Indigenous Friends of Israel condemn Anthony Albanese for ‘weak reaction’ to anti-Israel sentiment

A Cairns advocacy group has condemned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for “snubbing” the Australian Jewish community following an alleged terror attack, in favour of playing tennis in Perth.

Indigenous Friends of Israel International founders Norman and Barbara Miller have condemned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for choosing 'tennis and parties' rather than visiting the Melbourne Jewish community after a synagogue was targeted in an arson attack. Photo: Catherine Duffy

A Cairns advocacy group has condemned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for “snubbing” the Australian Jewish community following an alleged terror attack, in favour of playing tennis in Perth.

Indigenous Friends of Israel co-founder Norman Miller and his wife Barbara condemned Mr Albanese for flying to Perth to “play tennis and party” in the days following an alleged attack on the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne on December 6.

Mr Albanese was the star attraction at the Federal Labor Business Forum’s “End-of-Year Networking Event” at the Chevron building on Perth’s CBD foreshore on the Friday night.

He played tennis the following day.

“Our PM’s priorities are so wrong that he doesn’t visit a burning synagogue but flies to Perth and has drinks with donors and plays tennis,” Mr Miller said.

“It has taken two days for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to state that the synagogue firebombing was terrorism and he is expected to finally visit (on Tuesday).”

Mr Albanese visited the Adass Israel synagogue on December 10, five days after it was firebombed in an attack that has seen since classified as an act of terror.

It comes after a car was allegedly firebombed in the predominantly Jewish neighbourhood of Woolhara, Sydney, and alleged firebombing of a Jewish MP’s office.

“Along with the firebombing of a car in Woollahra Sydney recently and the firebombing of the electorate office of Jewish MP Josh Burns, we demand to know when enough is enough,” he said.

Mr Miller said the Albanese government’s decision to support a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine encouraged anti-Israel and anti-Semitic sentiment.

“The anti-Israel stand of our government and its weak reaction to protests has created an environment encouraging anti-Semitic terrorism,” he said.

It comes after a Far North Queensland rabbi confirmed members of the Jewish community no longer felt safe to express their faith publicly in the region.

Mr Miller said the recent attacks on the Jewish community were an attack not only against Jewish Australians, but social cohesion in the country.

“It is an attack on our social cohesion and our Australian values,” he said.

“It is an attack on what has been, till now, successful multiculturalism.”

Mr Miller called on Australia’s Indigenous community to stand with the Jewish community, who have claimed ties to Israel for thousands of years.

“Australia and the UN are calling for the ethnic cleansing of Jews from their ancient homeland. The Jews are Indigenous to Israel,” he said.

“We call on the Aboriginal people of Australia who have received wonderful support from the Jewish community over the years to stand with them during this difficult time,” he said.

Originally published as Indigenous Friends of Israel condemn Anthony Albanese for ‘weak reaction’ to anti-Israel sentiment