Jews or Israelis considering traveling to Australia are being told to “exercise extreme caution” after an arson attack on a synagogue was declared a probable terrorist incident.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organization, issued the travel warning on Tuesday morning Australian time.
The travel warning is “the result of the failure of Australian authorities to address the persistent demonization, harassment and violence against Jews and Jewish institutions in Australia.”
The center sent a letter to the Australian ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, to inform him of its decision.
Rabbi Abraham Cooper said Jews, especially since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, have been attacked around the world and Australia was no exception.
“This latest attack comes just days after Australia voted in favor of a UN resolution demanding that Israel return to its indefensible pre-1967 war borders,” Rabbi Cooper said.
‘Such a resolution, far from strengthening hopes for peace, only emboldens those who seek the disappearance of Israel, who degrade Jewish history and who hate Judaism, Zionism and Zionists.’
Israel itself has placed a level two threat on Australia and is advising travelers to increase precautionary measures since the fire at the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea, southeast of Melbourne, on Friday.
Meanwhile, Australia has told its citizens to reconsider the need to travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories due to the ongoing war in Gaza.
Damage is seen after a bombing of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne on Friday
Books and papers burned after the bombing in the southeast of the city
A man is seen hanging the Australian flag outside the damaged synagogue.
Victoria Police have been criticized for being too slow to act against antisemitism as officers chase people who bombed the synagogue on Friday.
The arson was the final straw in a terrible year for the Jewish community, said Australia’s special envoy to combat antisemitism, Jillian Segal.
The firebomb attack is being investigated as a probable terrorist attack and the Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) is leading the charge as authorities search for three suspects.
“The rise in anti-Semitism is completely unacceptable, but what we need now is a coordinated response,” Ms Segal said on Tuesday, calling for strong action.
“We need policing where people are brought to justice and linked to real processes and sanctions.”
The special envoy did not blame the federal government following criticism that the prime minister had been slow to act, saying there were multiple factors that contributed to the rise in anti-Semitism.
“So far, we haven’t seen very serious penalties applied to anyone who’s been arrested, whether it’s for flying a banned flag or anything like that,” he said.
Members of the Jewish community are seen reading messages outside the synagogue.
“We are sorry for what happened,” says a handwritten note on a bouquet left outside.
“That has set the tone of permissiveness in our community and it has been a combination of government, police, law enforcement, the judicial system and the community at large.”
Segal welcomed the federal government’s strong condemnation and establishment of a taskforce dedicated to antisemitism before meeting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Parliament on Tuesday.
Laws to ensure perpetrators are held accountable and education were key topics to be addressed at the meeting, he said.
It was an issue that had to transcend politics, he added, as the coalition launched attacks on the prime minister for his response.
The fire’s terror declaration opens up a host of additional powers for investigators, including the ability to stop, search and capture people without a warrant, as well as detain and question those they believe have knowledge of or links to the attack.
The JCTT is made up of state and federal police and ASIO officers.