‘Antisemitism Is a Cancer’: Israeli Leaders Condemn Bondi Beach Hanukkah Massacre

Israeli leaders across the political spectrum issued sharp condemnations on Sunday following a mass shooting at a Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, in which 12 people were killed, including Chabad emissary Rabbi Eli Schlanger. Dozens of others were wounded in the attack, which targeted thousands of Jews gathered to light the first candle of Chanukah.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the attack as the result of long-ignored antisemitism, saying Israeli warnings had gone unheeded. “Antisemitism is a cancer that spreads when leaders remain silent and do not act,” Netanyahu said. He revealed that he had personally warned Australian leadership months earlier. “Three months ago I wrote to the Prime Minister of Australia: your policies are pouring fuel on the hatred of Jews that is spreading across Australia.”

President Isaac Herzog also accused Australian authorities of failing to confront what he described as a growing wave of antisemitism. Herzog was informed of the attack during an official ceremony in Jerusalem and stopped proceedings to address the incident. “At these very moments, our sisters and brothers in Sydney, Australia, are under a terrorist attack as they went to light the first candle of Chanukah at a Chabad event on Bondi Beach,” he said.

Herzog later said he spoke directly with David Ossip, president of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, who was speaking on stage when the shooting began. “Our hearts go out to our Jewish sisters and brothers in Sydney who have been attacked by vile terrorists as they went to light the first candle of Chanukah,” Herzog said. “Time and again we warned the Australian government of the need to uproot the criminal and spreading antisemitism that is plaguing Australian society.”

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett accused Australian leadership of ignoring clear warning signs. “The writing was on the wall. The Australian government bears responsibility,” Bennett said. “For months the Jewish community warned of rising antisemitism. The writing was on the wall. It was ignored. Failed and weak leadership on antisemitism led to Bondi.” Bennett said Jewish leaders he spoke with in Sydney were “fearful and outraged,” adding that “statements of sympathy are no longer enough.”

National Unity leader Benny Gantz linked the attack directly to global antisemitic rhetoric. “What starts with genocidal cries for the destruction of Israel, unsurprisingly ends with arson attacks on synagogues and murderous terror shootings against Jews at a Hanukkah event,” Gantz said. “The writing was on the wall — and despite repeated warnings, the Australian authorities missed it once again.”

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the shooting was the violent realization of antisemitic incitement tolerated on Australian streets. Posting a photo of blood-stained tzitzit, Sa’ar wrote: “I’m appalled by the murderous shooting attack at a Hanukkah event in Sydney. These are the results of the antisemitic rampage in the streets of Australia over the past two years, with the antisemitic and inciting calls of ‘Globalize the Intifada’ that were realized today. The Australian government, which received countless warning signs, must come to its senses.”

Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli said he had spoken with Jewish community leaders in Australia in the immediate aftermath of the attack. “Over the past hour, I have held a series of conversations with leaders of the Jewish community in Australia, following the most severe and devastating terrorist attack ever carried out against the Jewish community in the country,” Chikli said. “Dozens were harmed — both killed and wounded.”

Chikli accused Australian authorities of enabling the conditions that led to the massacre. “A government that normalized boycotts against Jews solely because they are Jewish, normalized marches in which flags of Al-Qaeda, the PLO, and Hamas were openly displayed, and for two years failed to act decisively against serious antisemitic incidents, bears full responsibility for the horrific scenes we witnessed today,” he said, adding that his ministry had offered full assistance to the Jewish community.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the images from Sydney evoked memories of Israel’s own trauma. “In these difficult moments, facing horrific images that remind us of the October 7 massacre, our hearts are with our brothers in the Jewish community in Australia,” Smotrich said. “Our uncompromising demand of the Australian government is to act with a heavy hand against the rising antisemitism in the country and protect its Jews.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized Israel’s commitment to Jewish communities worldwide. “I express my deepest condolences to the families of those murdered in the despicable terrorist attack carried out today in Australia against the Jewish community and Chabad emissaries,” Katz said. “The State of Israel will continue to stand alongside Jewish communities around the world and fight antisemitism and terror — everywhere and at all times.”

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana described the attack as the inevitable outcome of unchecked hatred. “The horrific terrorist attack at Bondi Beach targeting Jews celebrating Chanukah is a reprehensible, antisemitic crime,” Ohana said. “This is what ‘Globalize the Intifada’ looks like. A bloodied holiday for Jews. Wherever antisemitism is not confronted head-on, it will transform into terrorism against Jews.”

Shas party leader Aryeh Deri said the massacre should serve as a warning far beyond Australia. “I am shocked by the murderous antisemitic attack in Sydney at a Chabad Hanukkah event,” Deri said. “Antisemitic incitement explodes into terror and constitutes a warning sign to the entire world.”

Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar directly linked the attack to recent diplomatic moves by Canberra. “Like every Jew in the world, I am horrified by the murderous attack against our brothers and sisters in Sydney,” Zohar said. “The truth must be said without embellishment: Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state was official approval for cursed terrorists to harm Jews. The blood of our brothers and sisters is on your hands.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir echoed that accusation. “The blood of the victims is on the hands of the Australian government that announced recognition of a ‘Palestinian’ state and gave legitimacy to terror against Jews,” he said, while praising Chabad emissaries for continuing to operate “with devotion and courage” despite threats.

Chabad confirmed that Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a Chabad emissary in Sydney, was murdered in the attack and that additional emissaries were wounded. “Rabbi Eli Schlanger, may God avenge his blood, was murdered in the mass shooting during the Hanukkah celebration,” a Chabad statement said. The organization reported dozens of casualties and said police neutralized the attackers after they opened fire on the crowd.

Israeli officials from across coalition and opposition closed their statements with a unified message: warnings about antisemitism were ignored, and the result was terror. As several leaders repeated, the writing, they said, had been on the wall.