‘Bastards’: Angry premier condemns new graffiti attack on Sydney synagogue

A Sydney synagogue was defaced with hateful graffiti, including swastikas and anti-Semitic messages, sparking outrage and calls for stronger laws against rising hate crimes.

Police on scene at the Southern Sydney Synagogue, which was vandalised with anti-Semitic graffiti on Friday. Picture: Tom Parrish

A southwest Sydney synagogue has become the latest target of anti-Semitic vandals who spray-painted swastikas and the words “Hitler on top” on the building early on Friday morning.

Red and black swastikas defaced the white walls of the Synagogue on Railway Ave, Allawah, with police at the scene searching for leads to identify the vandals.

Two men in dark clothing and facial coverings were reportedly seen loitering around the synagogue at early hours of the morning.

Police from St George Police Area Command are investigating and believe the incident occurred between 3.55am and 4.30am on Friday morning.

NSW Premier Chris Minns arrived at the synagogue, which is in his electorate, on Friday morning and was seen speaking with leaders of the synagogue and police officers.

Mr Minns called the perpetrators “bastards” and individuals who “have got hate in their hearts, that are determined to divide our community in two” at a press conference.

Mr Minns said the perpetrators “should be ashamed of their actions, not just in southern Sydney but across metropolitan Sydney in the last few months” and vowed to continue strengthening laws and putting resources towards crime prevention.

NSW Premier Chris Minns at the Southern Sydney Synagogue on Friday. Picture: Tom Parrish

Southern Sydney Synagogue President George Foster said police informed him of the incident at 4.30am and “apologised that they only just missed the people who did it”.

Dr Foster said the rise of anti-Semitic hate crimes must be addressed by prosecution.

“That’s what we have to do to try and stop it … that might slow them down,” he said.

Dr Foster is also the president of the Australian Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants and said the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia mirrored the start of World War Two.

“My parents were Hungarian survivors, and seeing what I’m seeing on the wall, particularly referencing Hitler … just brings back images of way back to 1933, when Jewish businesses and Jewish institutions were graffitied with signs of swastikas”.

“It’s truly distressing”.

Australia used to be an “accepting, happy, joyous place” for Dr Foster, as he said he would “kiss the ground … every time I come back to this country, because I believe it’s the best country on earth”.

Now, Dr Foster laments that his community now have to pray in a building with bars on the windows and CCTV all around.

“The community is feeling vulnerable and distressed,” Dr Foster said, but are “determined to continue to live in the way we have been living”.

Southern Sydney Synagogue president George Foster stands in front of the vandalised synagogue. Picture: Tom Parrish

This incident is the third just this week, with a car in Sydney’s east being tagged with “F..k the Jews” and the arrest of a 20-year-old man who allegedly made a threatening “gun gesture” at a man outside of a synagogue in St Ives both occurring on Monday.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton called the incident “grotesque act” and said, “it must be condemned”.

“As history shows, these repulsive incidents are a precursor to greater evils, and it’s no wonder our Jewish community in Australia is living in fear. I hope the perpetrators are caught and face the full force of the law,” Mr Dutton said.

“If there’s no repercussions for committing these disgraceful crimes, there will be no deterrence.

“When will this lesson be learned and how many more incidents of antisemitism need to occur in our country before action is taken. Enough is enough.”

“The community expects swift arrests to be made and for those who deface houses of worship with the symbol of genocide to face the full force of the law,” Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said.

“As long as these people evade justice for trying to terrorise Australian citizens, it will continue.

“We’re also calling on our fellow Australians, particularly those in positions of influence across society, to end the silence and publicly denounce this behaviour as repugnant to our national values and a threat to us all.”

President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip called for action, and said “Enough is Enough”.

“We are outraged by yet another disgraceful attack on a Jewish place of worship overnight,” Mr Ossip added.

“This is unacceptable and undermines the social harmony and cohesion which Australians have long treasured.

“Laws must be tightened to more effectively deal with hate speech and incitement to violence and individuals who commit crimes such as this must receive penalties sufficient to ensure that such conduct is deterred and not normalised.”