Synagogue set ablaze while 20 people worshipped inside— The Australian PM promises attackers will face the “full force of the law” as antisemitic violence escalates across the country.
At a Glance
- An arson attack targeted a Melbourne synagogue on Friday night while approximately 20 people were inside observing Shabbat.
- On the same night, a Jewish-owned restaurant in the city was also attacked by what reports described as “pro-Palestinian rioters.”
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the synagogue attack as a “cowardly” act of “violence and antisemitism.”
- The attack is the second synagogue arson in Melbourne in recent months and comes amid a surge of antisemitic incidents in Australia.
An Act of Attempted Murder
A peaceful Shabbat service turned into a scene of terror in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday night when an arsonist set fire to the front door of a synagogue while approximately 20 people were praying inside. The worshippers managed to escape unharmed through a back exit as the fire took hold. This was not mere vandalism; it was a calculated act of attempted mass murder.
The attack was not an isolated incident. On the same night, a Jewish-owned restaurant in Melbourne was also attacked. The rising tide of violence against the Jewish community in Australia has reached a terrifying new level.
“Too Little, Too Late?”
In response to the attack, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued a strong condemnation. “Last night’s arson attack on the synagogue in east Melbourne is cowardly, is an act of violence and antisemitism, and has no place in Australian society,” Albanese declared. He promised the perpetrators would “face the full force of the law.”
Antisemitism has no place in Australia. Those responsible for the shocking acts in Melbourne last night must face the full force of the law and my Government will provide all necessary support toward this effort. pic.twitter.com/jyFO2odHgK
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 5, 2025
However, as reported by the BBC, this is the second synagogue to be targeted by arson in Melbourne in recent months. A previous attack in December 2024 led the government to create a special federal task force. The fact that another synagogue is now burning raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the government’s response.
A Predictable Escalation
For many in the Jewish community, this violence is the predictable result of unchecked anti-Israel rhetoric that has been allowed to fester and morph into blatant antisemitism. “These events are a severe escalation directed towards our community,” said Alex Ryvchin of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also weighed in, stating, “I view with utmost gravity the antisemitic attacks that occurred last night in Melbourne,” according to the Jamaica Observer.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
"I view with utmost gravity the antisemitic attacks that occurred last night in Melbourne, which included attempted arson of a synagogue in the city and a violent assault against an Israeli restaurant by pro-Palestinian rioters.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) July 5, 2025
The attack is a stark reminder that the demonization of Israel in progressive and academic circles inevitably leads to violence against Jews in their own communities, thousands of miles from the Middle East conflict. While the government in Canberra promises action, the Jewish community in Australia is left to wonder if it is too little, too late.
