A highly concerning spate of “evil” antisemitic attacks have been occurring across Australia – particularly in Sydney and Melbourne – since the beginning of the Israel-Gaza war.
Synagogues, homes, cars and even a childcare centre have been firebombed and defaced with vile graffiti, inciting fear and distress.
In the latest major incident, police who located a caravan containing explosives and documents have alleged it was related to plans for an antisemitic attack.
After his former home was subject to an attack, Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, called out “an evil at work in this country” and warned it was only getting more dangerous the more it went on.
“We have been saying for so long that this can’t be normalised, but when we wake up every day and another place has been hit… this is the norm,” he said.
Here’s how the recent spate of attacks has unfolded.
January 31: Graffiti was sprayed on an electrical box outside the Diamond Bay Bowling Club in Sydney. The club has a lot of Jewish members and a block of units where a lot of Jewish people live.