Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labeled a fire deliberately set at a Melbourne synagogue as an act of 'terrorism' and expressed concern over the 'alarming increase in anti-Semitism' in Australia.
On Sunday, Albanese described the fire at the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea, a Melbourne suburb, as the 'definition of terrorism'. The incident occurred before dawn on Friday when masked arsonists set the building ablaze, causing significant damage but no serious injuries. Authorities are still searching for the culprits.
The prime minister emphasized that the fire was intended to instill fear within the community. 'Terrorism aims to create fear, and the events at the synagogue in Melbourne were clearly designed to do just that,' he stated. Australian police, who determine whether an incident qualifies as a terrorist act, will convene on Monday to assess if the fire meets the official criteria.
The attack has garnered widespread condemnation both domestically and internationally. Conservative politicians and Jewish groups have criticized Albanese's government for not adequately addressing anti-Semitism. Opposition leader Peter Dutton accused Albanese of believing that 'by not taking a strong stance against anti-Semitism, he will gain political advantage'.
In response to the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu linked the incident to 'anti-Israel sentiment' stemming from the Australian Labor government, citing Canberra's vote for a UN resolution demanding the end of Israel's 'unlawful' occupation of Palestinian territory. 'Anti-Israel sentiment is anti-Semitism,' Netanyahu asserted.
This statement followed Australia's vote for a UN General Assembly resolution calling for an end to Israel's 'unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory'. The resolution was supported by 157 countries, including New Zealand, Britain, and Canada, with eight countries voting against it. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong defended the vote, stating that 'Australia is part of the overwhelming majority of the international community that seeks to end the conflict and achieve a two-state solution'.
Wong emphasized that while Australians are free to support or oppose Israel's actions, this should not be used as a pretext for prejudice. 'Targeting the Australian Jewish community is anti-Semitic and completely unacceptable,' she said, adding that 'turning this into a political battle is irresponsible'.
The conflict in Gaza has led to protests from both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups in cities across Australia, mirroring global trends.
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