Residents of Woollahra, a suburb in eastern Sydney, have been left to confront another round of anti-Semitic hate crimes, as multiple cars and a building in the area were vandalised by criminals on December 11. This is separate from the recent arson attack on the Adass Israel synagogue.

These attacks highlight a rising tide of discrimination and violence against Jewish communities in Australia, along with heightened risks of terrorist acts across the country, with many calling on the federal government to take a stronger stance against these acts of terror.

A joint statement issued by the Hon. Steve Camper, MP, Minister for Multiculturalism, Nick Kaldas, APM, Chair of the Multicultural NSW Advisory Board, and Joseph La Posta, Chief Executive Officer of Multicultural NSW, appeals to Australians to uphold our multifaith society by rejecting violence.

“The events which took place in Woollahra overnight are nothing short of abhorrent. We unequivocally condemn violence and antisemitism in all its forms.

We will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure our communities are protected.”

This joint statement from three of the state’s authorities on multiculturalism urges Australians to “reject the importation of overseas conflict” and “respond to issues as a unified community, as Australians.”

A spokesperson from the Woollahra Municipal Council condemned the recent attack on the local community, particularly on Jewish residents, who make up nearly 14%[1] of the area’s religious population.

“Woollahra Council condemns the second vile anti-Israel graffiti attack and torching of a vehicle in Woollahra and has called on the Premier of NSW and the Prime Minister to work together to put an immediate stop to this kind of hateful behaviour that threatens the safety of our local community and that has no place in Australia.”

Despite the clear political and religious intent used to intimidate members of Australia’s Jewish communities across Sydney since October, and more recently at Melbourne’s Adass Israel synagogue, both the NSW government and the federal government have been hesitant to label these crimes as acts of terrorism.

Oz Arab Media has reached out to the Jewish Council of Australia, the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council Media Team and the Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) for further comment.

[1] Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2024). Woollahra Latest release, 2021 Census All Persons. Australian Bureau of Statistics. https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/LGA18500