Josh Frydenberg and Nova Peris tell Prime Minister to ‘step up’ after Synagogue firebombing

Former Liberal deputy leader Josh Frydenberg and Indigenous trailblazer Nova Peris have called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to “step up” and act on the anti-Semitism scourge ripping through Australia following Friday’s Melbourne Synagogue firebombing.

“Prime Minister, how did you let it get to this,” Mr Frydenberg asked alongside Ms Peris outside the Caulfield Synagogue on Saturday afternoon.

“Every single day, Australian Jews are being intimidated and harassed on our streets, in their workplaces and on our campuses.

“Young Jewish Australians now feel unsafe to show and identify with their faith publicly.

“And Australian holocaust survivors, who have been long given a safe refuge in this country and a warm embrace, are now openly talking about leaving this country.”

“Prime Minister, how did you let it get to this? Where social cohesion in australia has broken down.

“Where the Australian Jewish comm lives in fear. Where anti-Semitism has become normalised.”

“When social cohesion breaks down, it’s only a question of when another community, another minority group is targeted in the same way.”

Outrage is growing across the Jewish and wider Australian community following the attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue of Melbourne.

A worshipper allegedly observed two masked men deliberately poured accelerant on the floor of the house of worships before feeling the burning buildings about 4.10am on Friday.

Firefighters worked for 40 minutes to bring the blaze under control, which destroyed the building.

Mr Frydenberg and Ns Peris have labelled the arson an act of terrorism, but Mr Frydenberg said the firebombing followed a rising swell of anti-Jewish attacks since the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7 last year.

Just days earlier, a set of cars were firebombed and graffitied with anti-Israel messages in the Sydney suburb on Woollahra.

The former treasurer said it was now Mr Albanese to “step up” and protect Australia’s values.

“Please prime minister, see what is happening, understand what is happening and act,” he said.

Ms Peris, a former Labor senator, called the Adass attack “totally deplorable” and said the Sydney Opera House pro-Palestine protest, which took place just two days after the Hamas-led mass murder of Jews, had brought Australia into “disrepute”.

“I cannot stand the hatred against Jewish people in this country,” she said.

“I’m so disgusted in how this country is being portrayed to the rest of the world.”

Australia’s special envoy to combat anti-Semitism, meanwhile, has called on the Federal Government to legislate a contentious definition of anti-Semitism amid world leaders condemning a horrific synagogue firebombing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu overnight called the attack on Adass “despicable”.

Jillian Segal, who was recently appointed special envoy to combat anti-Semitism, called on the government to formally legislate the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism.

The four-line definition states: “Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

Critics of the definition have argued it expands the definition of anti-Semitism beyond a hatred of Jews to encompass criticism of institutions and states, like Israel.

Other say Palestinian slogans would be considered anti-Semitic as a result.

Ms Segal said: “This definition provides a vital framework for identifying and addressing antisemitism in all its forms, ensuring clarity and accountability for hateful acts.”

She said Friday’s attack was designed to “intimidate” Australia’s Jewish community.

“This attack is not an isolated incident but a reflection of a concerning environment where some individuals feel emboldened to act on antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiments,” Ms Segal claimed.

“It is critical to recognise that such actions stem from an underlying tolerance or ignorance toward antisemitism.

“We must be clear: today’s attack represents not just an assault on the Jewish community but also an attack on our shared values of safety, inclusivity, and respect.”

Just a day earlier, Mr Netanyahu warned Australia’s disappointing “flip flop” attitude towards Israel at the United Nations (UN) would invite more terrorism and antisemitic riots at universities and city centres.

He said he was “deeply shocked” by the fire at a Melbourne synagogue and blamed the Labor government for creating an “anti-Israel spirit.”

“This is a despicable classic anti-Semitic event, and I expect the authorities in the country to use every weight in order to prevent such anti-Semitic attacks in the future,” he said.

“Sadly, this criminal act cannot be detected from the anti-Israel spirit blowing from the Labor government in Australia, including the outrageous decision to vote in favour of the UN proposal.

This week Australia supported a UN bid for Israel to “end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible”.

“Anti-Israelism is anti-Semitism,” prime minister Netanyahu said.

The Prime Minister’s office has been contacted for comment, but in a statement on Friday Anthony Albanese condemned the attack saying antisemitism had no place in Australia.

“The violence and intimidation and destruction of a place of worship is an outrage,” he said.

“The attack has risked lives and was clearly aimed at creating fear in the community.

“The people involved must be caught and face the full force of the law.”