Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been criticized for being tone-deaf after telling Jewish community leaders that “Arabs are having a very hard time right now”.
The Prime Minister made the comments after an anti-Semitic attack in Woollahra last month, in which graffiti was sprayed on cars and buildings, including celebrity chef Matt Moran’s Chiswick restaurant, and a car was set on fire.
Since then there have been two more attacks, one involving the bombing of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne on December 6 as Jews gathered to pray, injuring one person, and another graffiti attack and car burning in Woollahra on December 11.
Jewish leaders were reportedly taken aback by Mr. Albanese’s words and commented on them, but the prime minister’s office said he had been calling for unity and the quote did not convey the tone of the conversation.
Sky News presenter Sharri Markson said on social media that the Prime Minister’s comment highlighted the Labor leader’s “knee-jerk feeling to talk about how hard the Arab community is doing when the country is experiencing a crisis of antisemitism.” .
Viewers have similar opinions with one saying he “just can’t help it.”
‘A lazy Prime Minister… who allows hate speech in the streets and groups our pain with that of the Arabs. “Shows a complete lack of understanding,” wrote another.
“Aren’t we just seeing the tip of the underlying iceberg of anti-Semitism?” added a third.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has come under fire after telling Jewish leaders that “the Arabs were doing it too hard.”
The Prime Minister made the comments following an attack in November in Woollahra, Sydney, in which a car was set on fire (pictured).
Anti-Israel graffiti was also sprayed on cars and a popular Sydney restaurant in November.
On Tuesday, Albanese met with the Jewish community outside the Adass Israel Synagogue at Ripponlea and was He was greeted with an irritated reception, including a woman who shouted from the crowd that his appearance was “cheap and late.”
“People have come to Australia because we are a peaceful country,” Albanese told the crowd.
“We are a country that respects people of different religions and we are enriched by our diversity here.”
His government this week reaffirmed its commitment to the Jewish community, including announcing $32.5 million in funding for the Executive Council of Australian Jews to improve security at places such as schools and synagogues.
“This is a time when the country should be looking for national unity, not looking for areas of distinction and difference on every issue,” Mr Albanese said.
‘I would have thought that all Australians would be horrified by what happened last Friday and would be equally willing to condemn and oppose it. He’s not Australian, I’ve already said that. “It is designed to create fear in the community and it must be opposed.”
On Thursday, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of a permanent and unconditional ceasefire, the release of hostages, the delivery of humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians, including children.
The motion was passed with 158 members, including Australia, voting in favor and nine against, and 13 abstaining in an emergency session on Thursday.
Australia’s ambassador to the UN, James Larsen, said: The demand for complete, rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian assistance to Gaza was urgent.
“Israel must take urgent measures to alleviate this humanitarian crisis,” he said.
The Prime Minister speaks to members of the local Jewish community during a visit to the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne on December 10.
The shell of the synagogue after being set on fire as Jews gathered to pray on December 6
Housing Minister Clare O’Neil leaves flowers at the synagogue on December 10.
The Executive Council of Australian Jews criticized the motion, saying an unconditional ceasefire would mean Israel would have to abandon the hostages “and allow Hamas terrorists to reestablish themselves as de facto rulers of Gaza.”
“No country in the world should be expected to betray its own citizens as Israel is being asked to do,” said President Daniel Aghion.
Australia also voted in favor of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in a second motion that passed with 159 votes in favour, nine against and 11 abstentions.
The motion called for the Israeli Knesset to repeal laws prohibiting the agency from operating in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which included Gaza and the West Bank.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has repeatedly stated that the agency was the only one with the capacity to distribute aid on the scale needed in Gaza.