Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne speaks out after anti-Semitic attacks
An alarming rise of anti-Sematic attacks across the inner west has prompted a Sydney mayor to speak out with claims it “has been building” for months with some politicians “fanning the flames of anti-Semitism”.
Inner West
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Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne claims the rise in anti-Semitic behaviour “has been building” for months with some politicians “fanning the flames of anti-Semitism”.
The most recent incident, which saw “gas the Jews” graffitied on a wall near Sydenham train station on Monday, prompted Mr Byrne to address the media on Tuesday.
Mr Byrne said there had been increasing reports over the past year of local Jewish citizens being harassed, antisemitic graffiti, vandalism and threats of violence.
“Almost daily, we are seeing more instances of vandalism of graffiti of Nazi tropes, of windows and walls and bus stops being covered in anti-sematic graffiti,” he said at a press conference in Ashfield.
“Just this weekend we saw a [Newtown] synagogue attacked not just with vandalism but an attempted firebombing.
“We never thought we’d see the day in the inner west when places of worship become targets. “Jewish people are feeling afraid and its understandable.”
While police investigations into the vandalism and firebombings at Sydenham and Newtown continue, Mr Byrne pleaded with politicians to band together to tackle the issue.
However, despite his call for help from government representatives, Mr Byrne also pointed the finger at some politicians for “fanning the flames of anti-Semitism”.
“Despite local Jewish leaders having warned elected representatives for months that the temperature needed to be turned down,” he said.
“Some politicians have been fanning the flames of anti-Semitism and that needs to stop.”
Mr Byrnes said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s response to anti-Semitic behaviour had been appropriate with Mr Albanese “fighting against anti-Semitism his whole life”.
“He (Albanese) personally forced the former Marrickville Council to reverse their boycott of Israel and Jewish businesses,” he said.
“Peter Dutton wants to blame the Australian Government for anti-Semitism while ignoring the fact that there is one political party in Australia that really has been careless regarding anti-Semitism – the Greens Party.
“Peter Dutton and the Greens have both been recklessly pouring petrol on the fires of division over the Middle East conflict.”
NSW Greens was contacted for a response, with a spokesperson saying: “The Greens have and always will unequivocally condemn anti-Semitism.”
Mr Dutton has also been approached for comment, however did not respond by the time of publication.
NSW Transport Minister and Summer Hill MP Jo Haylen has also spoken out regarding the recent attacks.
“Appalled to learn there has been a vile anti-Semitic graffiti attack near Sydenham Station,” Ms Haylen said in a statement on Facebook.
“Jewish Australians everywhere have every right to live and worship in peace, to undermine this is horrifying.
“The Inner West’s diversity is our greatest strength, and we know anti-Semitism has no place here.”
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