Overview
- Australia’s Rabbinical Association formally urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to establish a Commonwealth royal commission into antisemitism and to outlaw what it called hate‑driven marches and chants including “globalize the intifada,” “from the river to the sea,” and “death to the IDF.”
- Victoria Police said a 47-year-old man is a person of interest in the Melbourne Hanukkah car firebombing and has an outstanding warrant in a separate case, though he has not been charged over the arson.
- Assistant Commissioner Chris Gilbert said investigators are focused on determining motive and ensuring the community does not live in fear following the suspected antisemitic attack.
- Albanese condemned the firebombing and said federal agencies stand ready to assist, but he is resisting calls for a federal royal commission in favor of a Dennis Richardson-led review and cooperation with the NSW state royal commission.
- Opposition figure Sussan Ley pressed for parliament to be recalled to set up a federal inquiry, as NSW advanced tighter firearms laws and new protest restrictions and Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Ministry reported a sharp post‑Bondi surge in antisemitic incidents.