Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has issued a sharp rebuttal to accusations from Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who suggested Australia's recent recognition of a Palestinian state helped fuel a deadly antisemitic attack in Sydney.
Netanyahu's Accusation and Albanese's Rebuttal
In a pointed statement on Sunday, Netanyahu claimed the Australian government had "done nothing to stop the spread of antisemitism in Australia". He implied that Canberra's diplomatic move earlier this year to recognise Palestine had created an environment that contributed to the Bondi beach terror attack, where two gunmen killed fifteen Jewish people celebrating Hanukkah.
When questioned by national broadcasters about accepting any link between the recognition and the massacre, Albanese was unequivocal. "No, I don't," he stated. The Prime Minister emphasised that "overwhelmingly, most of the world recognises a two-state solution as being the way forward in the Middle East."
He chose not to engage directly with Netanyahu's characterisation of his government's approach as replacing "weakness with weakness and appeasement with more appeasement".
A Call for National Unity and Concrete Action
Albanese framed the moment as one for national solidarity, urging Australians to unite in support of the Jewish community. "We need to wrap our arms around members of the Jewish community who are going through an extraordinarily difficult period," he said, vowing his government was prepared to take necessary action.
He listed several measures already undertaken, including:
- Criminalising hate speech and incitement to violence.
- Banning the Nazi salute.
- Extending funding for physical security for Jewish community groups.
The Prime Minister also pointed to the need for tougher gun laws in Australia, a nation already known for its restrictive firearms regulations, in the wake of the country's worst terror attack.
Rising Tensions and Community Alarm
The diplomatic rift between Australia and Israel has been widening since August, when Israel revoked visas for Australian diplomats in the occupied Palestinian territories. This was described by Foreign Minister Penny Wong as an "unjustified reaction" to Australia's recognition of Palestine.
Australia's move was presented as part of an international push for a two-state solution, a Gaza ceasefire, and hostage release following Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack. Netanyahu had previously labelled the recognition a "reward for terrorism".
Community leaders have expressed deep concern. Jillian Segal, the government's special envoy on antisemitism, stated the Bondi attack "did not come without warning", noting "the writing has been on the wall." Rabbi Levi Wolff of Sydney's Central Synagogue warned that unchecked antisemitism from the top leads to such tragedies.
The opposition Liberal party accused the Labor government of allowing hatred to "fester" and demanded full implementation of Segal's July report, which called for stricter visa screening and a focus on universities.
Albanese, while condemning antisemitism as an "evil scourge", has previously stressed the importance of distinguishing it from legitimate criticism of the Netanyahu government's actions. His administration navigates a complex multicultural landscape, including a significant Lebanese diaspora, while managing weekly protests against the Gaza war.
The government has taken action against state-backed threats, expelling Iran's ambassador this year after intelligence linked antisemitic arson attacks to Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
