Anthony Albanese commits $8.5m to Sydney Jewish Museum

Anthony Albanese has condemned a “disgraceful incident” attack in Sydney, where a car was torched and houses vandalised with anti-Israel slogans.

Anthony Albanese has called for Australians to “stand together” against anti-Semitism after a second menacing attack on the Jewish community in a week, saying everyone had a “right” to feel safe.

But the Prime Minister’s government was expected to undermine his message of unity overnight, with Australia due to vote “yes” for two United Nations resolutions — one demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and the other backing a controversial Palestine aid agency UNRWA.

While the ceasefire motion will include the need the immediate release of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, it does not condemn Hamas or demand the terror group lay down its arms — two points Australia was expected to make in its vote explanation.

Labor has been criticised by Jewish groups and the Coalition for not aligning with the US and Israel on key Middle East votes, with the government instead opting to support any resolution that broadly aligns with the goal of a peaceful two-state solution.

Ahead of the vote, Mr Albanese said such a solution “cannot involve Hamas” and “needs to involve security for the State of Israel, as well as justice for Palestinians”.

Anthony Albanese talks to members of the local Jewish community during a visit to the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne. Photo: AFP Photo

Mr Albanese condemned the “disgraceful incident” in Sydney where a car was torched and houses vandalised with anti-Israel slogans in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

In the wake of the attack — just days after a Melbourne synagogue was firebombed — Mr Albanese stood alongside senior minister Tanya Plibersek and Wentworth MP Allegra Spender at the Sydney Jewish Museum to announce $8.5m in federal funding to establish a Centre of Jewish Life and Tolerance.

But the Coalition, which had pledged to fund the same centre in October, has criticised the government for being slow to respond to Australia’s anti-Semitism crisis.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke visited the site of the Sydney incident after also going to the burnt out Adass Israel Synagogue on Tuesday, saying the “destruction” had “absolutely no place in Australia”.

Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said the PM’s “platitudes” on anti-Semitism were undercut by his failure to dress down Foreign Minister Penny Wong for her comments this week comparing Israel’s leadership with China and Russia.

“Let’s ignore all of (Mr Albanese’s) platitudes about standing with the Jewish community,” Mr Paterson said.

“It will be proven to be hollow if he doesn’t haul Penny Wong in and reprimand her over this reckless and offensive speech because it’s getting worse out there.”

Mr Albanese stood by Ms Wong as someone who understood “first hand the damage that racism can cause”.

Magney street in Woollahra where a car was set alight and Israel graffiti was sprayed on garage walls.

Mr Albanese said he condemned the recent “shameful acts of violence” aimed at Australia’s Jewish community, urging people to “stand together against anti-Semitism”.

He said one of the things that made Australia the “greatest nation on earth” was people of “every faith and background have the right to feel safe”.

“We must preserve that and defend it and my government will,” Mr Albanese said.

Special envoy for social cohesion Peter Khalil called for Opposition leader Peter Dutton to “put politics aside” and show a “united front” with Mr Albanese.

“This would send a clear message of unity to the Jewish community, to wider Australia, and to the small group of people who think they can get away with committing acts of violence that Australia utterly rejects their actions, and that they will be brought to justice with the full force of the law,” Mr Khalil said.

Wills MP Peter Khalil. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Meanwhile, Adass community members fear the synagogue rebuild, which could cost as much as $10 million, may not be covered by insurance if it was officially listed as a terrorist attack.

Mr Albanese committed to “providing whatever support is necessary financially,” but did not specify the amount.

So far the synagogue has received a $250,000 grant to replace damaged religiously significant Torah scrolls – ancient handwritten parchment scrolls that hold deep historical meaning to the community.

Macnamara MP Josh Burns said the he sight of burnt scrolls was “reminiscent of the worst of Jewish collective memory”.

“But we cannot let hate win,” he said.

“The cowardly people who committed this terror attack want us to shy away, but this first announcement shows we will rebuild the synagogue stronger and more vibrant than ever.”

Originally published as Anthony Albanese commits $8.5m to Sydney Jewish Museum