An arson attack on Melbourne’s Adass Israel synagogue early Friday morning sent worshippers fleeing for their lives and was rightly condemned as an “act of hate” by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Sixty-plus firefighters were dispatched to the synagogue, which was fully engulfed in flames upon their arrival. Worshippers inside for morning prayers reportedly saw firebombs thrown by masked attackers, with one person injured and extensive damage to the building.
Watch: The devastating aftermath inside the synagogue in Melbourne, Australia, that was burned by Pro-Palestinians as an act of solidarity with Hamas and Gaza.
Is this what diversity looks like?pic.twitter.com/vIHbW8ae07— Liza Rosen (@LizaRosen0000) December 6, 2024
Benjamin Klein, a member of the synagogue board, recounted the terrifying moment to The Age: “They heard banging on the door and the window, and some liquids came through which were lit. The whole thing took off pretty quickly.” Holy books, furniture, and sacred artifacts, including a Torah scroll brought to Australia during World War II, were either damaged or destroyed. Yet, in the face of devastation, the congregation demonstrated resilience by forming a human chain to save what could be salvaged, vowing to rebuild their sacred space.
This attack, described as an act of anti-Semitism by Albanese, underscores the rising threat facing Jewish communities worldwide. The Prime Minister lamented, “To attack a place of worship is an attack on Australian values. To attack a synagogue is an act of anti-Semitism.” The timing of this heinous act is no coincidence. According to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, anti-Semitic incidents have skyrocketed by 316 percent in the past year, fueled by the ongoing war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hamas terrorist group in Gaza.
The charred remains of books inside a Melbourne synagogue that was set on fire earlier today.
The synagogue was built by Holocaust survivors who have seen this before in their lives. pic.twitter.com/kTmQbG0KqH
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) December 6, 2024
And let’s not ignore the broader context: Australia’s recent diplomatic flip-flopping on Israel at the United Nations hasn’t exactly helped matters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has warned that this kind of weak-kneed appeasement encourages anti-Semitic riots and terrorism. As Breitbart News has reported, these policy shifts send the wrong message, emboldening those who wish to harm Jewish communities.
The left’s obsession with pandering to the globalist elites and ignoring the real threats of anti-Semitic violence is proving costly. Under the Trump administration, Israel enjoyed unwavering support, and acts of hate against Jewish communities were met with swift condemnation and action. As Trump prepares to return to office, you can bet his administration will once again stand firmly with Israel and against the forces of hatred and terrorism. This synagogue will be rebuilt, but the question remains: will Australia’s leaders stand firm against hate, or will they continue their spineless waffling? One thing’s for sure—America, under strong leadership, will always lead by example.
More than 60 firefighters have fought a blaze ignited after a suspected arson attack at a Melbourne synagogue early on Friday morning. Latest: https://t.co/eWT9sXsSwJ pic.twitter.com/DpWVr7QWHN
— The Australian (@australian) December 5, 2024
