Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pointed the finger at the Albanese government‘s stance on Israel as a factor in the recent arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue.
The incident has thrust the complex relationship between the two nations into the spotlight, raising questions about diplomatic ties and the broader impact of international politics on local communities.
What happened to the Melbourne Synagogue?
In the early hours of Friday morning, the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea, Melbourne, was targeted in a serious arson attack, according to police. Masked intruders allegedly broke into the building, gutting two of its three structures. Two congregants preparing for morning prayers were inside and had to be evacuated, with one sustaining minor injuries.
Police are treating the incident as a potentially targeted attack and have not ruled out terrorism as a motive. The suspects reportedly poured accelerant on the floor and set the building alight before fleeing when discovered.
What was Netanyahu’s response to the Melbourne Synagogue attack?
Netanyahu directly linked the attack to the Australian government’s recent diplomatic stance towards Israel. In a statement posted to X this morning, he claimed it was “impossible to separate the reprehensible arson attack from the federal government’s extreme anti-Israeli position of the Labor government in Australia”.
He specifically criticised Australia’s support for a UN resolution calling for Israel to withdraw from occupied Palestinian Territory and condemned the denial of entry to a former Israeli minister.
Netanyahu claimed that, “anti-Israel sentiment is antisemitism”.
What is Australia’s stance on Israel and Palestine?
The Australian government recently joined 157 countries in supporting a non-binding UN resolution regarding Palestinian territories — a shift from previous abstentions. This move has sparked considerable diplomatic discussion including Netanyahu’s office implying that Australia is no longer a “key ally”, per The Australian.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles emphasised that Australia remains “a close friend” of Israel, maintaining Australia’s long-standing commitment to a two-state solution.
This week, Immigration Minister Tony Burke also confirmed that nearly half of Palestinians arriving on tourist visas have been transferred to humanitarian visas, adding another layer to the current diplomatic landscape.
Political and community leaders have universally condemned the synagogue attack. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement that the attack “goes against everything we are as Australians”, while Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan pledged increased police patrols at a press conference and $100,000 towards rebuilding the synagogue.
The investigation is ongoing, with federal police offering full support to Victorian authorities in determining the circumstances and potential motivations behind this alarming incident.
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