By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel
In the golden glow of Sydney’s Bondi Beach, where waves crash eternally against the shore and families once gathered in carefree joy, a nightmare unfolded on December 14, 2025. As Jews lit the first candle of Hanukkah—a symbol of light triumphing over darkness—two gunmen shattered the night with bullets of hatred.
At least eleven lives were extinguished, including that of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a beloved Chabad emissary whose only crime was fostering community and faith. Among the critically wounded were Arsen Ostrovsky, a tireless human rights lawyer leading the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council in Sydney, and Evan Zlatkis, director of media at the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
Two brave policemen also fell in the line of duty, their heroism a stark contrast to the cowardice of those who let this horror brew unchecked.
This was no random act of violence. It was a targeted terrorist assault on the heart of Australia’s Jewish community, a chilling echo of the October 7, 2023, Hamas onslaught that ignited global flames of antisemitism. And yet, as the world watches in horror, one question burns brighter than any menorah: How could this happen in a nation that prides itself on solidarity, fairness, and freedom? The answer is devastatingly clear—the Australian government, under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, bears direct responsibility.
Their policies of appeasement, their willful blindness to rising Jew-hatred, and their failure to heed repeated warnings result in blood on their hands. It’s time to hold them accountable, not with whispers, but with the thunderous demand for justice.
Let us not mince words: Antisemitism in Australia didn’t erupt overnight. It festered like a cancer, ignored and even indirectly fueled by Canberra’s decisions.
Chants like “Gas the Jews” (evoking the Holocaust) and “Globalize the Intifada” (interpreted as calls for global anti-Jewish violence) have been documented at multiple pro-Palestinian protests in Australia since October 2023. These aren’t just words—they create a permissive environment for extremism. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar directly tied today’s shooting to this “anti-Semitic rampage in the streets… with the anti-Semitic and inciting calls of ‘Globalize the Intifada’ that were realized today.”
Similarly, reports note that such language has “mainstreamed” antisemitism, leading to a timeline of escalating attacks: from vandalism and doxxing to synagogue arsons (e.g., in Melbourne) and now mass murder.
In August 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu penned a scathing letter to Albanese, warning that Australia’s policies were “pouring fuel on this antisemitic fire.” Paraphrasing his words in the aftermath of the Bondi attack, Netanyahu declared that recognizing a Palestinian state in September encouraged “the Jew-hatred now stalking your streets.” He implored Albanese to replace weakness with action, denouncing those who “do not denounce, but instead encourage.” President Isaac Herzog echoed this, condemning the “cruel” shooting and urging Australia to combat the “enormous wave of antisemitism plaguing Australian society.”
These were not isolated voices. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar tweeted that the attack was the grim realization of “anti-Semitic rampage” chants like “Globalize the Intifada,” which had echoed unchecked in Australian streets for two years. He demanded the government “come to its senses” after ignoring “countless warning signs.”
Israel’s Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon revealed there were national threat assessments highlighting the likelihood of such attacks, with antisemitic actions against Jewish institutions intensifying since October 7, 2023. Maimon had publicly warned that physical harm to Jews was inevitable—yet Canberra did nothing.
The statistics scream negligence. A recent report by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) documented 1,654 antisemitic incidents from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025—five times the annual average of the previous decade. This followed 2,062 incidents in the year after October 7. Synagogues torched, communities terrorized, and cries for genocide dismissed as mere protest.
The Diaspora Affairs Ministry didn’t hold back: “The blood of the victims is on the hands of the Australian government.” Led by Minister Amichai Chikli, they accused Canberra of “appeasing the enemies of Western civilization” through “weakness, restraint, and appeasement,” turning Australia into one of the West’s hotspots for antisemitic surges. Repeated appeals met a “wall of indifference.”
Even Australia’s own Jewish leaders and international observers saw the storm coming. Israel’s Immigration Minister Ofir Sofer witnessed “severe and troubling antisemitism” during a visit, decrying the government’s inadequate response. MK Ohad Tal linked the massacre directly to support for terror in the Middle East, warning: “When you support terror there, you get terror in your backyard.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich drew parallels to October 7, demanding firm action to protect Jews. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir pointed the finger at the Palestinian state recognition, arguing it “legitimized terrorism against Jews.” Opposition figures like Naftali Bennett, Benny Gantz, and Gilad Kariv joined the chorus: “The writing was on the wall,” they said, yet the government “turned a blind eye,” allowing genocidal cries to escalate into murder.
This isn’t just about policy—it’s about moral failure. By recognizing a Palestinian state amid ongoing jihadist threats, Australia signaled to extremists that hatred pays dividends. Instead of standing with Israel, the Middle East’s lone democracy and bulwark against terrorism, Canberra chose equivocation. They appeased those who chanted intifada while Jewish Australians lived in fear. How many warnings does a government need before it acts? How many lives must be lost before accountability kicks in?
The Bondi attack is a wake-up call not just for Australia, but for the free world. It exposes the deadly cost of inaction against antisemitism—a hatred that knows no borders, as Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and UTJ’s Yitzhak Goldknopf reminded us, evoking October 7’s horrors. Australia must now face the mirror: Investigate the government’s failures, prosecute those who incited violence, bolster security for Jewish communities, and reverse policies that embolden terrorists. Hold Albanese and his cabinet accountable through inquiries, resignations, and reforms. Anything less dishonors the dead and invites more darkness.
To the victims’ families, to Rabbi Schlanger’s congregation, to every Australian Jew lighting candles in defiance: Your pain is our pain. But from this tragedy, let light prevail. Demand justice. Hold the government accountable. For if we don’t, who will stop the next attack? The time for excuses is over—Australia, it’s time to act.
Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel is spiritual leader of Temple Beth Shalom in Chula Vista, California. This is republished from San Diego Jewish World which along with The Moderate Voice is a member of the
San Diego Online News Association.