An arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne last week is being investigated as terrorist incident, Australian officials said Monday, as the government announced it was establishing a new task force to combat antisemitism. <\/p>\n
The Adass Israel Synagogue in the city\u2019s south \u2013 one of Australia\u2019s most significant Jewish centers \u2013 burst into flames early on Friday sending worshippers fleeing during overnight prayers. <\/p>\n
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton on Monday said the \u201chorrific, callous and targeted\u201d attack was \u201clikely a terrorist incident\u201d and would be investigated by a joint counter-terrorism team including Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). <\/p>\n
Patton said police were searching for three suspects in connection with the firebombing but would not go into detail about their identities or whether they were known to police. <\/p>\n
There was no evidence to suggest there would be any more attacks against other synagogues in Melbourne, said Patton, who added that officers would continue to patrol areas with a large Jewish population. <\/p>\n
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Friday\u2019s fire at the Melbourne synagogue was the third antisemitic attack in recent months. <\/p>\n
The Australian Federal Police had established a special task force called Operation Avalite to respond to the attacks, which include a fire at a Jewish minister\u2019s Melbourne office and vandalism targeting cars in a Jewish area of Sydney. <\/p>\n
AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said the national force would play a greater role in policing threats, violence and hatred toward the Jewish community. <\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, in Australia today those of Jewish ethnicity and religion are being targeted because of who they are,\u201d he said. \u201cThe AFP will not tolerate crimes that undermine Australia\u2019s security or our way of life.\u201d <\/p>\n
On the weekend, the Albanese government committed an extra 32.5 million Australian dollars (close to $21 million) to increase security at Jewish community sites across the country, including synagogues and schools. <\/p>\n
Jewish communities across Australia have called out a drastic increase in antisemitic attacks since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023 and Israel\u2019s ensuing war in Gaza. <\/p>\n
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the Melbourne attack as \u201can abhorrent act of antisemitism,\u201d and linked the firebombing to the Australian government\u2019s support of a United Nations resolution calling on Israel to end all hostilities in Gaza. <\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, it is impossible to separate this reprehensible act from the extreme anti-Israeli position of the Labor government in Australia, including the scandalous decision to support the UN resolution calling on Israel \u2018to bring an end to its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as rapidly as possible,\u2019\u201d the Prime Minister\u2019s Office statement said on Friday. <\/p>\n
The statement also pointed to Australia\u2019s decision to stop former Israeli minister Ayelet Shaked from entering the country for a speaking tour. Australia\u2019s home affairs minister said Shaked was denied a visa over fears her presence would undermine social cohesion. <\/p>\n
Of the UN vote, Albanese said Monday that Australia cast its vote along with 157 nations \u2013 including most of its Five Eyes partners \u2013 and that its position on the conflict hadn\u2019t changed. <\/p>\n
\u201cAustralia has had for a long period of time \u2026 a bipartisan position for a two-state solution in the Middle East \u2026 that is still my government\u2019s position,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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