Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has linked the arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue to the Albanese government’s “extreme anti-Israeli position.”

He criticised the Labor government for supporting a UN resolution that calls for an end to Israel’s presence in occupied territories and for barring a former Israeli minister from entering Australia, labeling anti-Israel sentiment as antisemitism.

The burning of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne is an abhorrent act of antisemitism. I expect the state authorities to use their full weight to prevent such antisemitic acts in the future.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to separate this reprehensible act from the extreme…

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) December 6, 2024

Netanyahu described the burning of the Adass Israel synagogue as an abhorrent antisemitic act, urging the Victorian government and police to take stronger action against such incidents.

‘New low’

This statement highlights a new low in relations between the Albanese government and Israel, coinciding with increasing tensions between the Australian government and the Jewish community.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog contacted Prime Minister Albanese, mentioning a troubling rise in antisemitic attacks against Jewish communities globally since the October 7 terror attacks. Herzog emphasized the necessity for decisive action against antisemitism.

The Albanese government reversed Australia’s longstanding policy by supporting a UN resolution calling for Israel to relinquish its occupation, aligning with 156 other nations while opposing voices like Israel and the US.

The resolution faced criticism for failing to hold Palestinians accountable for ongoing violence against Israelis.

The Australian government’s recent shift signals a departure from its role as a robust supporter of Israel, influenced by pressure from Muslim and Green groups advocating for stronger backing of Palestine.