Frank
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The Prime Minister says anti-Israel vandalism overnight in Sydney’s eastern suburbs is “disturbing” and “deeply troubling”.
A car was torched and up to a dozen others vandalised with anti-Israel graffiti in an early morning attack in a prominent Jewish area of Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Police and fire crews arrived at Wellington St in Woollahra shortly before 1am after receiving multiple reports of a car on fire. Fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze, but the car was destroyed.
“There is no place for anti-Semitism in Australia,” Anthony Albanese said.
“Conflict overseas cannot be made a platform for prejudice at home. I have trust in our law enforcement agencies to deal with this.”
A large number of cars in surrounding streets had been spray-painted with the words “f**k Israel.”
The door of a unit complex in Ocean Street was also graffitied as was the Matt Moran-owned restaurant Chiswick. The celebrated restaurateur arrived at the premises on Monday morning, grim-faced, to inspect the damage.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said “the antisemitic attack in Woollahra last night was absolutely deplorabe. It is unacceptable, un-Australian, and it will not be tolerated.”
Local resident Elliott Spira, a member of the Jewish community who woke to find cars vandalised on his doorstep, said he was “sad and disappointed but not surprised” by the attack.
“I feel less and less safe since the Oct 7 attacks - there’s a lot of resentment and anger, a lot of hatred has come out of the woodwork, “ Mr Spira said.
“As a father, it’s pretty horrible, a lot of parents are worried about the future their kids will grow up in and this is just pouring kerosene on that fire for me.
“I’m glad my son doesn’t understand what’s going on - he’s too young to ask questions, but it’s a pretty horrible reality.
“There hasn’t been a strong message from the Labor government. Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong, they’ve really emboldened and haven’t taken a strong enough position against this type of behaviour, that you can do this sort of thing and get away with it.”
“My wife and I have a lot of concern for our young ones, wanting to make sure they’re afforded the same opportunities we are, so if you think about how much the average Australian worries about cost of living and so on, imagine waking up and finding this outside your building. It’s a big middle finger right at you, and not a great feeling. I’m worried about what it will be like for my boy growing up.”
Make no mistake: this is not just an attack on property. This is an attack on people. An attack on families. An attack on our democracy, our values, and everything Australia stands for.
“History has taught us that silence emboldens hate. All elected leaders must condemn this evil. The Jewish community stands united, strong, and unshaken. We have faced hatred before, and each time we have emerged stronger. This time will be no different.”
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