Bondi Beach Attack and Rising Antisemitism in Australia

On Sunday, a shooting occurred during a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's Bondi Beach, resulting in fatalities and injuries. This event took place amidst a documented increase in antisemitic incidents across Australia since October 7, 2023, following the Hamas-led assault on Israel and the subsequent conflict in Gaza.

Statistical Overview of Antisemitic Incidents

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry reported over 3,700 anti-Jewish incidents in Australia during the two years subsequent to the Hamas attack. This rate represents a fivefold increase compared to the decade preceding the attack. Reported incidents included anti-Israel graffiti, arson, and the destruction of a synagogue in Melbourne.

Similar increases in antisemitic attacks have been observed in other countries, though Australia's rise was noted as particularly sharp. Jewish leaders convened in Sydney earlier in the month to address these concerns. Marina Rosenberg, a senior vice president for international affairs at the Anti-Defamation League, commented that these events in Australia serve as a global 'wake-up call,' linking threats to Jewish safety with 'democratic stability.'

Government Responses and Allegations

The Australian government previously attributed arson attacks on a Melbourne synagogue and a Sydney kosher food company in 2023 to Iran.

Following the Bondi Beach shooting, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese characterized the event as an 'act of antisemitic terrorism,' stating it was a 'targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah.' In response to the Bondi Beach incident, major cities internationally implemented increased security measures for their own Hanukkah events.

Demographics and Policy Initiatives

Australia's Jewish population is approximately 117,000, constituting less than 0.5% of the national population.

In 2024, Australia established a special envoy to combat antisemitism. This envoy endorsed a wide-ranging campaign, including initiatives on college campuses and within the media. The implementation of this plan generated criticism, with some arguments suggesting it risked conflating antisemitism with criticism of Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza. A commentary published by the University of New South Wales' Australian Human Rights Institute acknowledged the rise in antisemitic incidents but cautioned that not all criticism of Israel is motivated by anti-Jewish sentiment.

International Relations and Reactions

In September, Australia joined Canada and the United Kingdom in granting recognition to the state of Palestine. This action was taken with the stated aim of building momentum for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Following the Bondi Beach shooting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented that Australia's recognition of a Palestinian state 'pours fuel on the antisemitic fire.'