Australia: Suspected Arson Damages Melbourne Synagogue

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Dec 06, 2024

Above: Synagogue members recover items from the Adass Israel Synagogue on Dec. 06, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. Image copyright: Asanka Ratnayake/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Imagesstory last updated Dec 07

The Facts

Melbourne's Adass Israel Synagogue suffered significant damage in a suspected arson attack Friday morning, injuring two in what Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese "unequivocally" condemned as an act of hate.
Victoria state police, citing early-morning worshippers, called the incident a deliberate act and alleged that it was carried out by two masked men who spread accelerant inside the building during prayers before setting off the blaze.

The Spin

Narrative A

Australia's Jewish artists, professionals, and businesses are facing an unprecedented surge of antisemitic harassment, threats, and discrimination. The government must adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's antisemitism definition, enact robust anti-hate legislation, empower the police to act against racial incitement, and unequivocally protect Jewish citizens from escalating targeted violence.

Narrative B

While Australia confronts rising antisemitism, the government must carefully balance protecting Jewish Australians with preserving free speech. Surveys show overwhelming public support and tolerance for Jews. This suggests that measured and nuanced approaches, which don't conflate legitimate criticism of Israel with antisemitism, are crucial to maintaining Australia's multicultural harmony.