[Video below.] As news spread of mass shootings at Bondi Beach in Sydney and at Brown University, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer managed to draw outrage for remarks that many viewed as staggeringly misplaced.
Before turning to the deadly attacks, Schumer chose to inject football fandom into his public comments, referencing the Buffalo Bills’ dramatic comeback victory in Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season.
Schumer, a longtime Bills supporter, appeared eager to celebrate the win. But the timing of his remarks immediately drew sharp criticism, as he was preparing to address the carnage in Australia, where at least 15 people were murdered in an antisemitic terror attack, and the separate shooting incident connected to Brown University.
Rather than leading with condolences, Schumer chose to first mention the football result, a decision that many felt showed a profound disconnect from the gravity of the moment.
“Of course, I’m going to say a few words about the terrible shooting in Sydney, Australia, OK?” Schumer said as he began commenting on both the Sydney and Brown University shootings. “So, and first of course, as I always say, no matter what, go Bills! They beat the Patriots today. It’s a big deal.”
The reaction online was swift and brutal. One social media user wrote: “Wow. Bad taste. What an evil, vile waste of space.”
Another commenter expressed disbelief, writing, “I can’t believe this is real. Good Lord, tone deaf isn’t the word!”
Others piled on with even harsher criticism. “He also chose to [complain] about INSTACART before addressing the shootings. What an absolute demonic …. he is,” another added.
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{Matzav.com}
Australia’s security establishment is reassessing past intelligence after confirming that one of the Bondi Beach attackers had previously appeared on the radar of the country’s domestic spy agency.
ASIO director-general Mike Burgess addressed the issue publicly, saying, “One of these individuals was known to us, but not in an immediate-threat perspective, so we need to look into what happened here.”
Police say the deadly assault unfolded Sunday night during a Chanukah gathering marking the first evening of the Yom Tov, when Naveed Akram, 24, and his father, Sajid Akram, 50, opened fire, killing 15 people. Naveed Akram was wounded and remains hospitalized under police guard, while his father was killed during a gun battle with responding officers.
In the aftermath, authorities launched Operation Shelter, dispatching 328 police officers to guard synagogues and other religious institutions across the region. Investigators also confirmed that only two perpetrators were involved in the attack.
According to an ABC News report, ASIO had examined Naveed Akram as far back as six years ago due to his links to a Sydney-based ISIS network. That scrutiny intensified following the July 2019 arrest of Isaac El Matari, a convicted ISIS operative now serving a seven-year sentence for plotting an Islamic State insurgency after declaring himself the group’s Australian commander. Officials say Naveed Akram maintained close ties with El Matari and other members of that cell, all of whom were later convicted on terrorism charges.
Investigators from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team — a multi-agency task force that includes ASIO, NSW Police, the Australian Federal Police, and the NSW Crime Commission — believe the attackers had pledged allegiance to ISIS. Two ISIS flags were discovered inside their vehicle at Bondi Beach, with one clearly visible on the bonnet in footage taken at the scene.
As part of the investigation, heavily armed police carried out raids at the Akram family home in Bonnyrigg, in Sydney’s southwest, as well as an AirBnB property in Campsie where the two men had been staying.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon disclosed additional details about the weapons used, stating that Sajid Akram had legally held a firearms license for ten years. “He has six firearms licensed to him. We are satisfied that we have six firearms from the scene yesterday,” he said, emphasizing that the license had been properly regulated.
The revelations have intensified questions about intelligence oversight and threat assessment, as authorities continue piecing together how a known extremist link escalated into one of the deadliest antisemitic attacks in Australia’s history.
{Matzav.com}New York City officials say residents can expect a heightened police presence around shuls, menorah lightings, and Jewish institutions throughout Chanukah, as city leaders respond to a cascade of violent incidents that unfolded over the past day in the United States and abroad.
Mayor Eric Adams said the decision follows what he described as a grim 24-hour period marked by multiple shootings, including a deadly antisemitic terror attack overseas targeting Jews celebrating Chanukah, as well as separate shootings in Rhode Island and Brooklyn.
“The last 24 hours, we’ve witnessed a tragedy that has swept our entire globe,” Adams told reporters. “We went to sleep with the horrific report of a mass shooting at Brown University. We woke up in the middle of the night to the news of a local one: Six individuals, teenagers, young people were shot in Brooklyn.
“We woke up this morning to hear about a devastating terrorist attack in [Australia].”
According to Adams, the overseas attack was a deliberate act of antisemitic violence. He said the assault, which left more than a dozen people dead and dozens injured, underscored the need for vigilance as Jews publicly mark Chanukah.
“That attack in Sydney is exactly what it means to globalize intifada,” Adams said. “We saw the actual application of the globalization of intifada in Sydney because the attacker knew who he was targeting and he knew why.
“It is the first night of Hanukkah, the festival of lights where Jews are obligated to publicize the celebration of their faith. And among the murdered victims of the attack [was] a rabbi who had ties to Crown Heights, as well as a Holocaust survivor. Let me say that again. A rabbi and a Holocaust survivor killed for being Jewish.
“Antisemitism has no place in our city, in our society, and in our world.
“And I will continue to fight for this community and all communities of this city and for fellow brothers and sisters from the Jewish community. For the past four years, this administration has stood by the Jewish community, not just as the mayor, but as an ally, as a father, and as a human being.”
Adams also addressed what he called the dangers of minimizing extremist violence or blurring its ideological roots.
“But this attack did not come out of nowhere. It came out as the consequences of Islamic extremists,” Adams said. “And we have to be clear on that. It’s not an attack on our Muslim brothers and sisters, who carry out their faith every day, but is the hijacking of their religion by Islamic extremists.
“Words have meaning. Words have impact, and words have power. Everyone needs to understand what words mean before they repeat them, before they shout them, before they defend them.”
Without naming him directly at first, Adams appeared to criticize Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for refusing to condemn calls to “globalize the intifada,” linking that rhetoric to real-world violence.
Turning to policing policy, Adams warned against proposals to scale back specialized law enforcement units tasked with responding to terror threats.
“I do know this: Specialized units play a primary role and function to go and respond to terrorist attacks of this nature,” Adams said. “It is ill-advised to talk about the dismantling of the SRG team, the same team that went into 345 Park Avenue, when we had now a lone gunman that took the lives of innocent New Yorkers.
“It took the courage of a civilian to take down one of the shooters. The country was lucky that the civilian was there. Public safety can’t be luck. Specialized units like SRG are trained for these encounters. And this illustrates the necessity of the strategic response groups who are ready to respond to terror attacks on a mass scale.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch provided additional details on the local incidents that contributed to the city’s security escalation. She said the Brooklyn shooting occurred early Sunday morning outside an event venue in Cypress Hills, where two unidentified suspects opened fire on a crowd, striking six teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17. Authorities believe the incident is gang-related, and none of the victims’ injuries are considered life-threatening.
Tisch also confirmed that two people were killed and nine injured in the shooting at Brown University, noting there is no known connection to New York City. Nonetheless, she said patrols have been increased at colleges and universities across the five boroughs as a precaution.
“Our hearts are with the victims, their families, Chabad, and Jewish communities here and around the world,” Tisch said. “Since the attack occurred, the NYPD has been in continuous contact with our law enforcement partners in Australia and we are receiving updates directly from our NYPD liaison officer stationed in Sydney.
“We are closely monitoring developments as more verified information becomes available. This too remains an active investigation.”
Although officials emphasized that there are no specific or credible threats tied to Chanukah events in New York City, the NYPD has dramatically expanded its security posture. Enhanced uniform patrols, counterterrorism officers, heavy weapons teams, bomb squads, and community affairs officers are being deployed citywide, particularly around Jewish sites and holiday gatherings.
Tisch credited the department’s international liaison program with delivering real-time intelligence from Australia, allowing the NYPD to adjust its security plans overnight.
Both Adams and Tisch stressed that the city remains committed to protecting Jewish New Yorkers and ensuring they can celebrate Chanukah openly and safely, urging residents to stay alert and report any suspicious activity as the Yom Tov continues.
{Matzav.com}
A sharply worded letter issued this past week by one of Europe’s most senior roshei yeshiva and one of the gedolei hador has sparked significant discussion within the yeshiva world, particularly at Yeshiva Beis Yosef in Gateshead.
The letter was authored by Hagaon Rav Avrohom Gurwicz, widely regarded as the elder of Europe’s roshei yeshiva and the longtime rosh yeshiva of Beis Yosef, Gateshead. Written ahead of Yud-Tes Kislev, the traditional Chabad Chaga Hageulah, the letter warned talmidim not to participate in Chabad farbrengens scheduled to take place in the town.
Addressed to talmidim of the yeshiva, Rav Gurwicz’s message was notable for its unusually sharp tone. In the letter, he deliberately avoided mentioning the date of Yud-Tes Kislev explicitly, instead referring to the event by the days of the week and the parsha in which it would occur.
“Since it has become known to us that individuals whose outlook regarding the importance of the study of the holy Torah differs from that which has been transmitted to us from generation to generation are preparing to organize a feast on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday of Parshas Vayeishev,” Rav Gurwicz wrote.
The rosh yeshiva emphasized what he described as a core concern of the Lithuanian yeshiva tradition: bittul Torah. He warned that participation in such gatherings would lead to significant loss of learning time, both during the event itself and in the days that follow.
“A matter that involves much bittul Torah at the time of the feast and in the days afterward,” Rav Gurwicz continued. “I hereby warn, in my name and in the name of all members of the hanhalah, that no student of the holy yeshiva is to participate in this feast.”
The letter has generated particular attention because Yeshiva Beis Yosef Gateshead, while firmly rooted in the classic Litvishe tradition, has long been known for its inclusiveness. For more than a decade, a sizable chassidic contingent—estimated at roughly one-third of the student body—has studied at the yeshiva.
The yeshiva also has a long-standing historical connection to the broader chassidic world. Among its distinguished alumni are prominent chassidic leaders, including the Sadigura Rebbe and other chassidic figures who studied there over the years.
Typically, such farbrengens have been held discreetly in Gateshead, often in shul basements or private venues. About a decade ago, however, an unusual and more public event took place when Rav Boruch Oberlander, the chief rabbi of Hungary, was brought in to lead a farbrengen held in the town’s central hall.
Against that backdrop, the current letter is being viewed as a renewed effort by Rav Gurwicz to draw clearer lines for the yeshiva’s talmidim, signaling that he does not view chassidic farbrengens connected to Yud-Tes Kislev as compatible with the yeshiva’s framework and priorities.
{Matzav.com}
The effort to advance Israel’s long-delayed draft law regulating the status of yeshiva students is encountering fresh complications, as the Knesset’s legal advisors have voiced opposition to a central clause in the proposed legislation.
The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, chaired by MK Boaz Bismuth, is scheduled to convene this week for two sessions to continue deliberations on the draft law, which seeks to formalize exemptions and service arrangements for yeshiva students.
Despite internal coalition resistance, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s office has continued to signal optimism that the law could still be passed within the next two months. This comes even as several coalition lawmakers have publicly stated that they would oppose the current version of the bill.
Against this backdrop, the legal advisory staff of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee has formally objected to an additional clause included in the draft. The legal opinion was submitted to committee members ahead of Monday’s discussion.
According to a report by i24, the legal advisors oppose a provision that defines which yeshivos would be eligible to receive draft exemptions under the law. In their written position, the advisors argue that it is impermissible to include a yeshiva on the approved list if some of its students fail to report for registration and medical examinations, as required under the Defense Service Law.
The advisory opinion states: “There should be no arrangement that allows a yeshiva to be included in the list of recognized yeshivos if some of its students do not report for registration and medical examination, as all are obligated to do under the provisions of the Defense Service Law. Each student must comply with the law, and the yeshiva must ensure this compliance.”
The legal objection has triggered sharp reactions within chareidi political circles. Over the weekend, a senior chareidi official said that MK Bismuth had repeatedly assured them over the past two months that every clause in the bill had been fully coordinated with the committee’s legal advisor and that no surprises were expected.
“Now it turns out he misled us, plain and simple,” the official said. “In the very first central clause of the draft — dealing with whether civilian-national service can be counted toward draft targets — the legal advisor is saying an unequivocal ‘no.’ That shows it was never truly coordinated.”
The official added that this development could be only the beginning of further legal obstacles. “At this pace, there won’t be a law. We will not pass legislation that runs counter to the position of the Knesset’s legal advisors. The damage would far outweigh any benefit.”
As committee discussions resume, the growing gap between political assurances, legal constraints, and coalition realities appears to be placing the future of the draft law in increasing doubt.
{Matzav.com}In a sweeping and precedent-setting decision, Israel’s Supreme Court has ruled that botei din may no longer impose jurisdiction on Israeli citizens whose center of life is abroad, even if they briefly enter the country. The dramatic judgment brings an end to years of legal and halachic friction over so-called “airport jurisdiction,” in which litigants were summoned to rabbinical courts based solely on fleeting physical presence in Israel.
Justice Yechiel Kasher overturned a ruling of the Rabbinical High Court and clarified that Israeli rabbinical courts have authority over marriage, divorce, and related financial matters only when there is a “substantive connection” to the State of Israel. Mere Israeli citizenship or a short visit to the country, he ruled, is insufficient to establish international jurisdiction.
At the heart of the case was the interpretation of Section 1 of the Rabbinical Courts Jurisdiction Law, which grants rabbinical courts exclusive authority over matters of marriage and divorce involving Jews who are “in Israel, citizens of the state or its residents.” The key question was the meaning of the phrase “in Israel”: does it require a genuine, meaningful connection to the country, or is temporary physical presence enough?
Justice Kasher decisively rejected the broader interpretation. He ruled that without a real and substantial link to Israel, the courts lack international jurisdiction. As a result, Israeli citizens who live abroad and visit Israel briefly can no longer find themselves suddenly subject to rabbinical court proceedings—particularly financial and property claims—when all of their assets and daily lives are based overseas.
The ruling places significant emphasis on preventing legal injustice. Justice Kasher noted that recognizing jurisdiction based solely on momentary presence could lead to unfair outcomes and coercive litigation tactics. He pointed to earlier Supreme Court rulings that require a “proper connection” to Israel before judicial authority can be exercised. Considerations of judicial efficiency also played a role, with the court stating that Israel is not the appropriate forum for disputes involving individuals who lack sufficient ties to the country.
Importantly, the court held that this interpretation applies equally to both parties in a dispute. Just as a defendant may argue a lack of sufficient connection to Israel, so too may a plaintiff be required to demonstrate such a connection in order to bring a case before the rabbinical courts.
The precedent-setting decision arose from a dispute between a couple who married in Israel in 1985 but soon thereafter relocated to the United Kingdom. The wife remained in Britain, while the husband later initiated proceedings against her in Jerusalem, taking advantage of her brief visit to Israel. Both the regional rabbinical court and the Rabbinical High Court had approved the move, but the Supreme Court intervened and put a stop to it.
Justice Kasher ordered that the case be returned to the regional rabbinical court for a renewed factual examination of the woman’s substantive connection to Israel. He also ordered the husband to pay 40,000 shekels in legal costs.
Deputy President of the Supreme Court Noam Sohlberg concurred with the outcome, stressing that since the bulk of the couple’s assets are located in the United Kingdom, Israel is not the appropriate legal forum for resolving the dispute.
{Matzav.com}
The body of habochur Eliyahu Abba Shaul Z”L, a 20-year-old resident of Bnei Brak, was released on Sunday from the forensic institute and will was be brought to burial tonight.
Eliyahu Abba tragically drowned in the Yarkon River, and his body was recovered earlier on Sunday.
Following intensive efforts, his release was secured through the intervention of Rabbi Asher Landau, rav of the forensic institute; strategic advisor Eliyahu Arend; ZAKA Tel Aviv CEO Tzvi Chasid; and operations officer Yechiel Goldman.
The levayah was held tonight, departing from his parents’ home at 40 Yehuda HaNasi Street in Bnei Brak. From there, the procession continued to the Sanhedria Cemetery in Yerushaklayim, where he was laid to rest near the kever of his grandfather, the author of Or L’Tzion.
Eliyahu Abba Shaul was born in Bnei Brak on 27 Av 5766. He was the son of Rav Yehoshua Abba Shaul, rav of the Or Eliyahu community in Bnei Brak, and the grandson of Rav Eliyahu Abba Shaul. He was also a great-grandson of Chacham Ben Zion Abba Shaul, author of Or L’Tzion, and of Rav Yehuda Mualem, Rosh Yeshivah of Porat Yosef.
His mother, Leah, is a daughter of Rav Shlomo Attiya and a granddaughter of Rav Yaakov Attiya, founder of the Yeshuos Yaakov institutions in Bat Yam and rav of the Lebanese Jewish community there.
In his youth, Eliyahu studied at Talmud Torah Noam HaTorah on Rechov Rav Landau in Bnei Brak, and later at the yeshivah ketanah Shaarei Torah, headed by Rav Chaim Yisrael Shapira. He subsequently continued his learning at a yeshivah in Moshav Tifrach, where he distinguished himself in his studies.
He was described by those who knew him as a pure and righteous bochur, deeply immersed in the daled amos of halachah. He loved walking and spending time alone in contemplation, often visiting Park HaYarkon. Tragically, it was there that he drowned, and he was niftar while many searched for him over several days.
Yehi zichro baruch. Tehei nishmaso tzerurah b’tzror hachaim.
{Matzav.com}
A wave of shock and grief swept through the city of Charish on Sunday night, the first night of Chanukah, with the tragic passing of Nechemia (Chemi) Erlanger z”l, a devoted United Hatzalah volunteer and well-known community figure. Chemi, 34, was killed in a devastating traffic accident, leaving behind his wife and five young orphaned children.
The fatal accident occurred at the entrance to Charish from the direction of Mitzpe Ilan. Chemi was riding his motorcycle when a vehicle reportedly crossed several lanes and struck him head-on. Despite prolonged and determined resuscitation efforts at the scene, emergency responders were forced to pronounce his death.
Chemi was born in Yerushalayimon the 13th of Shevat, 5751, to his father, Rabbi Shalom Meir Erlanger, and his mother. He later settled in Charish, where he earned his livelihood as the owner of an interior doors company.
Chemi joined United Hatzalah in 2012 following a traumatic incident that profoundly impacted him. After witnessing a neighbor wait more than half an hour for an ambulance, only to pass away before help arrived, Chemi resolved to become part of an organization that could provide rapid, lifesaving response.
Over the years, he rose to serve as head of transportation for the United Hatzalah Charish branch. In that role, he was responsible for all two-wheeled and four-wheeled emergency vehicles, including ambulances, rapid-response cars, motorcycles, and bicycles, as well as for ensuring the safety of responders while en route to emergency calls. The Charish branch today includes approximately 100 volunteers, an unusually large number relative to the city’s size.
Beyond his formal responsibilities, Chemi was widely known as a man of extraordinary kindness. When responding to emergency calls, if he noticed that a family was struggling financially, he would quietly work to secure donations and assistance for them.
In a past interview with the Charish City news site, Chemi explained his broader view of emergency service: “Our role is not only to save lives, but also to ‘save what’s around’ — to look at the family’s situation, their children, their socio-economic condition, and to provide help beyond the direct medical treatment.”
United Hatzalah issued a statement mourning the tragic loss of one of the pillars of its lifesaving network in the region, praising Chemi’s boundless dedication and his readiness to be the first to respond to any call for help or chesed.
Eli Beer, president and founder of United Hatzalah, delivered a moving eulogy, saying: “An unimaginable tragedy. Our hearts are broken. Today we lost a true hero — a volunteer who always gave far beyond what was required and dedicated his life, time, and energy to saving lives. Chemi z”l was killed while riding his emergency motorcycle on his way from the base where he served to a Chanukah celebration with his family. We embrace his dear family and send our deepest condolences to all 8,000 United Hatzalah volunteers during these incredibly difficult moments. His memory and his life’s work will accompany us always.”
Chemi is survived by his wife and five children.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
At a White House holiday reception today, President Donald Trump addressed the terror attack against the Jewish community in Sydney, Australia, describing it in blunt terms and leaving no doubt about its nature. “That was an antisemitic attack, obviously,” he said.
During the same appearance, Trump praised the civilian who intervened during the assault, expressing admiration for his actions. He said he had “great respect” for the man who tackled one of the attackers, calling him a “a very, very brave person.”
Earlier in the day, Trump spoke with Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy, who asked whether Americans lighting Chanukah candles should be concerned about their personal safety in the wake of the attack abroad.
Relaying the president’s response, Doocy said, “Straight from the president, his message to people celebrating Hanukkah today, he said, ‘they do not need to be worried. They should celebrate proudly, and they should be proud of who you are, celebrate proudly.’”
Trump reinforced that message later at the White House event, tying it directly to the violence in Australia. “We’re here to celebrate X-mas and … I think today, we can first say, loudly, we celebrate Hanukkah because that was such a horrible attack, that was a purely antisemitic attack,” he said.
{Matzav.com}
[Full video below.] A maamad hadlakas ner Chanukah for the lighting of the first ner was held Sunday evening at the Kosel HaMaaravi.
The maamad took place in the presence of the Rishon L’Tzion, Rav Dovid Yosef; the Rov of the Kosel and the Mekomos Hakedoshim, Rav Shmuel Rabinovitch; and the Mayor of Yerushalayim, Moshe Lion.
Also participating in the hadlakah was Segev Kalfon, who was recently released from Hamas captivity.
Speaking with visible emotion, Kalfon expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity to stand at the Kosel. He spoke of the first light as representing that small but pure spark of light that has the power to dispel immense darkness. He noted that he stood there not only for himself, but on behalf of those who remain in captivity, mentioning Ran Gvili by name, and expressed his resolve that the light of Chanukah should serve as the thread that will ultimately bring him home.
Mayor Moshe Lion, addressing the gathering, said that as Klal Yisroel lights the first ner of Chanukah, hearts are heavy with pain over the brutal terror attack that struck the Jewish community in Australia. He emphasized that silence in the face of antisemitism exacts a deadly price, and conveyed condolences to the families of the victims along with heartfelt tefillos for a refuah sheleimah for the wounded.
The mayor added that seeing Segev Kalfon standing at the Kosel—after enduring 738 days in captivity and returning home—was a moment of great joy and nachas for all of Klal Yisroel. He concluded by noting that Chanukah is a time of light and hope, and that from Yerushalayim goes forth a brachah to every Jewish home in Eretz Yisroel and throughout the galus.
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CLICK HERE TO PLAY!Israeli officials from across the political spectrum unleashed fierce criticism of Australia’s government on Sunday, arguing that years of unchecked antisemitism and recent political decisions paved the way for the deadly mass shooting at a Chanukah gathering in Sydney.
The attack, which unfolded during a communal event at Bondi Beach, left at least 15 people dead after two gunmen opened fire. Thirteen others were reported to be in critical condition, among them two police officers who were wounded while responding to the scene.
Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Ministry issued one of the harshest responses, declaring that responsibility for the massacre lay squarely with Canberra. Condemning what it called a “brutal act of terror targeting Jews who had gathered to mark the lighting of a Chanukah candle,” the ministry stated that “the blood of the victims is on the hands of the Australian government.” The statement accused Australia of pursuing policies that made it impossible for Jews to live “safely, peacefully, and securely as Jews in their own country.”
The ministry went further, asserting that since October 7, Australia had chosen “a policy of weakness, restraint, and appeasement” rather than standing firmly with Israel, and charged that Canberra was “appeasing the enemies of Western civilization.” According to the statement, data showed that “Australia has become one of the Western countries experiencing the sharpest and most alarming rise in antisemitic incidents since October 7,” adding that “repeated warnings, appeals, and attempts to engage with the authorities have been met time and again with a wall of indifference.”
President Isaac Herzog also addressed the tragedy, describing the shooting as “cruel” and urging Australian authorities to confront what he called “the enormous wave of antisemitism” gripping the country. Speaking at an event at the President’s Residence in Yerushalayim, he said, “Our sisters and brothers in Sydney, Australia, have been attacked by vile terrorists in a very cruel attack on Jews who had gone to light the first candle of Chanukah.” He added pointedly, “We repeat our alerts time and again to the Australian government.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar echoed those warnings in an English-language post, saying Australia had been repeatedly cautioned about the danger of violence. He described the shooting as the outcome of “the antisemitic rampage in the streets of Australia over the past two years, with the antisemitic and inciting calls of ‘Globalize the Intifada’ that were realized today.” Sa’ar concluded that “The Australian government, which received countless warning signs, must come to its senses.”
Israeli Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon said there had been no specific intelligence pointing to an imminent attack, but stressed that national threat assessments had long warned of the likelihood of such violence. Since the Hamas onslaught of October 7, 2023, he said, “we have witnessed a series of actions against the Jewish community and its institutions, a series that only intensified.” He added that he had publicly warned more than once that “if I were to wake up one morning and learn that a Jew was physically harmed, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
Statistics released by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry underscored those concerns. A recent report recorded 1,654 antisemitic incidents between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025—roughly five times the annual average of the preceding decade. The year immediately after the October 7 attack saw an even higher figure, with 2,062 incidents documented.
Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu spoke just hours after the massacre, recalling a letter he sent to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in August. In that letter, he warned Canberra against policies that, in his words, were pouring fuel “on this antisemitic fire.” Paraphrasing his message, Netanyahu said Albanese’s actions, including Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state in September, had encouraged “the Jew-hatred now stalking your streets. Antisemitism is a cancer. It spreads when leaders stay silent. You must replace weakness with action.”
Netanyahu also issued a broader rebuke, saying, “We will continue to denounce those who do not denounce, but instead encourage. We will continue to demand that they do what is needed of leaders of free nations. We will not give up, we will not bow our heads, we will continue to fight as our ancestors did.”
Senior ministers from Israel’s right wing were even more explicit in linking the attack to Australian policy. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir argued that the decision to recognize a Palestinian state directly contributed to the violence. “Antisemitic terrorism knows no borders, but the blood of the murdered is on the hands of the Australian government, which announced recognition of a ‘Palestinian’ state and legitimized terrorism against Jews,” he said in a statement backing Australia’s Jewish community.
Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich said images from Sydney evoked memories of October 7 and demanded firm action, calling for “an uncompromising demand that the Australian government deal firmly with the rising antisemitism in the country and protect its Jews.” Immigration Minister Ofir Sofer wrote that during a visit to Australia he had seen “grave and troubling antisemitism, without an adequate response from the Australian government.” Fellow Religious Zionism MK Ohad Tal warned that “when you support terror in the Middle East, you get terror in your backyard. The massacre of Jews in Sydney is not fate; it’s the result of antisemitism that is allowed to grow unchecked.”
Australia’s September decision to recognize a Palestinian state was repeatedly cited by Israeli officials as part of the broader climate they say emboldened extremists.
Leaders of Shas and United Torah Judaism also condemned the attack, noting that a Chabad rabbi was among those killed. Shas chairman Aryeh Deri said the massacre recalled the horrors of October 7 and cautioned other countries experiencing surges in anti-Jewish hatred. UTJ chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf said that “hatred of Jews knows no borders and erupts wherever incitement and terror are met with a blind eye.”
Criticism of Canberra was not limited to Israel’s governing coalition. Opposition figures joined the chorus, with Naftali Bennett accusing Australia of failure. He said that “failed and weak leadership on antisemitism led to Bondi,” adding, “The writing was on the wall and the government turned a blind eye to it.” Bennett demanded “that the Australian government take immediate action to protect Jewish communities and deal with antisemitism with the utmost seriousness.”
Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White party, warned of the deadly trajectory of unchecked incitement. “What starts with genocidal cries for the destruction of Israel, unsurprisingly ends with arson attacks on synagogues and murderous terror shootings against Jews at a Chanukah event,” he wrote. Echoing others, he said in English that “the writing was on the wall – and despite repeated warnings, the Australian authorities missed it once again,” urging Canberra to “take unprecedented measures to secure and protect their Jewish communities.”
MK Gilad Kariv, who chairs the Knesset Diaspora Affairs Committee, likewise insisted that “the Australian government must act decisively to ensure the safety of Australian Jews and to combat the scourge of antisemitism,” announcing that his committee would take up the issue in parliament.
{Matzav.com}
