After it was revealed that Iran stood behind at least two antisemitic arson attacks in Australia, the Australian government has decided to expel the Iranian Ambassador and declare the IRGC to be a terror organization.
By Rachel Avraham
The Australian Prime Minister’s Office recently announced, “Since the terrible events of October 7, 2023 we have witnessed a number of appalling antisemitic attacks against Australia’s Jewish community. The Albanese Government asked ASIO and the Australian Federal Police to investigate these incidents as a priority because they have no place in Australia. Enough credible intelligence has now been gathered to reach the deeply disturbing conclusion that the Iranian Government has directed at least two of these attacks.”
According to the Combat Antisemitism Movement, “The first attack occurred on October 20, 2024. Arsonists set fire to Lewis’ Continental Kitchen, a kosher deli in Bondi that had served Sydney’s Jewish community for more than 50 years.” The Combat Antisemitism Movement reported, “Later, on December 6, 2024, the second incident took place. Three masked men broke into the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, poured accelerant inside, and ignited the building. Police arrested two suspects and believe a third played a role. Investigators classified the fire as a likely act of terrorism. Australia’s domestic intelligence agency, the ASIO, linked both attacks to Iran’s IRGC. According to Australia’s Prime Minister’s Office, “ASIO assesses it is likely Iran directed further attacks as well.”
The Australian Prime Minister’s Office declared, “These were extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil. This is an attack on our society, aimed at creating fear, stoking internal divisions and eroding social cohesion. These attacks on our society are totally unacceptable and the Australian Government is taking strong and decisive action in response.”
Australia has announced the expulsion of the Iranian Ambassador and three additional Iranian diplomats following this development. They have also suspended the operations of their embassy in Tehran and have begun legislation listing the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization in Australia.
According to the Australian Prime Minister’s Office, “The Australian people want the killing and hatred to stop, and they don’t want the conflict in the Middle East brought here. Iran has sought to do just that. They have sought to harm and terrify Jewish Australians, and to sow hatred and division in our community. The actions of the Albanese Government send a clear message that we stand against antisemitism and violence. It also sends a message to those who try to interfere in our country: your aggression will not be tolerated.”
Following these developments, the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) is calling on all world leaders, global intelligence services, and law enforcement agencies to urgently investigate the role of foreign subversive actors, especially the Iranian regime, in orchestrating and financing antisemitic violence and anti-Israel demonstrations across the globe.
“The Australian government’s decisive action shines a light on a terrifying truth: Antisemitism today is not only the product of fringe extremists but also a deliberate weapon deployed by hostile states,” said CAM CEO Sacha Roytman. “If Iran is orchestrating attacks on Jewish communities in democratic countries, this represents a direct assault not only on Jews but on the safety, sovereignty, and democratic integrity of nations worldwide. Every responsible leader and agency must immediately investigate, expose, and counter this threat. Silence or complacency is complicity and could lead the loss of life.”
Photo from Australian Government: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Australia#/media/File:Anthony_Albanese_portrait_(re-crop).jpg
