THE SCOURGE OF ANTI-SEMITISM BRINGS TERROR TO BONDI BEACH

Chanukah  

It was the first night of Chanukah - Sunday evening 14 December, a major Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, traditionally marked with the lighting of candles over eight successive nights. Many members of the Jewish community gathered to celebrate the “Chanukah by the Sea Festival” at Sydney’s iconic Bondi beach.

Light Turns to Darkness

In one of Australia’s darkest days, unthinkable terror arrived at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening. Two gunmen opened fire on the Jewish community as they celebrated Chanukah, leaving at least 15 dead and 38 more in hospital. What was to have been a joyous celebration was horribly marred by the most horrific terrorist attack. It was the worst mass shooting in Australia since April 1996 when 35 people were killed in a mass shooting at Port Arthur in Tasmania.

As Caroline Overington wrote, “The cause of the massacre is screamingly obvious. Some people really hate Jews”. She added that anti-Semitism is “Writhing like a vile snake in Australia. We have to stomp on the head of this beast before it strangles the idea of Australia as the best, fairest, kindest, most peaceful nation on earth”.

Courage

A 43 year old Muslim man and father of two, Ahmed al-Ahmed suddenly emerged, unarmed and bravely tackled and disarmed one of the shooters. Ahmed was shot twice in the arm during the altercation. He was immediately hailed as a “hero” by Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. The Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns described the footage of Ahmed tackling the gunman as “The most unbelievable scene I’ve ever seen” adding, “That man is a genuine hero and I’ve no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery”.

Benjamin Netanyahu Speaks Out

Netanyahu accused the Albanese government of doing nothing to stop the spread of anti-Semitism in Australia. He had earlier accused Albanese of responding to anti-Semitism with “appeasement and more appeasement” saying he had repeatedly warned him that his support for a Palestinian state and his handling of domestic anti-Semitism would put Jewish people at risk. He called on the Prime Minister to “replace weakness with action and appeasement with resolve” and he praised Ahmed al-Ahmed saying, “We saw the action of a brave man – turns out a Muslim brave man, and I salute him”.

Messages of Goodwill

Australia has received multiple messages of goodwill from around the world, including from the New York City-mayor elect, Zohran Mamdani saying, “The attack at a Chanukah celebration in Sydney was a vile act of anti-Semitic terror” adding that the Jewish community had been plunged “into mourning and loss on a holiday of light so painfully reduced to a day of darkness”.

The National Imams Council and the Muslim community in Australia released a statement condemning the “horrific shootings” in Bondi and saying, “Those responsible must be held fully accountable and face the full force of the law”.

The Buck Must Stop with the Prime Minister

 Australia’s Prime Minister must be held to account for the disaster. Australian weakness in the face of anti-Semitism has been evident ever since the slaughter of 1,200 Israelis on 7 October 2023 when it was celebrated in Sydney’s Muslim heartland of Lakemba – even before the sickening anti-Jewish hatred outside the Opera House on 9 October. Sadly, Albanese’s pathetic response was to say, “we should not celebrate such killing”. The Albanese government has failed to provide the necessary leadership and has not even been able to use the word “anti-Semitism” without also referencing “Islamophobia”. The time for weasel words and conflation is over.

The time to unleash real strength against those who seek to harm innocent Australians is now. However, Albanese appears to be both conflicted and compromised. It is said that a leopard never changes its spots and, in the same way, a person’s fundamental character, especially negative traits cannot, and cannot be expected to change.

In an interview with Deputy prime minister Richard Marles in the aftermath of the terror attack, Marles was interrupted by a furious outburst from the audience saying, “You and your government are an absolute disgrace. You, the Prime Minister, and Penny Wong should all go.”  Indeed, there have been calls for Albanese to step down from his position, since he and his government has failed the Jewish community.

More Commentary

John Howard said of Albanese, “His greatest failure is not to provide the moral leadership that a Prime Minister can in denouncing anti-Semitism”. Australia’s Opposition Leader, Sussan Ley said, “We have seen a clear lack of leadership in keeping Jewish Australians safe and we have a government that sees anti-Semitism as a problem to be managed, not the evil that needs to be eradicated”.

In a brilliant speech by Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, she furiously criticized the Prime Minister for his weakness in tolerating anti-Semitism, saying that he was not fit to hold the office which he occupies. Her ten minute speech can be found on YouTube entitled “My thoughts in the wake of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack”. It is well worth listening to her speech, which is arguably the best commentary on the topic to date.

On Wednesday, politicians paid their respects at the funeral of Rabbi Eli Schlanger who was murdered on Sunday night. Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, NSW Premier Chris Minns, Sussan Ley, nationals leader David Littleproud, Jewish Liberal MP Julian Leeser and federal Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns were all in attendance – but not Anthony Albanese.

Speaking at a remembrance service at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, Archbishop Fisher warned that a “dark stain of anti-Semitism” had been spreading and that “For two years, week after week, demonstrations have taken place in Hyde Park, within earshot of the Great synagogue where inflammatory messages were articulated unchecked”. He added that Jewish Australians were “met with one of the oldest and darkest of human hatreds” on Sunday night.

Former intelligence official, Nick Warner said, “The tragedy of Bondi needs to be a turning point, led by the federal and state governments, for serious action to crack down on anti-Semitism, to stem the fear, hatred and anger in our communities” and adding, “Ahmed al-Ahmed is the symbol and inspiration – a Muslim man tackling a Muslim terrorist to save Jewish lives. We need to rebuild on his example and his bravery”.

Josh Frydenberg

Josh Frydenberg, the former Treasurer and most senior Jewish cabinet minister in Australia’s history spoke at the scene of the Bondi Beach massacre with strength, passion, conviction and courage driven by emotion and righteousness. As he said, “I am here to mourn but I’m also here to warn”.  

Frydenberg accused Albanese of having “Allowed Australia to be radicalised on his watch”, telling him to accept “personal responsibility” for the anti-Semitic Bondi Beach massacre, referring to it as “The greatest stain on this nation”. He added, “We are here to fight for the soul of Australia and to fight for the survival of the Australian Jewish community that has been here since the arrival of the first Fleet”. He spoke of some of the great Jewish Australians, Sir John Monash, Sir Isaac Isaacs, Sir Zelman Cowen and others who had contributed so much to the nation. He concluded, “We need leaders who don’t just want the job but who are prepared to do the job”.

This is only a brief excerpt from Frydenberg’s speech which has been hailed as one of the greatest in Australia’s history.

Frydenberg is viewed by many conservatives as the party’s savior if he should return to politics. According to a report in Sky News on 17 December, he has indicated that he intends to make a return to federal politics but, only time will tell if that does eventuate. Watch this space! This country is screaming out for leadership and Frydenberg has skills and commitment to show the way.

Frydenberg’s seven pieces of advice for the PM

1. Ban hate preachers and close the Al Madina Dawah Centre, a controversial Islamic “prayer centre” that has been linked with the gunmen.

   
   

2. Ban extremist organisations starting with Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamic fundamentalist group.

   
   

3. Prosecute people who incite anti-Semitic violence and hatred.

   
   

4. Stop the weekly pro-Palestinian protests.

   
   

5. Invest in education to teach young people about the history of the Holocaust and the Middle East, and make sure the curriculum is coordinated across all states and territories.

   
   

6. Put in place a ‘more effective and rigorous’ immigration system that acknowledges it is a “privilege” to come to and stay in Australia.

   
   

7. Establish a Royal commission to into the Bondi terror attack and the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia, while acting on special envoy to combat anti-Semitism Jillian Segal’s report that was released in July.

The Anti-Semitism Envoy

Albanese’s hand-picked anti-Semitism envoy, Jillian Segal warned that the calls to “Globalize the Intifada” had finally come to Bondi Beach and she called on the government to accelerate her plan to tackle anti-Jewish hate. No progress has been made on her major recommendations which were produced almost 6 months ago.

Now, Albanese claims that he is acting on the plan by ramping up security in Jewish areas after the terrorist attack adding, “My Government will continue to stand with Jewish Australians and continue to stamp out anti-Semitism in all its forms. We have taken strong action”. It was nothing but more empty words! His government has conflated anti-Semitism with Islamophobia and has even established a Special Envoy to combat Islamophobia, alongside the Envoy he appointed to combat anti-Semitism!

A U-Turn and Late Change of Direction

Only on 18 December after rising anger in the wake of the Bondi massacre did Albanese finally acknowledged that more could have been done to combat anti-Semitism in the period since October 2023.

Eventually on the fifth day of Chanukah days after the murder of 15 innocent victims, Albanese has announced long overdue reforms to crackdown on anti-Semitism, hate speech and radicalisation. The reforms include - new powers for the home affairs minister to reject or cancel visas for those who spread hate; stronger penalties for hate speech and violence; an anti-Semitism Education Task force led by David Gonski; and the imposition of tougher rules on racism and anti-Semitism on campuses. He also said the government would (at last) work through recommendations in  Jillian Segal’s report.

Jewish Australian leaders have cautiously welcomed the decision but have rightly said, “It shouldn’t take the mass murder of Jews to spur action to stamp out hate”.

Conclusion

There has been extensive commentary, criticism and recommendations in the short time since the horrifying attack on 14 December, particularly in The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, the Times of Israel, and many other publications – including the Russian news.

It is impossible to undo the disaster which has occurred. Only time will tell whether and to what extent the proposed reforms will have real and meaningful effect. Clearly, robust action by this government is absolutely essential if Australia is to achieve a better, safer and more harmonious Australian environment.

AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM – HEAR THE OTHER SIDE