Benjamin Netanyahu calls for finish to ‘reprehensible’ antisemitic acts after Melbourne synagogue assault | EUROtoday

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Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged Australia to use the total pressure of its regulation to forestall “reprehensible” antisemitic assaults, after a Melbourne synagogue was set on fireplace with 20 individuals inside.

A 34-year-old man was arrested and charged in reference to the alleged arson assault on Friday evening, when 20 individuals have been contained in the East Melbourne Synagogue. The congregation escaped unhurt by way of a rear door, and firefighters managed to include the blaze to the doorway space of the 148-year-old constructing.

Police mentioned the arrested man, Angelo Loras, is a resident of Sydney, the capital of neighbouring New South Wales. He has been charged with offences together with legal harm by fireplace.

“I view with utmost gravity the antisemitic attacks that occurred last night in Melbourne, which included attempted arson of a synagogue in the city and a violent assault against an Israeli restaurant by pro-Palestinian rioters,” Mr Netanyahu mentioned in posts on X (Twitter) on Sunday morning.

“The reprehensible antisemitic attacks, with calls of ‘Death to the IDF’ and an attempt to attack a place of worship, are severe hate crimes that must be uprooted.

“The state of Israel will continue to stand alongside the Australian Jewish community, and we demand that the Australian government take all action to deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law and prevent similar attacks in the future.”

A camera crew film the burnt front entrance of the East Melbourne Synagogue in Melbourne

A digicam crew movie the burnt entrance entrance of the East Melbourne Synagogue in Melbourne (AFP by way of Getty Images)

Victoria police mentioned the Toongabbie man was charged with “reckless conduct endanger life, reckless conduct endanger serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon”.

“Detectives will continue to examine the intent and ideology of the person charged to determine if the incident is in fact terrorism,” police mentioned.

It was the primary of three suspected antisemitic incidents in Melbourne between Friday evening and early Saturday.

Authorities have but to determine a hyperlink between the incident on the synagogue and the 2 assaults on companies.

A restaurant was attacked on Friday evening, with protesters chanting “Death to the IDF”, in reference to the Israel Defence Forces. Police are additionally investigating the spray-painting of a enterprise in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, together with an arson assault on three autos linked to the enterprise earlier than daybreak on Saturday.

A torched car being removed in front of anti-Israel graffiti written on a wall in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra

A torched automobile being eliminated in entrance of anti-Israel graffiti written on a wall within the Sydney suburb of Woollahra (AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORAT)

Israeli president Isaac Herzog joined Mr Netanyahu in warning that the assault should be Australia’s “last”.

“It is intolerable that in 2025, we are still faced with the chilling image of an attempt to burn Jews alive as they pray, and attacks on Jewish businesses,” he mentioned as he urged the Australian authorities to confront the “stain” of antisemitism with “urgency and resolve”.

Australian residence affairs minister Tony Burke met with Jewish leaders on the broken synagogue on Sunday. Mr Burke instructed reporters that investigators have been trying to find potential hyperlinks between the three incidents.

“At this stage, our authorities have not drawn links between them. But obviously there’s a link in antisemitism. There’s a link in bigotry. There’s a link in a willingness to either call for violence, to chant violence or to take out violent actions. They are very much linked in that way,” Mr Burke mentioned.

“There were three attacks that night and none of them belonged in Australia. Arson attacks, the chanting calls for death, other attacks and graffiti – none of it belonged in Australia and they were attacks on Australia,” Mr Burke added.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/melbourne-synagogue-attack-arrest-benjamin-netanyahu-b2783418.html