Premier Jacinta Allan visits East Melbourne Synagogue days after horror anti-Semitic attack

Premier Jacinta Allan has come face-to-face with the singed door of the East Melbourne Synagogue days after it was set alight in a horror anti-Semitic attack.

Premier Jacinta Allan has arrived at the East Melbourne Synagogue for a highly anticipated visit three days after it was set alight in a horror anti-Semitic attack.

Ms Allan came face-to-face with the singed door of the synagogue at 9am on Monday, which was set alight while 20 people were inside on July 4.

A 34-year-old NSW man was arrested on Saturday night over the attack and charged with reckless conduct endangering life, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possessing a controlled weapon.

Police allege the man poured a flammable liquid on the front door of the building and set it on fire before fleeing the scene.

Premier Jacinta Allan pays a private visit to the East Melbourne Synagogue. Picture: Tony Gough

A man has been charged with reckless conduct endangering life following the attack at the East Melbourne Synagogue. Picture: William West

There were about 20 people, including children, inside the synagogue taking part in Shabbat at the time of the incident. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Ms Allan spent about 50-minutes inside the synagogue before giving a short speech to those gathered outside, condemning the spate of incidents and calling for a “stop to hate”.

The Premier said that anti-Semitism had no place in Melbourne and pledged that she and her government would offer “practical support” to the impacted community.

“I’ll continue to stand with the strong, proud Jewish community here in Victoria every single day,” she said.

“If you consider just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, but it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to hate, put a stop to anti-Semitism.

“Not only does it have no place in Melbourne and Victoria — it has no place anywhere.

“I’ll be guided by the community on what more they need in responding to this hateful incident on Friday evening.”

Jacinta Allan has offered her ‘practical support’ to the Jewish community following the attack. Picture: Tony Gough

When questioned why she had only visited the shule three days after the attack, Ms Allan said: “I had the opportunity to spend a good length of time with the Rabbi, the president and other members of the congregation to talk about the horrors experienced on Friday evening.”

“The timing was something I discussed on Saturday with the president of the Shule and we agreed that this morning was an appropriate time to come and spend a good period of time,” she said.

Ms Allan said she would take advice from Victoria Police on whether those chanting and holding signs reading “Death to the IDF” at a protest on Friday night should be charged under anti-vilification laws.

Premier Jacinta Allan’s visit came three days after the fire. Picture: Tony Gough

Ms Allan’s visit to the synagogue comes hours after she announced a new Anti-Hate Taskforce in response to the wave of anti-Semitic attacks at the weekend, designed to work stop hateful behaviour through a collaborative approach with Victoria Police and the Jewish community.

At her visit, the Premier said she would strengthen powers so that everyone in Victoria could practice religion safely. The new taskforce will have its first gathering this week.

More details about the taskforce are expected to surface on Monday.

The Premier was accompanied by Deputy Premier Ben Carroll along with Police Minister Anthony Carbines during her visit.

Rabbi Dovid Gutnick and president of the Synagogue Danny Segal were also in attendance.

Meanwhile, the Israeli government has taken another swipe at the Australian government, accusing it of emboldening the spread of anti-Semitism.

A day after Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu called for urgent action by the federal government, Amichai Chikli — the Israel Minister of Diaspora and Combating anti-Semitism — wrote to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urging him to act without delay to address the spate of incidents in Melbourne.

My urgent letter to the PM of Australia, Anthony Albanese:

Subject: Government Inaction Amid Escalating Antisemitism in Australia.

Prime Minister,
I am writing out of deep alarm following a profoundly disturbing weekend in Melbourne.

Within hours, two antisemitic attacks… pic.twitter.com/arzo9m4vaX

— עמיחי שיקלי - Amichai Chikli (@AmichaiChikli) July 6, 2025

“I am writing out of deep alarm following a profoundly disturbing weekend in Melbourne,” he wrote.

“Within hours, two anti-Semitic attacks occurred: the attempted arson of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation during Shabbat services, and the violent storming of the Israeli-owned Miznon restaurant by masked individuals shouting “Death to the IDF,” overturning furniture and terrorizing patrons.

“These are not isolated incidents … Australia has surged by over 320% since October 7. More than 850,000 anti-Semitic or anti-Israel posts have been documented online, including widespread Holocaust inversion. Synagogues, Jewish businesses, and students on major campuses have all come under attack.

“This alarming climate is unfolding under your government’s watch. It is further legitimized by recent decisions to deny entry to former Israeli minister Ayelet Shaked and pro-Israel advocate Hillel Fuld.

“These choices are seen as discriminatory and embolden those who spread hate. This is no longer a matter of rising tensions — it is a test of moral leadership.

“When synagogues are burned and Jewish businesses attacked in central Melbourne, silence sends a dangerous message: that Jewish safety is negotiable. That message is unacceptable.

“I urge you to act now – clearly, publicly, and decisively. The time for statements has passed. The time for action is now.”