Australian Prime Minister says authorities are investigating whether it was a terrorist act
Dec. 6 () –
The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, has called the burning of a synagogue in the Australian city of Melbourne “anti-Semitic” and has blamed the situation on the “anti-Israel attitude of the Labor government” of the country.
“I am deeply shocked by the burning of the synagogue in Melbourne, Australia,” said Netanyahu, who stressed that “it is a typical and despicable anti-Semitic act.” “I hope that the country’s authorities will use all their weight to prevent anti-Semitic attacks of this type in the future,” he said.
However, he noted that “this criminal act cannot be separated from the anti-Israel spirit that emanates from the Australian Labor government”, before giving as an example Canberra’s “scandalous decision” to vote in favor of a United Nations resolution calling for the end of the occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Netanyahu also recalled that Australian authorities denied a visa to former Israeli minister Ayalet Shaked last month due to fears that the prominent far-right could “incite hatred.” “Anti-Israelism is anti-Semitism,” Netanyahu concluded.
The synagogue fire has left at least one person injured, according to Victoria State Police, who are searching for those responsible for the event, described by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as an “act of anti-Semitism.”
“There is no place in Australia for an indignity like this,” he told the press, while pointing out that burning down a synagogue means “attacking the right that all Australians should have to practice their faith in peace and security.”
In addition, he has stated that the Police are investigating whether it was a terrorist attack, while he has defended Australia’s position on Israel, including the aforementioned vote before the United Nations, in line with that of its partners, as reported by the ‘The Australian’ newspaper.
Witnesses to the event notified fire crews, who arrived at the scene of the tragedy shortly after 4:00 a.m. (local time) and found the large fire, which has caused significant damage to the temple. 17 devices and 60 fire department personnel were needed to control the flames.
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