From the Liveblog of
Saturday, July 5, 2025
Netanyahu, Sa’ar, Herzog condemn ‘vile antisemitic attacks’ in Melbourne, demand action from Australian gov’t
Nava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and President Isaac Herzog condemn the “vile” and “antisemitic” attacks on a synagogue and an Israeli-owned restaurant in Melbourne last night, calling on the Australian government to prevent similar acts in the future.
“These vile antisemitic attacks — accompanied by chants of ‘Death to the IDF’ and an attempt to harm a house of worship — are serious hate crimes that must be uprooted at their source,” says Netanyahu in a Hebrew-language statement from his office.
“Israel will continue to stand with the Jewish community in Australia, and we call on the Australian government to take all necessary measures to bring the rioters to justice and to prevent such attacks in the future,” adds the premier.
In a post on X, Sa’ar says he “strongly condemn[s] last night’s vile antisemitic attacks in Melbourne,” and that “Israel stands firmly with the Jewish community in Australia.”
“There have been too many antisemitic attacks in Australia. The Australian government must do more to fight this poisonous disease,” Sa’ar adds.
Herzog also writes on X: “I condemn outright the vile arson attack targeting Jews in Melbourne’s historic and oldest synagogue on the Sabbath, and on an Israeli restaurant where people had come to enjoy a meal together. It is intolerable that in 2025, we are still faced with the chilling image of an attempt to burn Jews alive as they pray, and attacks on Jewish businesses.”
“This is not the first such attack in Australia in recent months,” Herzog says, adding that “Antisemitism is a stain on any society,” and “Australian authorities must take all steps necessary to protect their Jewish citizens.”
I condemn outright the vile arson attack targeting Jews in Melbourne’s historic and oldest synagogue on the Sabbath, and on an Israeli restaurant where people had come to enjoy a meal together. It is intolerable that in 2025, we are still faced with the chilling image of an…
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) July 5, 2025
A wave of antisemitic attacks has swept through Australia in recent months, fueled by tensions surrounding the Israel–Hamas war.
Police declare Miznon Hardware Lane crime scene after protesters clash with restaurant over alleged ties to American-Israeli aid group implicated in killings. Many arrests. This is a developing story pic.twitter.com/Gp30uIUkdg
— Alex Zucco (@zucco_alex) July 4, 2025
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