Home Affairs minister Tony Burke suggests terror motive as Netanyahu slams ‘reprehensible anti-Semitic attacks’
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lashed out at the “severe hate crimes” and called for the Australian Government to do more protect the Jewish community.
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Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has labelled Friday night’s attacks on a Melbourne synagogue and popular Israeli restaurant as hate crimes, as the federal government suggests the East Melbourne blaze was an act of terror.
Three cars were also set on fire at a factory in Greensborough and sprayed with pro-Palestine slogans in a separate attack among the three-hour city rampage.
Mr Netanyahu said the “reprehensible” attacks were “severe hate crimes that must be uprooted”.
“I view with utmost gravity the anti-Semitic attacks that occurred … in Melbourne,” he said in a statement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) July 5, 2025
"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.
“The State of Israel will continue to stand alongside the Australian Jewish community, and we demand that the Australian government take all action to deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law and prevent similar attacks in the future”.
Speaking outside the Albert St synagogue on Sunday morning, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke indicated the fire had likely been motivated by wish to instil terror in the Jewish community.
Victoria Police have yet to establish a motive.
Angelo Loras, 34, from Toongabbie was on Saturday night arrested by counter-terrorism police as part of their investigation into the blaze.
Mr Burke said: “I think every Australian has a view, and we probably all have the same view as to where that will end up, but we leave that with the Victorian Police.”
He said there was nothing to suggest the three incidents on Friday were part of a planned attack.
“The only link is one of anti-Semitism,” he said.
Mr Burke declined to respond to Mr Netanyahu’s remarks, saying unity was more important than political sparring.
Mr Burke said there was “no place for anti-Semitism in Australia” and condemned the harm caused to the Jewish community.
“There’s been some reporting that no one was physically injured – that doesn’t mean no one was harmed. The community here was harmed. The Jewish community in Australia was harmed, and we were harmed as a nation,” he said.
“Any chant that begins with the word death, is steeped in bigotry,” he said of the ‘Death to the IDF’ chants from the mob outside Miznon restaurant.
But Mr Burke would not be drawn on whether more money would be given to police to help tackle the rise in such attacks.
“The investment that has already happened in terms of additional security measures ... has been part of the story of this (alleged) offender being captured so quickly,” he said.
Pro-Palestine protesters: ‘We are not associated in any way’
Pro-Palestinian protestors on Sunday condemned the arson attack on the East Melbourne Synagogue and rejected any association with recent anti-Semitic attacks.
Free Palestine Melbourne rally MC Scheherazade Bloul addressed protestors outside the State Library of Victoria on Sunday, emphasising the organisation’s “firm” stance against anti-Semitism.
“The fight against anti-Semitism is the same fight against racism and against white supremacy that we all fight everyday,” Ms Bloul said.
“We are not associated in any way with this attack on the East Melbourne Synagogue.
“It is divisive and harmful for politicians and the media to be conflating the… Palestinian movement and the attack on the synagogue.”
A Jews Against Facism spokeswoman read out an official statement regarding Friday night’s attacks, stating speculation about “who did what” was “unhelpful”.
“We should stay committed to truth and material analysis and evidence, not conjecture,” the spokeswoman said.
“That is what distinguishes us from the right (and) speculation risks undermining that principled approach.
“We need to reject liberal moralism and reactionary panic.”
Hundreds of protestors proceeded to march down Swanston St, from the State Library to the Flinders St intersection, calling for ceasefire in Gaza.
A number of pro-Palestinian protesters brandished signs reading “death to the IDF” (Israeli Defence Force) at the Melbourne rally, despite multiple speakers condemning the acts of anti-Semitism on Friday.
The phrase was also reportedly chanted by some protesters during the march on Sunday.
Streets away on the steps of Parliament House, Liberal MP David Southwick called for anti-Israel protestors to be “locked up”.
Joined by fellow Liberal MP Renee Heath and Opposition leader Brad Battin on Sunday, Mr Southwick addressed hundreds of Hindu, Iranian, and Jewish protestors who had gathered in Melbourne’s CBD to honour victims of terrorism.
The Seekers’ I Am Australian and John Farnham’s You’re The Voice were two of many songs that blared down Spring St before speeches began at the “United Against Terror” rally.
Identical rallies were expected to take place simultaneously across Australia, including in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.
“We cannot have people inciting evil, walking down the streets hunting Jews, hunting anybody,” Mr Southwick said.
“Nobody should be chanting to kill anybody. That should be illegal (and) anybody that is organising these things, to incite hate and to chant to kill people, should be locked up.”
It comes after a group of up to 20 masked protestors ransacked an Israeli restaurant in Melbourne on Friday night, chanting “death to the IDF”.
Mr Southwick condemned the Victorian government for “failing” to protect the Jewish community.
“No matter who you are, no matter where you come from, no matter what your background, the government’s one job is to protect the people and this government has failed,” he added.
“Today, we come together as proud Victorians standing up against hate, whether it is the Iranian community, the Hindu community, the Jewish community, or just everyday Australians that say enough is enough.”
Rally MC and Lions of Zion co-founder Isaac celebrated the union of the three communities for the first time on Sunday.
“This is the first time that we’ve seen these three wonderful communities come together to stand against terrorism, and even though our reason for being here is somber, let’s take heart in the fact that by coming together, we’re laying a stronger foundation for the children of this world,” he said.
The peaceful rally - which was organised by 15 groups including Minority Impact, the Iran Novin Party, Hindus of Australia, and the Australian Jewish Association - concluded with the Australian national anthem before the crowd dispersed about 3.15pm.
Jewish community pleads for ‘hate to stop’
Victoria’s Jewish community is pleading with the Allan government to do more to protect its members and places of worship, while former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg said: “The hate has to stop’’.
Mr Frydenberg said there could be “no leave pass for our leaders” in the wake of another “senseless and violent” attack on the Jewish community.
“The incitement and the hate has to stop and words are not enough,” he said.
“Real action with real consequences for those who hurt and those who harm is what the public expects and more importantly what the public needs.”
“Nothing less than Australia’s reputation as a safe place for people of all faiths is at stake.’’
Friday night’s attack involved a coalition of 70 anti-police activists gathered in Swanston St demanding Victoria Police attend no further protests in the city.
The anti-police rally was promoted by the Whistleblower, Activists and Communities Alliance, the Black People’s Union, Total Liberation Alliance and a man dubbed “Charlie the Commie”.
Members of those groups came together after a huge social media call-out urged activists to flood the city in support.
“After repeated, unprovoked assaults by Victoria Police at peaceful protests, we’ve had enough,” the group said.
A “splinter group” of about 20 hardcore pro-Palestinian supporters then headed to Miznon restaurant in Hardware Lane where they entered the restaurant, throwing chairs and food and shouting “death to the IDF”, the Israeli military.
One of the activists who spoke at the No Police at Protests rally earlier in the night was spotted among the mob at Miznon.
Photos capture the activist sticking up her middle finger at restaurant goers.
Earlier in the night, she had declared: “Cops do not keep us safe, we keep us safe.”
Police had to secure the restaurant and form a barrier to protect staff and patrons.
Detectives on Saturday released a clear CCTV image of a man wanted for questioning over the attempted arson at the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation in Albert St, which occurred about half an hour before the incident at the city restaurant.
Police say a man was filmed pouring an accelerant over the front door of the synagogue before setting it ablaze but it largely failed to ignite while about 20 people were inside observing the Sabbath.
He was on Saturday night charged with reckless conduct endanger life, reckless conduct endanger serious injury, criminal damage by fire and possess a controlled weapon.
Counter-terrorism police called in to investigate
The force have so far declined to label Friday’s attack as an act of terror, instead calling it a “serious criminal investigation” for the time being.
“Unless we know their intent, we’re really not in a position to class it as a terrorist incident at this stage,” Commander Zorka Dunstan said.
However, Ms Dunstan said counter-terrorism command was assisting with investigations.
“Our investigators across all three incidents are liaising with our counter-terrorism command to understand whether there are any links,” Dunstan said.
“At this stage we are not aware of any links, but we are not discounting them.”
East Melbourne Synagogue rabbi Dovid Gutnik said children and families could have been seriously hurt in the arson.
“It could have been a lot worse because those doors are wooden and there’s carpet, so we were lucky the response was quick,” he said.
Jewish Community Council chief executive Naomi Levin said she and her community had been disappointed by the Allan government’s response to rising levels of anti-Semitism in Victoria.
“They opened the door a year and a half ago by not being strong enough against anti-Semitism when we saw it start rising after the October 7 attacks in Israel,” she said.
“We’ve had a lot of issues with leadership here.”
Premier Jacinta Allan did not visit the synagogue yesterday and is not due to visit today but said Friday’s acts were “disgraceful” and committed by “a pack of cowards”.
“Every Victorian deserves to live in peace and dignity, but the acts we saw last night at the East Melbourne Synagogue – and elsewhere in the city – are designed to shatter that peace and traumatise Jewish families,” she said.
Prominent Jewish community advocate Menachem Vorchheimer said it “speaks volumes” that Ms Allan and Chief Commissioner Mike Bush did not attend the synagogue on Saturday.
“They should have made it their No. 1 priority,” he said.
Police will boost their presence on Sunday as pro-Palestine protesters again hit the streets in the CBD at the Free Palestine Coalition Naarm Melbourne rally.
They said protesters would march from the State Library to Flinders St.
A separate rally is expecting members of the Hindu, Iranian and Jewish communities to “come together for a peaceful rally and candlelight vigil” in Spring St at 2pm.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “anti-Semitism has no place in Australia.
“Those responsible for these shocking acts must face the full force of the law and my government will provide all necessary support towards this effort,” he said.
Victorian Police Minister Anthony Carbines said every resource would be directed towards catching the offenders.
“Those that think they can set fire to a place of worship overnight that is full of worshippers, that is a heinous act, a horrific act, a criminal act – people will be held to account for it,” he said.
In the wake of the Adass Israel firebombing, Ms Allan pledged to bring in laws designed to crack down on violent protests outside of places of worship, along with banning face masks and certain flags.
Opposition police spokesman David Southwick, who labelled Friday night’s attacks “domestic terrorism”, said Ms Allan was “all talk and no action”.
“There were lots of words in December about what she was going to do and yet she’s allowed this to happen again,” he said.
Mr Carbines said the government was consulting a range of multicultural communities and that the laws would be brought before parliament after the winter break.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the attacks were a shameful act of hate.
“This is not protest,” she posted on social media.
“This is hate. And it has no place in Australia.”
Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel criticised Victorian authorities for failing to crackdown on soaring anti-Semitism and labelled the attacks “terrorism”.
“Weakness and silence only emboldens the extremists,” she said.
Ms Haskel said the attacks were “yet another reminder of how far racist, anti-Semitic hate crimes have spread in the heart of Australia”.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece said the incident was “racism in its most vile form” that should be “condemned in the strongest possible terms”.
“Everyone has the right to enjoy simple acts, like enjoying a meal or practising their faith.”
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