Latest news with #EastMelbourneHebrewCongregation
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stresses ‘respect' for world leaders after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls him weak
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has maintained he treats leaders with 'respect' after his Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke suggested Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saw strength in blowing people up. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared he treats leaders of other countries with respect, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him 'weak'. The Israel-Australia relationship has fallen to pieces in the weeks since the Albanese government decided to recognise Palestinian statehood ahead of a peace deal. This led Mr Netanyahu to calling Mr Albanese 'weak' and accusing him of abandoning Jewish Australians. Mr Albanese has downplayed personal offence, noting that Mr Netanyahu has made similar remarks about other leaders. 'I treat leaders of other countries with respect and I engage with them in a diplomatic way,' he told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday. 'I don't take these things personally… I engage with people diplomatically. He (Mr Netanyahu) has had similar things to say about other leaders. 'What I say is that Israel, of course, increasingly, there is global concern because people want to see an end to the cycle of violence that we have seen for far too long.' — Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 19, 2025 The remarks were made after Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke made extraordinary comments about Mr Netanyahu, saying he conflated strength with violence. 'Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up, or how many children you can leave hungry,' Mr Burke told ABC RN on Wednesday. 'Strength is much better measured by exactly what prime minister Anthony Albanese has done.' The Albanese government recently cancelled the visa of Israeli MP Simcha Rothman over concerns his presence could spark counter-protests in Australia. Israel then revoked visas of Australian diplomats to the Palestinian Authority in a move which Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said was 'unjustified'. Mr Netanyahu further escalated the row in a letter to Mr Albanese, accusing Australia of 'pouring fuel on this antisemitic fire', urging action against antisemitism. 'It is not diplomacy, it is appeasement… antisemitism is a cancer. It spreads when leaders stay silent. It retreats when leaders act,' Mr Netanyahu said in the letter. It was an unprecedented letter from the highest level of the Israeli government to Australia, which has in the past been a strong ally of the democratic Jewish nation. Mr Netanyahu outlined several recent incidents of antisemitism that have plagued the Australian Jewish community. 'In June, vandals defaced a historic Melbourne synagogue with graffiti praising Iran and calling to 'Free Palestine',' Mr Netanyahu wrote. 'In July, arsonists targeted the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation during Shabbat dinner, forcing twenty worshippers to flee for their lives.' Mr Netanyahu ended his personally-signed letter with a final comment that said: 'History will not forgive hesitation. It will honour action.' The letter comes after escalating diplomatic tensions between the Albanese government and Israel.
Perth Now
03-08-2025
- Perth Now
Hunt for man in Scream mask over synagogue graffiti
A synagogue has been spray-painted in a series of hate-fuelled attacks, sparking a hunt for a masked man. The synagogue, at South Yarra in Melbourne's inner southeast, has been the target of graffiti five times from March 11 to July 30. On each occasion, police say an unknown man arrived alone on a black e-scooter and tagged "offensive phrases". Security camera footage was released on Monday in a bid to track down the suspect, who is described as white, of medium build and bald. He usually wore a long black jacket and black and white face covering, but also donned a Ghostface mask from the movie Scream in his two most recent forays on July 22 and 30. "There is absolutely no place at all in our society for hate-based behaviour," police said. Melbourne synagogues have repeatedly become a target after Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and the nation's subsequent military campaign in Gaza. Two buildings belonging to the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea, in Melbourne's southeast, were gutted in an alleged firebombing in December 2024. Giovanni Laulu, 21, was the first person directly charged over the alleged arson and fronted court on Thursday. An allegedly deliberately lit fire at the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation on July 4 forced a group of about 20 people inside the building to flee. It was roundly condemned, including by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old from NSW, has since been charged with reckless conduct endangering life, criminal damage by fire and possession of a controlled weapon.
The Advertiser
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'Get the facts': premier warned over anti-protest laws
Jacinta Allan has been warned against following the lead of a fellow state premier in rushing through law changes to curb anti-Semitism without all the facts on high-profile attacks. The Victorian government has been drafting laws to ban protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings. The proposed changes were announced in December after rallies from masked neo-Nazis and a synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne being firebombed. Another arson attack on an East Melbourne synagogue, one of four alleged anti-Semitic incidents at the weekend, has prompted the premier to set up a task force and promise further action if required. Human Rights Law Centre legal director Sarah Schwartz stressed everyone has the right to worship in safety and without fear. But she accused Ms Allan of conflating acts of violence with peaceful protest. "Neither the attack on Adass Israel Synagogue or the arson attack on East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation were in any way protests," she told AAP. "These laws around places of worship would not have done anything to prevent those attacks." The motivation for both incidents remains unknown, though counter-terrorism police continue to investigate the Ripponlea firebombing and a 34-year-old man from Sydney has been charged over the other alleged arson. Ms Schwartz cited sexual abuse survivors outside churches as a legitimate form of protest that may be impinged under the plan and said mask ban exemptions for health, disability and religious reasons would be "impossible" to enforce without discriminatory policing. "These new laws taken altogether will have a chilling effect on peaceful protest," she said. NSW rushed protest and speech laws through parliament in February after explosives, anti-Semitic messaging and a list of addresses of Jewish people and institutions were found inside a caravan at Dural in Sydney's northwest in January. Investigators later revealed the discovery was part of a "criminal con job". Ms Schwartz, who doubles as Jewish Council of Australia executive officer, said the Victorian government was similarly resorting to "knee-jerk measures" instead of addressing the root causes of racist attacks. "Jacinta Allan really risks going down the same path that NSW Premier Chris Minns did when he enacted regressive, anti-protest measures in response to what we know now was an opportunistic criminal conspiracy," she said. Other Jewish groups have suggested the task force should consider Victoria adopting a NSW-style protest permit system, an idea Ms Allan has long dismissed. In a separate incident on Friday night, Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD was targeted by about 20 pro-Palestine protesters who chanted "death to the IDF" - a reference to the Israel Defence Forces. The chant, which has gained notoriety after English punk rap duo Bob Vylan led it at Glastonbury music festival, was repeated at another Melbourne rally on Sunday. Victoria passed beefed-up anti-vilification laws in March but Ms Allan was unsure if the chant or signs with words to that effect would constitute an offence when the changes take effect in September. "I'll take their (Victoria Police's) advice on that matter," she said. Jacinta Allan has been warned against following the lead of a fellow state premier in rushing through law changes to curb anti-Semitism without all the facts on high-profile attacks. The Victorian government has been drafting laws to ban protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings. The proposed changes were announced in December after rallies from masked neo-Nazis and a synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne being firebombed. Another arson attack on an East Melbourne synagogue, one of four alleged anti-Semitic incidents at the weekend, has prompted the premier to set up a task force and promise further action if required. Human Rights Law Centre legal director Sarah Schwartz stressed everyone has the right to worship in safety and without fear. But she accused Ms Allan of conflating acts of violence with peaceful protest. "Neither the attack on Adass Israel Synagogue or the arson attack on East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation were in any way protests," she told AAP. "These laws around places of worship would not have done anything to prevent those attacks." The motivation for both incidents remains unknown, though counter-terrorism police continue to investigate the Ripponlea firebombing and a 34-year-old man from Sydney has been charged over the other alleged arson. Ms Schwartz cited sexual abuse survivors outside churches as a legitimate form of protest that may be impinged under the plan and said mask ban exemptions for health, disability and religious reasons would be "impossible" to enforce without discriminatory policing. "These new laws taken altogether will have a chilling effect on peaceful protest," she said. NSW rushed protest and speech laws through parliament in February after explosives, anti-Semitic messaging and a list of addresses of Jewish people and institutions were found inside a caravan at Dural in Sydney's northwest in January. Investigators later revealed the discovery was part of a "criminal con job". Ms Schwartz, who doubles as Jewish Council of Australia executive officer, said the Victorian government was similarly resorting to "knee-jerk measures" instead of addressing the root causes of racist attacks. "Jacinta Allan really risks going down the same path that NSW Premier Chris Minns did when he enacted regressive, anti-protest measures in response to what we know now was an opportunistic criminal conspiracy," she said. Other Jewish groups have suggested the task force should consider Victoria adopting a NSW-style protest permit system, an idea Ms Allan has long dismissed. In a separate incident on Friday night, Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD was targeted by about 20 pro-Palestine protesters who chanted "death to the IDF" - a reference to the Israel Defence Forces. The chant, which has gained notoriety after English punk rap duo Bob Vylan led it at Glastonbury music festival, was repeated at another Melbourne rally on Sunday. Victoria passed beefed-up anti-vilification laws in March but Ms Allan was unsure if the chant or signs with words to that effect would constitute an offence when the changes take effect in September. "I'll take their (Victoria Police's) advice on that matter," she said. Jacinta Allan has been warned against following the lead of a fellow state premier in rushing through law changes to curb anti-Semitism without all the facts on high-profile attacks. The Victorian government has been drafting laws to ban protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings. The proposed changes were announced in December after rallies from masked neo-Nazis and a synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne being firebombed. Another arson attack on an East Melbourne synagogue, one of four alleged anti-Semitic incidents at the weekend, has prompted the premier to set up a task force and promise further action if required. Human Rights Law Centre legal director Sarah Schwartz stressed everyone has the right to worship in safety and without fear. But she accused Ms Allan of conflating acts of violence with peaceful protest. "Neither the attack on Adass Israel Synagogue or the arson attack on East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation were in any way protests," she told AAP. "These laws around places of worship would not have done anything to prevent those attacks." The motivation for both incidents remains unknown, though counter-terrorism police continue to investigate the Ripponlea firebombing and a 34-year-old man from Sydney has been charged over the other alleged arson. Ms Schwartz cited sexual abuse survivors outside churches as a legitimate form of protest that may be impinged under the plan and said mask ban exemptions for health, disability and religious reasons would be "impossible" to enforce without discriminatory policing. "These new laws taken altogether will have a chilling effect on peaceful protest," she said. NSW rushed protest and speech laws through parliament in February after explosives, anti-Semitic messaging and a list of addresses of Jewish people and institutions were found inside a caravan at Dural in Sydney's northwest in January. Investigators later revealed the discovery was part of a "criminal con job". Ms Schwartz, who doubles as Jewish Council of Australia executive officer, said the Victorian government was similarly resorting to "knee-jerk measures" instead of addressing the root causes of racist attacks. "Jacinta Allan really risks going down the same path that NSW Premier Chris Minns did when he enacted regressive, anti-protest measures in response to what we know now was an opportunistic criminal conspiracy," she said. Other Jewish groups have suggested the task force should consider Victoria adopting a NSW-style protest permit system, an idea Ms Allan has long dismissed. In a separate incident on Friday night, Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD was targeted by about 20 pro-Palestine protesters who chanted "death to the IDF" - a reference to the Israel Defence Forces. The chant, which has gained notoriety after English punk rap duo Bob Vylan led it at Glastonbury music festival, was repeated at another Melbourne rally on Sunday. Victoria passed beefed-up anti-vilification laws in March but Ms Allan was unsure if the chant or signs with words to that effect would constitute an offence when the changes take effect in September. "I'll take their (Victoria Police's) advice on that matter," she said. Jacinta Allan has been warned against following the lead of a fellow state premier in rushing through law changes to curb anti-Semitism without all the facts on high-profile attacks. The Victorian government has been drafting laws to ban protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings. The proposed changes were announced in December after rallies from masked neo-Nazis and a synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne being firebombed. Another arson attack on an East Melbourne synagogue, one of four alleged anti-Semitic incidents at the weekend, has prompted the premier to set up a task force and promise further action if required. Human Rights Law Centre legal director Sarah Schwartz stressed everyone has the right to worship in safety and without fear. But she accused Ms Allan of conflating acts of violence with peaceful protest. "Neither the attack on Adass Israel Synagogue or the arson attack on East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation were in any way protests," she told AAP. "These laws around places of worship would not have done anything to prevent those attacks." The motivation for both incidents remains unknown, though counter-terrorism police continue to investigate the Ripponlea firebombing and a 34-year-old man from Sydney has been charged over the other alleged arson. Ms Schwartz cited sexual abuse survivors outside churches as a legitimate form of protest that may be impinged under the plan and said mask ban exemptions for health, disability and religious reasons would be "impossible" to enforce without discriminatory policing. "These new laws taken altogether will have a chilling effect on peaceful protest," she said. NSW rushed protest and speech laws through parliament in February after explosives, anti-Semitic messaging and a list of addresses of Jewish people and institutions were found inside a caravan at Dural in Sydney's northwest in January. Investigators later revealed the discovery was part of a "criminal con job". Ms Schwartz, who doubles as Jewish Council of Australia executive officer, said the Victorian government was similarly resorting to "knee-jerk measures" instead of addressing the root causes of racist attacks. "Jacinta Allan really risks going down the same path that NSW Premier Chris Minns did when he enacted regressive, anti-protest measures in response to what we know now was an opportunistic criminal conspiracy," she said. Other Jewish groups have suggested the task force should consider Victoria adopting a NSW-style protest permit system, an idea Ms Allan has long dismissed. In a separate incident on Friday night, Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD was targeted by about 20 pro-Palestine protesters who chanted "death to the IDF" - a reference to the Israel Defence Forces. The chant, which has gained notoriety after English punk rap duo Bob Vylan led it at Glastonbury music festival, was repeated at another Melbourne rally on Sunday. Victoria passed beefed-up anti-vilification laws in March but Ms Allan was unsure if the chant or signs with words to that effect would constitute an offence when the changes take effect in September. "I'll take their (Victoria Police's) advice on that matter," she said.
Perth Now
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
'Get the facts': premier warned over anti-protest laws
Jacinta Allan has been warned against following the lead of a fellow state premier in rushing through law changes to curb anti-Semitism without all the facts on high-profile attacks. The Victorian government has been drafting laws to ban protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings. The proposed changes were announced in December after rallies from masked neo-Nazis and a synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne being firebombed. Another arson attack on an East Melbourne synagogue, one of four alleged anti-Semitic incidents at the weekend, has prompted the premier to set up a task force and promise further action if required. Human Rights Law Centre legal director Sarah Schwartz stressed everyone has the right to worship in safety and without fear. But she accused Ms Allan of conflating acts of violence with peaceful protest. "Neither the attack on Adass Israel Synagogue or the arson attack on East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation were in any way protests," she told AAP. "These laws around places of worship would not have done anything to prevent those attacks." The motivation for both incidents remains unknown, though counter-terrorism police continue to investigate the Ripponlea firebombing and a 34-year-old man from Sydney has been charged over the other alleged arson. Ms Schwartz cited sexual abuse survivors outside churches as a legitimate form of protest that may be impinged under the plan and said mask ban exemptions for health, disability and religious reasons would be "impossible" to enforce without discriminatory policing. "These new laws taken altogether will have a chilling effect on peaceful protest," she said. NSW rushed protest and speech laws through parliament in February after explosives, anti-Semitic messaging and a list of addresses of Jewish people and institutions were found inside a caravan at Dural in Sydney's northwest in January. Investigators later revealed the discovery was part of a "criminal con job". Ms Schwartz, who doubles as Jewish Council of Australia executive officer, said the Victorian government was similarly resorting to "knee-jerk measures" instead of addressing the root causes of racist attacks. "Jacinta Allan really risks going down the same path that NSW Premier Chris Minns did when he enacted regressive, anti-protest measures in response to what we know now was an opportunistic criminal conspiracy," she said. Other Jewish groups have suggested the task force should consider Victoria adopting a NSW-style protest permit system, an idea Ms Allan has long dismissed. In a separate incident on Friday night, Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD was targeted by about 20 pro-Palestine protesters who chanted "death to the IDF" - a reference to the Israel Defence Forces. The chant, which has gained notoriety after English punk rap duo Bob Vylan led it at Glastonbury music festival, was repeated at another Melbourne rally on Sunday. Victoria passed beefed-up anti-vilification laws in March but Ms Allan was unsure if the chant or signs with words to that effect would constitute an offence when the changes take effect in September. "I'll take their (Victoria Police's) advice on that matter," she said.
West Australian
08-07-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Sussan Ley urges Anthony Albanese to act on ‘rising tide' of anti-Semitism after Melbourne synagogue attack
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has called for Anthony Albanese to adopt an action plan put forward by the country's peak Jewish body to combat the 'rising tide of anti-Semitism' in Australia after a spate of attacks in Melbourne. Mr Ley visited the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, which was targeted in an arson attack on Friday night. She said 'hate can never be normalised' in Australia and urged the Federal Government to adopt the Executive Council of Australia Jewry's previously laid out 15-point plan. Speaking to reporters outside the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, she described it as a 'very sound sensible plan'. 'Under my leadership, we recommit to supporting this community wholeheartedly and the 15-point plan that ECAJ has put together from a summit several months ago,' she said. 'We want to see measures that work and I am reluctant to suggest that this won't work. What I hear from the community is there have been many task forces, there have been many talkfests, many conversations and many words. What they are really calling for is action. 'What is so clear is that hate can never be normalised. It can never be excused. It can never be explained away,' Ms Ley said. 'It is not the tolerant multicultural country that we hold dear. Enough is enough. 'Today's visit is about solidarity, it is about important next steps that we need to take.' It comes as several Opposition Leaders wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to hold a dedicated National Cabinet against anti-Semitism. However, Mr Albanese insisted his Government was focused on action when asked about the call in Tasmania on Tuesday. 'Every time an issue comes up, people say, 'Let's have a National Cabinet',' he told reporters. 'Let's be clear. People don't want a meeting. They want action. Action is what they want.' Mr Albanese said the attacks 'deserve condemnation' and labelled anti-Semitism as a 'scourge' that 'has no place in Australia'. He said the Government had already responded substantially with increasing security for synagogues, Jewish schools and community organisations. 'We have a task force. What we do is take on security issues. We take advice from security agencies. That's precisely what we have done,' he said. 'One of the reasons why this gentleman has been caught so quickly is because the CCTV that was in place there was as a direct result of Commonwealth government funding. In addition to that, the reinforcement of the door of the synagogue was done with that Commonwealth security funding. 'We will respond to any request constructively.'
