Jewish leaders are demanding police and politicians take a stronger line on antisemitism after anti-Israel slogans were spraypainted on cars and buildings and a ute torched in the heart of Sydney’s Jewish community, causing about $100,000 in damage.

Police labelled the vandalism spree brazen and a hate crime while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned it as “deeply troubling” on Thursday, as Jewish Australians living in Sydney’s eastern suburbs remained on edge.