Andrew L. Urban
“I am deeply and profoundly sorry that we could not protect your loved ones from this evil,” Anthony Albanese said during the Light Will Win – A Gathering of Unity and Remembrance vigil at the Sydney Opera House to mark the national day of mourning (Jan. 22, 2026) for victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack. About bloody time! But way too short of the apology that is needed; the Bondi massacre was not the only attack on the Jewish community that caused pain and suffering and for which he is at least partly culpable through faults of omission and commission. Our report on how Albanese lit the path to the Bondi massacre is here and provides context for the attacks (below) on Jews for which Albanese has yet to take responsibility, in whole or in part.
Antisemitic incidents in Australia quadrupled after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, compared with the year prior — rising from hundreds to over 2,000 reported incidents in the 12 months to Sept. 30, 2024. Between Oct 2024 and Sept 2025, around 1,654 incidents were recorded, still about three to four times pre-2023 levels. These incidents include physical assaults, vandalism and graffiti, verbal abuse, threats, and antisemitic propaganda. These were all hurtful, painful and intimidatory to Jews.
Jewish students across multiple universities reported harassment, intimidation, and hostile environments at pro-Palestinian protests and occupation events. Albanese, as the most senior politician in Australia, could have confronted these aggressive anti-Jewish students with forceful admonitions but didn’t.
In early October 2023, pro-Palestinian rallies in Sydney and other cities saw chants and slogans targeting Jews, including obscenities and calls against Jewish people. Some demonstrations included inflammatory and threatening language such as “Gas the Jews” and abuse directed at visibly Jewish attendees. Extremist fringe groups with neo-Nazi symbols and slogans held demonstrations in Sydney, displaying antisemitic banners and chants such as “abolish the Jewish lobby.” Where was the outrage from Albanese?
Recorded incidents of verbal abuse and threats were widespread, with abusive shouting, slurs, chants, and online harassment directed at Jewish individuals and communities. In February 2024, the doxxing (publication of personal details) of nearly 600 Australian Jewish creatives and academics occurred after online activists leaked contact data, leading to threats and workplace targeting. Strong admonitionment by Albanese would have been welcomed by all Australians.
Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne was firebombed and largely destroyed in late 2024; police treated it as a suspected terror attack. Overall, his public stance involved unequivocal condemnation of the antisemitic nature of the attack, classification as terrorism, pledges of support for the affected community, and later linking it to foreign state involvement. Some critics, including parts of the Jewish community and political opponents, argued his initial response or visit was delayed or insufficient.
Jewish cars, homes, businesses, and institutions were vandalised or set on fire with antisemitic graffiti in both Sydney and Melbourne.
A Jewish childcare centre in Sydney was firebombed with hate messages. Incidents of vehicles chasing Jewish teens with Nazi salutes and hate slogans were reported in Melbourne in January 2026. The harassment of Jews continued.
For over two years, this egregious Jew hatred manifest on Australia’s streets. Yes, there were words of condemnation (sometimes sounding more like weather reports) but the leadership to arrest them was not there. While these attacks continued, the Albanese government skewered Israel, voted against it at the UN and favoured Palestinians. That was his official policy.