Tony Burke claims Melbourne synagogue fire is an ‘assault on Australia’ while NSW man is arrested for the incident | Australian politics

The Australian government has described the Melbourne synagogue fire as an “attack on Australia,” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling on the Labor Party to take stronger action against “vile” anti-Semitic attacks. A 34-year-old man from New South Wales has been charged with allegedly entering the premises of the East Melbourne Hebrew congregation and setting fire to the building’s front door with a flammable liquid at around 8pm on Friday. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke visited Melbourne on Sunday to express solidarity with the Jewish community, emphasizing that the incident was not only an arson attack but “an attack on Australia” and its values. He also noted the government’s efforts to curtail hate symbols and speech and urged everyone to play a role in eradicating anti-Semitism. Israel’s leaders, including Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, strongly condemned the attacks, with Netanyahu stating that Israel stands with the Australian Jewish community and demands a full response from the Australian government. The Jewish Council of Australia and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry have also condemned the violence, emphasizing that attacks on synagogues affect the entire Jewish community. Both organizational leaders have called for better protection of the Jewish community and criticized the use of anti-Semitism for political gain.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/06/tony-burke-says-melbourne-synagogue-fire-an-attack-on-australia-as-nsw-man-charged-over-incident-ntwnfb