Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defends record on anti-Semitism as Liberals increase attack

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has continued to defend his record on anti-Semitism, brushing off suggestions from senior Liberals that he wasn’t doing enough to address the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia.

Federal Liberals have condemned Mr Albanese over his stance on the Middle East War which was sparked by last year’s October 7 attack on Israeli Jews by Hamas, which left many dead and others held hostage.

Former Liberal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has sent a letter to the PM, saying more needed to be done to protect Jewish communities around Australia.

Mr Frydenberg demanded the PM call the fire-bombing an act of terrorism and establish a national police taskforce to curb anti-Semitism.

The former Liberal treasurer stood with ex-Labor senator and Olympic athlete Nova Peris outside the burnt-out Adass Synagogue, calling for action.

“Nova Peris and I stand before you, Christian and Jew, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, former Labor senator, former Liberal minister but most importantly of all, we are both Australian and we are both outraged by the firebombing of the Adass Synagogue,” Mr Frydenberg said.

“Make no mistake, that was an act of anti-Semitism, that was an act of terrorism and it was not an attack on one, it was an attack on all Australians, because as a result of that terrorist attack yesterday we are all less safe.

“If the Prime Minister does not take up this challenge, does not respond to the crisis we face, then what hope do all of us as humble citizens have of effecting equal change if the Prime Minister does not take it upon himself to effect that change.”

Mr Frydenberg also demanded the PM call the fire-bombing an act of terrorism and establish a national police taskforce to curb anti-Semitism.

When asked on Saturday in Perth about the synagogue attacked, Mr Albanese said: “Clearly, it (the attack of the Melbourne synagogue) was aimed at stoking fear in the community, and it was an outrageous act.”

Asked about Mr Frydenberg’s call for a special taskforce to curb ant-Semitism, Mr Albanese said: “I don’t run the Victorian police.”

Mr Albanese revealed he had visited a Perth synagogue on Saturday.

“I have visited a synagogue in the electorate of Perth, to express my solidarity given the atrocity that occurred yesterday morning in Melbourne,” Mr Albanese said.

The PM also released a statement on Saturday, praising the Jewish communities’ “extraordinary contribution to the strength and success of our nation, over generations”.

“Time and time again, they have defied the cowardice and cruelty of antisemitism with courage and resolve,” he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Albanese Government’s move in the UN this week to support Palestinian statehood and demand Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied territories would “invite more terrorism and more anti-Semitism riots at campuses and city centres, including in Australia”.

Overnight, Mr Netanyahu said it was impossible to separate the attack on a Melbourne synagogue from the federal government’s “extreme anti-Israeli position”.

“Including the scandalous decision to support the UN resolution calling on Israel ‘to bring an end to its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as rapidly as possible’, and preventing a former Israeli minister from entering the country,” he wrote on X.

Mr Albanese said 157 countries voted for that resolution, including “4 of the 5 eyes partners Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand as well as Japan and other regional partners”.

“The same resolution was supported by the Howard Government for a number of years,” he said.

“Our vote was consistent with the long held bipartisan position of support for a two-state solution - the State of Israel and a Palestinian state side by side behind secure borders.

“I spoke again with the AFP Commissioner this morning. Our authorities continue to work hard on this and I have made clear we offer full support to VicPol.

WA Liberal senator Michaelia Cash joined Mr Frydenberg on Saturday to demand more action of anti-Semitism.

“Mr Albanese should explain to the Australian people and particularly Jewish Australians why they are less safe now than they were before he was elected,” Senator Cash said.

“Mr Albanese’s failure to defend our friend and ally Israel is a hallmark of his weakness as a leader.

“Mr Albanese’s weak leadership and changing position on Israel has allowed antisemitism to rise to unprecedented levels in our Nation.

“The arson attack on the Adass Synagogue in Melbourne is abhorrent and this horrific behaviour has no place in our country.

“The Prime Minister and his Government should be doing everything possible to stamp out antisemitism in this country.

“The Government’s changing position on Israel is a departure from the long standing bi-partisan position that he said he would adopt before the election.

“These changed positions will only please terrorists and autocratic states who initiated the barbaric attacks of 7 October 2023.

“Labor’s shifting position on Israel is for its own domestic political reasons and does nothing to promote the safety and protection of Jewish Australians.

“Why isn’t Mr Albanese standing up for our values both here at home and in the United Nations?”