UPDATE: The Jewish Australian community is in a state of fear following confirmation that two recent anti-Semitic attacks in Melbourne and Sydney were directed by the Iranian government. Intelligence reports revealed that the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne was firebombed in December 2024, injuring a worshipper and causing significant damage.
The alarming news was delivered to synagogue board member Benjamin Klein via a call from a senior official in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese‘s office. Klein expressed his shock, stating, “It is quite shocking and traumatic to think that a peaceful, loving shule (synagogue) in Melbourne is targeted and attacked by terrorists from overseas.”
The incidents have left the Jewish community feeling anxious and fearful. Klein noted, “We’re a bit more anxious, a bit more stressed and scared, but we don’t change our way.” Authorities have stepped up security measures at a temporary location for the congregation following the attacks.
In a related incident, the Lewis’ Continental Kitchen, a kosher deli in Bondi, Sydney, was also targeted, with the firebombing occurring in the early hours of October 20, 2024. The deli’s owner, Judith Lewis, is still grappling with the implications of the attack, which is linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps recruiting local criminal elements. Alex Ryvchin, from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, stated, “The fact that a business is targeted, makes every Jewish Australian fearful that they could be next.”
In a swift reaction, Prime Minister Albanese announced the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador, marking the first such action taken by Australia since World War II. Iranian officials have vehemently denied the allegations, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei claiming that the accusations are politically motivated and a response to Australia’s support for Israel.
The Australian government is set to classify the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization once urgent legislation passes parliament. Albanese described the attacks as “extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil.”
As authorities continue their investigation, including the arrest of a second suspect in the deli firebombing, concerns grow over the potential for further anti-Semitic attacks linked to such international interference. ASIO director-general Mike Burgess warned that more incidents may be tied to this disturbing trend.
Community leaders have applauded the government’s decisive actions against the Iranian regime. Ryvchin emphasized the importance of a united front against these threats, stating, “Israel’s enemies are Australia’s enemies. That much is clear.”
The Jewish Australian community awaits further updates as investigations progress and security measures are heightened. This developing situation underscores the urgent need for vigilance and solidarity in the face of rising anti-Semitic violence.
