Netanyahu Accuses Australia of Fanning Antisemitism After Bondi Beach Massacre
Israel’s prime minister says Australian policy and inaction have emboldened antisemitic violence following the deadly Hanukkah shooting in Sydney
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delivered a sharp rebuke of Australia’s leadership in the wake of a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney that killed at least eleven people and wounded dozens.
Speaking after the attack, which authorities have described as a targeted antisemitic act, Mr Netanyahu asserted that Australia’s recent political moves and failure to curb rising antisemitism had “poured fuel on the antisemitic fire.” He said he had warned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier in the year that calls for recognition of a Palestinian state and policies seen as sympathetic to that cause were contributing to a climate in which hatred of Jews could flourish.
Mr Netanyahu emphasised that antisemitism “is a cancer” that spreads when leaders remain silent and retreats only when they take resolute action.
His comments echoed a letter he sent to Mr Albanese in August, in which he argued that Canberra’s support for Palestinian statehood rewarded Hamas and emboldened extremists.
Mr Albanese has condemned the Bondi Beach shooting as an act of incomprehensible violence and convened Australia’s national security council in response, stressing his government takes antisemitism seriously and is cooperating with Jewish community leaders and security agencies to enhance safety.
The attack, one of the deadliest against Jewish people in Australia’s history, has intensified scrutiny of rising antisemitic incidents in the country amid global tensions linked to the war in Gaza, with Jewish groups reporting an escalation of hate crimes and targeted attacks in recent years.
Mr Netanyahu’s criticism also found support in statements from other Israeli officials, including the president and foreign minister, who accused the Australian government of ignoring repeated warnings about growing antisemitism.
Australian leaders, while condemning the shooting and affirming action against hate, have defended their record, noting ongoing efforts to implement security recommendations and work with community representatives.
The episode has underscored deepening diplomatic strains between Canberra and Jerusalem at a time of heightened sensitivity over international responses to Middle East conflict and the safety of Jewish communities abroad.
Speaking after the attack, which authorities have described as a targeted antisemitic act, Mr Netanyahu asserted that Australia’s recent political moves and failure to curb rising antisemitism had “poured fuel on the antisemitic fire.” He said he had warned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier in the year that calls for recognition of a Palestinian state and policies seen as sympathetic to that cause were contributing to a climate in which hatred of Jews could flourish.
Mr Netanyahu emphasised that antisemitism “is a cancer” that spreads when leaders remain silent and retreats only when they take resolute action.
His comments echoed a letter he sent to Mr Albanese in August, in which he argued that Canberra’s support for Palestinian statehood rewarded Hamas and emboldened extremists.
Mr Albanese has condemned the Bondi Beach shooting as an act of incomprehensible violence and convened Australia’s national security council in response, stressing his government takes antisemitism seriously and is cooperating with Jewish community leaders and security agencies to enhance safety.
The attack, one of the deadliest against Jewish people in Australia’s history, has intensified scrutiny of rising antisemitic incidents in the country amid global tensions linked to the war in Gaza, with Jewish groups reporting an escalation of hate crimes and targeted attacks in recent years.
Mr Netanyahu’s criticism also found support in statements from other Israeli officials, including the president and foreign minister, who accused the Australian government of ignoring repeated warnings about growing antisemitism.
Australian leaders, while condemning the shooting and affirming action against hate, have defended their record, noting ongoing efforts to implement security recommendations and work with community representatives.
The episode has underscored deepening diplomatic strains between Canberra and Jerusalem at a time of heightened sensitivity over international responses to Middle East conflict and the safety of Jewish communities abroad.
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