given clear instructions to achieve a ceasefire under conditions that Israel has accepted. An Israeli official described the atmosphere at the Gaza talks, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, as positive. Palestinian officials said initial meetings on Sunday had ended inconclusively. A second Israeli official said the issue of humanitarian aid had been discussed in Qatar, without providing further details. The truce talks have been revived following June's 12-day Israeli air war against its arch-foe Iran, which backs Hamas. The US-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza and discussions on ending the war entirely. Ending the war has been the main sticking point in past rounds of talks, with Hamas demanding a full end to the conflict in return for releasing all hostages, and Israel insisting it would fight on until Hamas is dismantled. Some of Netanyahu's hardline coalition partners oppose ending the fighting, but, with Israelis having become increasingly weary of the 21-month-old war, his government is expected to back a ceasefire. The war was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing about 1200 people and taking 251 hostages. About 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to be still alive. Israel's retaliatory military campaign against Hamas has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health authorities, led to a hunger crisis, displaced nearly all the population and left most of the territory in ruins. Israel and Hamas are set to hold indirect talks in Qatar for a second day, aimed at securing a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, before a meeting in Washington between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump. The US president has said a deal could be reached this week. Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Netanyahu that Israeli negotiators had been given clear instructions to achieve a ceasefire under conditions that Israel has accepted. An Israeli official described the atmosphere at the Gaza talks, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, as positive. Palestinian officials said initial meetings on Sunday had ended inconclusively. A second Israeli official said the issue of humanitarian aid had been discussed in Qatar, without providing further details. The truce talks have been revived following June's 12-day Israeli air war against its arch-foe Iran, which backs Hamas. The US-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza and discussions on ending the war entirely. Ending the war has been the main sticking point in past rounds of talks, with Hamas demanding a full end to the conflict in return for releasing all hostages, and Israel insisting it would fight on until Hamas is dismantled. Some of Netanyahu's hardline coalition partners oppose ending the fighting, but, with Israelis having become increasingly weary of the 21-month-old war, his government is expected to back a ceasefire. The war was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing about 1200 people and taking 251 hostages. About 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to be still alive. Israel's retaliatory military campaign against Hamas has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health authorities, led to a hunger crisis, displaced nearly all the population and left most of the territory in ruins.
