Anti-Israel vandals target Sydney suburb

From Christina McIntosh.  Some very nasty antisemitic vandalism in the eastern suburbs of Sydney (which are known to be a focus of the Sydney Jewish community). Articles in the Australian Jewish News and J Wire. 

A wave of anti-Israel vandalism in Woollahra in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, on Thursday, Nov. 21, has sparked outrage from authorities and the Jewish community.

Up to a dozen cars were vandalised, a vehicle was set alight, and buildings were defaced with anti-Israel graffiti in leafy Wellington Street, Woollahra, with the defacement extending to nearby Ocean Street, where the upmarket restaurant Chiswick was also daubed with offensive slogans. A car was set ablaze on Wellington Street around 1 a.m., with Fire and Rescue NSW extinguishing the flames but leaving the vehicle destroyed.

Authorities have established multiple crime scenes, and forensic teams are investigating. Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry told “The Sydney Morning Herald” that the car fire appeared suspicious, with initial burn patterns suggesting it started outside the vehicle. Police are appealing for information and surveillance footage to assist in the investigation.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has labelled overnight anti-Israel vandalism in Sydney’s Woollahra “absolutely deplorable . . . The NSW Police have stood up Strike Force Mylor to investigate those who participated in this disgraceful behaviour,” Minns said. “The Jewish community is an integral part of the wider NSW community and we are completely committed to ensuring the safety and security of Jewish people in NSW.”

In a rare joint press conference on Thursday afternoon, Labor Member for Macnamara and Liberal Senator Dave Sharma stood united in condemning the incidents.

“I understand people have strong views about conflicts right around the world, including the Middle East, but to target Jewish people in Australia is not a legitimate form of political discussion … [it] is antisemitism plain and simple. I also want to say that I’m really pleased to be standing here with Dave. This is above politics. This is about the sort of country that we want to see together.”

Sharma said, “This is an attack that’s designed to menace, intimidate and silence one group of Australians only. This community of Australians, Jewish Australians, have been feeling besieged and under threat for the past year, and it simply has to stop. . . ”

In Canberra, the Israeli embassy posted on X: “The Embassy of Israel in Australia is appalled by the antisemitic attack in Sydney last night. Words are no longer enough—it’s time for action. We stand with the Jewish community and call for immediate measures to protect and uphold the rights and safety of all citizens.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said the anti-Israel movement “has been growing progressively more extreme, more violent and more indifferent to who it harms… It wasn’t stopped at the Opera House steps. It wasn’t stopped at the pro-Hamas encampments. And it wasn’t stopped at the hate preachers,” he said. “Now Australians are waking up to find their property destroyed and their suburbs violated.”

Which is a very nasty form of intimidation. 

Authorities continue to investigate and urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers or Waverley Police Station.