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Israeli Ambassador Amir Maimon said Monday he had spent four years warning Australian officials about escalating antisemitic attacks, calling the deadly shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach the tragic realization of those warnings.
Speaking at a press conference near the site where 15 people were killed Sunday evening, Maimon described visiting synagogues across Australia after arson attacks and vandalism, repeatedly flagging a pattern of escalation that he said went unheeded.
“What one can expect when graffiti is painted all over Australia on synagogues, buildings, public buildings, calling for the death of Israel, death to the IDF,” Maimon said. “And then cars are put on fire.”
The ambassador, visibly emotional, said the victims included people he had personally known throughout his four-year tenure. Among the dead was Alex Kleytman, 87, a Holocaust survivor who died shielding his wife from gunfire.
“He survived the Holocaust, the atrocities of the Nazis, just to be murdered here in this beautiful place, Bondi Beach,” Maimon said. “Think about it.”
Maimon highlighted what he called a disparity in religious freedom, noting that Jewish Australians are the only community required to pass through security to worship. Churches, mosques, and temples operate with open doors, he said, while synagogues require guards and surveillance systems.
“Only the Australians of Jewish faith are forced to worship their gods behind closed doors, CCTV guards,” Maimon said. “It’s insane.”
The ambassador declined to directly criticize Prime Minister Anthony Albanese but praised New South Wales Premier Chris Minns as “very receptive” and “a dear friend to the community.”
Israeli officials in Jerusalem were more pointed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Australia’s September recognition of Palestine for fueling antisemitism, while President Isaac Herzog said Israel had “repeatedly warned the Australian government” about the threat.
Maimon said the attack dominated Israeli media for two days, fundamentally changing how Israelis view Australia.
“Today, when you will meet an Israeli in Israel and you will tell him that you are from Australia, the immediate reaction will be, what the hell is going on here?” he said.
The shooting killed 15 people and wounded at least 42 at a Hanukkah celebration attended by approximately 1,000 people. Police identified the suspects as a father and son. The elder suspect was killed at the scene; the younger remains hospitalized and is expected to face charges.
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