14/12 – www.israelhayom.com

The inevitable link between Oct. 7 and Australia's Hanukkah massacre

adin — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 17:23:24 +0000

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.

Arsen Ostrovsky at the event in Bondi Beach / Credit: Screenshot: X

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?

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Netanyahu: Australia enabled Hanukkah 'antisemitism cancer'

ErezL — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 12:58:11 +0000

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked the Australian government on Sunday following the deadly terror attack at the Hanukkah candle-lighting event in Bondi Beach, Australia, near Sydney. Addressing the incident, Netanyahu described antisemitism as a cancer and said leaders who remain silent were complicit in letting the circumstances evolve toward that incident.

Video: Member of the public overpowers terrorist / Credit: Social media

"A few months ago, I wrote a letter to the Australian prime minister," Netanyahu said. "I said that their policy adds fuel to the antisemitic fire and encourages the Jew-hatred running rampant in Australia's streets. Antisemitism is a cancer, and it spreads when leaders are silent. They must replace weakness with strength. That did not happen in Australia, and something terrible occurred there today – cold-blooded murder. The death toll is unfortunately rising by the moment."

Netanyahu continued, "We saw the evil, and we saw Jewish heroism at its peak. On my way here, I watched a video of a Jewish man tackling one of the murderers, wrestling the weapon away, and saving who knows how many lives."

Breaking Exclusive by @SharriMarkson

Watch the video and read the letter sent by Netanyahu below.

A diplomatic row has erupted between Israel and Australia, and PM Netanyahu has sent a stinging letter to PM Albanese. In the letter he writes:

"I am concerned by the… pic.twitter.com/O6GIQL6khs

— Chaya's Clan (@ChayasClan) August 19, 2025

The Israeli leader's correspondence, leaked to Sky News Australia Australia and dated August 17, 2025, explicitly charges Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with "pouring fuel on this antisemitic fire" via Palestinian state recognition advocacy. Netanyahu contends such diplomatic positioning "rewards Hamas terror, hardens Hamas's refusal to free the hostages" while actively "emboldens those who menace Australian Jews and encourages the Jew-hatred now stalking your streets." Netanyahu called Albanese a "weak politician."

The correspondence establishes September 23, 2025 – coinciding with the Jewish new year of Rosh Hashanah – as Netanyahu's deadline for transformative Australian action against antisemitic escalation, Sky News Australia confirmed. The Israeli premier demanded Albanese "replace weakness with action" and "appeasement with resolve" through concrete policy initiatives addressing the crisis.

An Israeli intelligence source told Israel Hayom that "in recent months there has been a marked increase in activity by Iran and its proxies, the terrorist organizations Hezbollah and Hamas, aimed at carrying out attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide." The source added that "this included Australia, where, following specific intelligence warnings, the government took partial measures against the Iranian Embassy, including the expulsion of the ambassador. There is no doubt that the direction and infrastructure for the attack originated in Tehran."

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'You failed': Israel slams Australia after Hanukkah massacre

ErezL — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 08:04:39 +0000

President Herzog stopped an event Sunday morning to condemn the tragic shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney, while former Prime Minister Bennett blames Australian inaction for the tragedy.

President Isaac Herzog received word of the terror attack at the Chabad House Hanukkah event in Australia while presiding over the Aliyah and Integration Ministry Prize ceremony for trailblazing immigrants. The president halted the proceedings to address the audience. "At this very hour, our brothers and sisters in Sydney, Australia, are under a terror attack during the lighting of the Hanukkah candle at a Chabad event at Bondi Beach," he said.

People and emergency workers gather at location where a holiday event was taking place and then a reported shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 (AP Photo/Mark Baker) AP Photo/Mark Baker

"Many Jews who came to light the first candle of Hanukkah in one of the most magnificent communities in the world were attacked by criminal terrorists," Herzog said.

"Our hearts go out to our Jewish sisters and brothers in Sydney who have been attacked by vile terrorists as they went to light the first candle of Hanukkah. I just spoke to David Ossip, the President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, who was speaking at the event as the shooting attack began. I conveyed on behalf of the entire nation of Israel our condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the wounded. Time and again we called on the Australian government to take action and fight against the enormous wave of antisemitism that is plaguing Australian society. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Jewish community of Sydney and the entire Australian Jewish community at this horrific time."

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was unsparing in his criticism. "The writing was on the wall. The Australian government bears responsibility," Bennett said. "A festive Jewish gathering turned into a scene of terror. A short time ago I spoke with leaders of the Jewish community. They are furious and afraid. For months, they have warned against a rise in antisemitism."

"The writing was on the wall and it was met with a blind eye from the government," Bennett added. "I demand that the Australian government act immediately to protect the Jewish communities and deal with antisemitism with full severity. Jews should not have to fear for their lives anywhere, including in Australia. I send my condolences to the families of the killed and pray for the well-being of the wounded. Your pain is our pain."

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar posted on X, "I'm appalled by the murderous shooting attack at a Hanukkah event in Sydney, Australia. These are the results of the anti-Semitic rampage in the streets of Australia over the past two years, with the anti-Semitic and inciting calls of 'Globalize the Intifada' that were realized today. The Australian government, which received countless warning signs, must come to its senses!"

Education Minister Yoav Kisch also linked the violence to policy. "I am deeply shocked by the severe antisemitic attack in Australia," Kisch said. "As a Jew, the heart breaks in the face of the stories and documentation from the murderous event. The decision of the Australian government to recognize a Palestinian state sent a terrible message, the results of which we unfortunately see today. The State of Israel embraces and will support the Jewish community in Sydney in the most difficult moments."

Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat said, "The Australian government failed to eradicate antisemitism and the hatred of Jews in its country."

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