Israel's Netanyahu blames Australian PM for Bondi Beach terror attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese and his cabinet for the terrorist attack in Sydney, per The Guardian.

Netanyahu said he had written to Albanese in August, warning that the government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state “pours fuel on the antisemitic fire … emboldens those who menace Australian Jews and encourages the Jew hatred now stalking your streets”. He claimed Albanese had “replaced weakness with weakness and appeasement with more appeasement”.

“Your government did nothing to stop the spread of antisemitism in Australia. You did nothing to curb the cancer cells that were growing inside your country. You took no action. You let the disease spread and the result is the horrific attacks on Jews we saw today.”

Albanese declined to respond directly when asked about Netanyahu’s comments at a media conference on Monday morning.

“This is a moment for national unity,” Albanese said in response. “This is a moment for Australians to come together. That’s precisely what we’ll be doing.”

Netanyahu praised the actions of a bystander who wrestled the gun from one of the attackers, saying he saluted “a Muslim brave man” who prevented the death of “innocent Jews” (the man’s religion was unconfirmed as of Monday morning).

“But we are worrying right now about our people, our safety, and we do not remain silent,” Netanyahu said. “We fight those who try to annihilate us.”

The Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, said in a video message posted online that “vile terrorists deliberately targeted innocent Jewish families celebrating the first night of Hanukah”.

“The people of Israel stand together with all of you in this very dark and difficult moment … the Jewish people are strong, resilient and united, and our message is clear: the Hanukah lights must go on and will be lit all over the world, especially in Bondi beach, in Sydney and all over Australia.”

On December 14, 2025, a deadly terrorist attack unfolded at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach during a public Hanukkah celebration ("Chanukah by the Sea") organised by Chabad of Bondi. Two gunmen—a father and son duo—opened fire on a crowd of around 1,000 people gathered in Archer Park near the beachfront, killing at least 15–16 people (including children) and injuring over 40 others in what Australian authorities have declared a targeted antisemitic incident.

By Khagan Isayev