‘Writing was on the wall’: Top Israeli officials accuse Australia of ignoring antisemitism in run-up to attack

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar says Australia was warned about potential attacks on Jews as senior Israeli government officials express horror over today’s shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, with some blaming Canberra for not doing enough to combat antisemitism.

“I’m appalled by the murderous shooting attack at a Hanukkah event in Sydney, Australia,” tweets Sa’ar in English. “These are the results of the anti-Semitic rampage in the streets of Australia over the past two years, with the anti-Semitic and inciting calls of ‘Globalise the Intifada’ that were realized today. The Australian government, which received countless warning signs, must come to its senses.”

I'm appalled by the murderous shooting attack at a Hanukkah event in Sydney, Australia.
These are the results of the anti-Semitic rampage in the streets of Australia over the past two years, with the anti-Semitic and inciting calls of “Globalise the Intifada” that were realized…

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) December 14, 2025

Sa’ars office adds that the minister spoke with David Ossip, the president of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, to “convey his support to the community during this difficult time.”

The shooting took place as members of the local Jewish community were taking part in a Hanukkah celebration, although it remains unclear if the Hanukkah event was deliberately targeted.

“Failed and weak leadership on antisemitism led to Bondi,” tweets former prime minister Naftali Bennett, posting an image of a bloody pair of tzitzit. “Am Yisrael Chai.”

Failed and weak leadership on antisemitism led to Bondi.

Am Yisrael Chai. pic.twitter.com/GXyyj1f2hH

— Naftali Bennett נפתלי בנט (@naftalibennett) December 14, 2025

In a separate statement, Bennett declares: “The writing was on the wall and the government turned a blind eye to it. I demand that the Australian government take immediate action to protect Jewish communities and deal with antisemitism with the utmost seriousness.”

“What starts with genocidal cries for the destruction of Israel, unsurprisingly ends with arson attacks on Synagogues and murderous terror shootings against Jews at a Hanukkah event,” posts Benny Gantz, the chairman of the opposition Blue and White party.

Echoing Bennett, he writes in English that “the writing was on the wall – and despite repeated warnings, the Australian authorities missed it once again.” He calls on Canberra to “take unprecedented measures to secure and protect their Jewish communities.”

Immigration Minister Ofir Sofer, a member of the far-right Religious Zionism party, writes that while visiting Australia he had witnessed “severe and troubling antisemitism, without an adequate response from the Australian government.”

“When you support terror in the Middle East, you get terror in your backyard. The massacre of Jews in Sydney is not fate; it’s the result of antisemitism that is allowed to grow unchecked,” agrees fellow Religious Zionism MK Ohad Tal.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who leads Religious Zionism, writes that the images coming out of Sydney are reminiscent of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and expresses his government’s “uncompromising demand that the Australian government deal firmly with the rising antisemitism in the country and protect its Jews.”

MK Gilad Kariv (The Democrats), chairman of the Knesset Diaspora Affairs Committee, likewise insists that “the Australian government must act decisively to ensure the safety of Australian Jews and to combat the scourge of antisemitism,” and says that his parliamentary panel will hold a discussion on the matter.