Israel's prime minister has accused the Australian government of having an "extreme anti-Israel position" in the wake of a firebombing at a synagogue in Melbourne. Victoria police are continuing to investigate the blaze, as community members struggle to come to terms with the attack. The federal opposition is calling for it be declared an act of terrorism.
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00:00A solemn Sabbath for Melbourne's Jewish community as it comes to terms with a fire attack on
00:08a local synagogue.
00:09I feel especially just shaken that this little corner which is sort of my safe place doesn't
00:16feel safe.
00:17In the early hours of Friday morning, the Adas Israel Synagogue in Ripon Lee was set
00:22alight.
00:23Masked men were seen fleeing the building after being disturbed by a worshipper.
00:28No one was seriously injured, but the damage is extensive.
00:32Rabbi Gabi Koltman says waking to the news of the firebombing left him reeling.
00:37It was horrific.
00:38I couldn't believe it.
00:40The Israeli Prime Minister has tried to link the attack to Australia's UN vote in favour
00:45of ending Israel's quote, unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory.
00:51Mr Netanyahu called the firebombing an abhorrent act of anti-Semitism, saying it's impossible
00:58to separate this reprehensible act from the extreme anti-Israeli position of the Labor
01:03government in Australia.
01:05Relations between Australia and Israel have never been at a lower ebb than they are today
01:09and it is because of the behaviour of the Albanian government.
01:12The first thing the Prime Minister needs to do is he and his government need to declare
01:18yesterday's attack at the Adas Synagogue a terrorist event.
01:23The Prime Minister today leaving his MPs to defend Australia's position.
01:28Ever since the October 7 attacks, the horrific October 7 attacks, the Albanese government
01:35has taken a range of strong actions to stand against anti-Semitism and to stamp it out
01:41from our community.
01:42I will point out that our Prime Minister spoke with the Israeli President, President Herzog,
01:47yesterday and they had a very productive discussion about the shared values we have
01:54to combat this appalling rise in anti-Semitism.
01:57Late this afternoon, Anthony Albanese put out his own statement, rejecting the link
02:02to the UN vote, saying 157 countries voted for that resolution, including four of the
02:08Five Eyes partners.
02:10The opposition wants the arson declared a terrorist attack and says it's yet to receive
02:15a requested briefing from the Australian Federal Police.
02:18While the political fallout continues, the community remains steadfast.
02:23We will not cower, we will continue to gather in our synagogues, we will continue to live
02:29proud Jewish lives.