22-05-2025
Jewish leader fears more antisemitic attacks on Australian soil following fatal shooting in Washington DC
A prominent Jewish leader has spoken out on the latest global antisemitic attack, warning things will only continue to get worse as he expressed fears of future hate crimes on Australian shores.
On Wednesday in the United States, what police believe was a lone gunman, opened fire and killed two people outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC.
The attack, which is being investigated by the FBI as to whether it had any ties to "potential terrorism" or was motivated by a hate crime, occurred shortly after 9pm.
When the shooter was in handcuffs after being taken into custody, he said "free, free Palestine".
US President Donald Trump labelled the crime "horrible" and said there was no place in the country for "hatred and radicalism".
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said while every antisemitic attack remained "deeply shocking", they were so frequent that they had become "utterly predictable".
"The person who did this was the product of a movement. And that's the Free Palestine Movement," he told Caleb Bond on Sky News' Sharri on Thursday.
"And that movement has for years, but particularly the last 18 months, been relentlessly inciting against the Jewish community, putting targets on the backs of community leaders and people who frequent communal institutions like the museum there in DC. And this is the inevitable consequence of that."
Mr Ryvchin said he believes the lack of consequences for antisemitic attacks means it will only "get worse".
"When there are no consequences exacted, when people feel they can get away with this stuff, they go further and further and farther," he said.
"The only thing that extremists understand is strict consequences. And until that's levied, until we see that, until we see a cost for being an anti-semite, this is going to get worse and worse."
He also expressed concern horrifying attacks like the Washington incident could take place in Australia.
"We've been warning about what is to come. The writing was on the wall for a long time. And there's no reason why something like this can't happen in this country because we have the same ideology, the same extremism, the same people who wish to do the Jewish community harm here.
"And it's going to take a hell of a lot of resolve from our security agencies and the police and the community and wider society to stamp this out and to protect Jewish Australians."
On Wednesday local time, police received multiple calls shortly after 9pm about a shooting in the area of Third Street NW and F Street NW in Washington DC.
Upon arrival, officers found an adult male and female unconscious and not breathing at the scene.
The pair ultimately succumbed to their injuries and rescue crews were unable to revive them.
Police said during a press conference they believe the crime was committed by a single suspect, 30-year-old Chicago man Elias Rodriguez, and he is now in custody.
Police chief Pamela A Smith said the suspect "implied" he committed the crime.
