The groundwork for the murderous attack that occurred in Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, was laid two years earlier, built upon a foundation of antisemitism that had been bubbling even before the October 7, 2023, massacre by Hamas.
This was a nightmare scenario that had been running through the minds of Australia's Jewish community and its security personnel, who noted that this was the "ultimate nightmare" – a scenario they had prepared for out of fear that the day would come when the nightmare would become reality.
For those who managed to watch the footage from the attack, extremely disturbing images show community members who came to light the first Hanukkah candle: Human rights lawyer, Arsen Ostrovsky, covered in blood, recorded himself in a moment of unimaginable fear. Masses of people are seen fleeing for their lives in terror. The similarity between these images and the images of Nova Festival attendees who recorded themselves in moments of sheer terror conveys the same sense of helplessness when live fire is opened on civilians who cannot defend themselves, but the connection between October 7 and the Sydney attack runs even deeper than that.
For two years, we have covered the Australian Jewish community's concerns about the ease with which protests calling for explicit violence against Israelis and against the Jewish community have been allowed to take place. Harsh criticism was directed at Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over the need to act with a heavy hand against a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents across the country, and against extremists at anti-Israel protests.
The Jewish community adapted itself to the changing reality before its eyes – the appearance of swastikas in the streets, repeated attempts to harm the community – private security was increased at institutions, and some community members even considered the possibility of making Aliyah due to the growing sense of insecurity since the Hamas massacre on October 7, which they felt largely stemmed from Albanese's anti-Israel government. "Our blood is cheap," Sydney Jewish residents told Israel Hayom. Sydney, which in recent years has established its status as a hub for pro-terror protests, has changed its attitude toward the Jews living there, or in simple words, the writing was on the wall.
When signs at mass pro-Palestinian protests call to "gas the Jews," "f*** the Jews," and to "globalize the Intifada," and this is allowed without interference, what prevents two armed men, inspired by October 7, from opening fire on members of that same community during a holiday celebration?
Anti-Israel incitement has snowballed over the past two years, under the guise of "morality," which prevented the warning sounded repeatedly by Israelis, Jews, and their supporters from being heard – Israel's war after October 7 is not Israel's alone. It is a war for the entire world against terror. Jews are not persecuted only in the Middle East, but also in Europe, in North America, and now – in Australia.
Too many times, it took bloodshed to wake leaders from their slumber. All decisions made from here forward will answer the question asked by the Jews from Sydney: Is Jewish blood cheap in 2025?
