From the Liveblog of
Saturday, July 25, 2026
Australian public servant accused of making antisemitic comments at Bondi terror site
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An Australian public servant has been issued a court attendance notice after allegedly making antisemitic comments to Jewish leaders visiting the Bondi Beach terror attack site, where 15 were killed during a Hanukkah celebration in December, Australian media reports.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Francine Clough, 67, a public servant with the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), made several antisemitic remarks to Jewish leaders earlier this week, including “evil zionist.”
Australian police say she has been charged with offensive language.
The Sydney Swans football club was also reportedly at the site during the confrontation, having visited to show solidarity with the Jewish community.
“It’s grossly insensitive, it’s more than that, it’s inhuman and it gave them a real life example of what the Jewish community has to deal with on a daily basis,” says Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, who was present during the incident.
Clough was temporarily relieved of her duties in July 2025, after leaving a suspicious item outside a synagogue, prompting traffic diversions. She was charged at the time with leaving an article to create a false belief of danger.
According to a statement by the DCJ, Clough has remained on temporary leave since then.
The Times of Israel Community.