Anti-Semitism alarms Sydney: Second synagogue defaced!

Australia is facing an alarming increase in anti-Semitic incidents, which have risen worryingly in recent months. Two synagogues in Sydney were recently daubed with anti-Semitic graffiti, highlighting escalating tensions in society. On Saturday morning, vandals spray-painted red swastikas outside the entrance of a synagogue in downtown Sydney, just a day after a similar incident in Allawah, South Sydney, where the walls were daubed with hateful messages, including glorifications of Adolf Hitler and offensive slogans. This marked the third such incident in a matter of days, putting local police and the community on alert. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns strongly condemned the acts and reiterated there was no place for such criminal activity in Australia. A commitment to protecting the Jewish community was also promised.

Both incidents are part of a larger trend of anti-Semitic attacks in Australia, which have increased by more than 400 percent in the past year, according to a report by the Executive Council of Judaism. Over 2,000 anti-Semitic incidents were recorded between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024, compared to around 500 in the same period last year. This increases the feeling of insecurity and threat within the country’s Jewish community.

Details of the incidents

The synagogue in Allawah in particular experienced a brutal act of vandalism. The graffiti includes hateful content such as “Hitler on top,” “Allah hu Akbar,” “Free Palestine,” and other offensive expressions. Local police have launched a hate crime investigation and the perpetrators are to be identified. During the investigation, security cameras were evaluated that show two masked people in black hoodies who are said to be responsible for the incident. David Ossip, president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, called on the community to strongly reject anti-Semitism and call for swift arrests of perpetrators.

In addition, security in the region is growing. On the same Saturday, a car was also set on fire in Woollahra, a neighborhood with a large Jewish population. Security concerns led to the cancellation of an international ice hockey tournament in which a Russian team was scheduled to take part. Many in the Jewish community feel inadequately protected by the Australian government’s actions in the context of increasing anti-Jewish sentiment in the country. In particular, there was criticism that the government reacted too late to the growing aggressiveness.

Political reactions and social context

The incidents have also strained diplomatic relations between Australia and Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was critical and accused the Australian Labor Party under Prime Minister Albanese of encouraging such attacks through supposedly “anti-Israel” policies. Albanese strongly rejected these claims and stressed that Australia remains a close friend of Israel. The New South Wales Prime Minister described the acts as a “monstrous act” and pledged support in the fight against anti-Semitism.

Clarifying these incidents and further preventing anti-Semitic acts are of central importance. The creation of a federal taskforce to combat anti-Semitism followed an arson attack at another synagogue in Melbourne in December that was classified as terrorism. These efforts are necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of the Jewish community in Australia and to counter aggressive expressions that are increasingly being openly embraced.

The situation in Australia reflects a worrying global trend of anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents, particularly after the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 and the subsequent war on Gaza. The challenges in society require strong and clear action against all forms of hatred and discrimination.