The EAJC is deeply shocked by the arson attack on the Melbourne synagogue and demands a thorough investigation into the matter.

On the night of December 6, a major fire broke out at the Adass Israel Synagogue in southern Melbourne, Australia. Two individuals preparing for morning prayers sustained injuries and have been hospitalized. The synagogue suffered extensive damage. Police have confirmed the cause of the fire was arson, motivated by antisemitism.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) wishes the injured a swift recovery, strongly condemns the perpetrators, and urges Australian law enforcement authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. It is imperative to identify the organizers and participants and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. We emphasize that the escalation of anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric, which has recently become normalized in Australia, is undoubtedly a contributing factor to such events.

We expect the authorities to revise their policies regarding antisemitic incidents, issue an unequivocal condemnation of the attack, and allocate funds for the restoration of the synagogue. Furthermore, every effort must be made to prevent similar incidents in the future, bearing in mind that passive inaction by public authorities and security services fosters a sense of impunity among criminals and leads to further escalation.

The actions of the German authorities, who exert maximum effort to combat antisemitism and terrorism, serve as an exemplary model. Incitement to hatred, religious and racial intolerance, and the denial of Israel's right to self-defense and existence must be rendered unacceptable—both in public discourse and under the law. This approach by the German Federal Government has proven effective, demonstrating that competent authorities can achieve tangible results when combating antisemitism through concrete action rather than mere rhetoric.

EAJC President Dr. Michael Mirilashvili stated:

u201cThe horrific Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7 unleashed a wave of egregious antisemitism worldwide. Unfortunately, Australia has been no exception. The country's Jewish community has reported a significant rise in antisemitic sentiment in recent months, with over two thousand antisemitic incidents officially recorded in the past yearu2014a fourfold increase compared to the previous year. History teaches us that antisemitism signalizes the profound moral decay of any society, regardless of how enlightened it may seem. We urge the Australian authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into this incident, adopt Germany's positive practices in combating antisemitism, and implement all possible preemptive measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.u201d