Twenty swastikas discovered defacing mural at Sydney's famed Bondi Beach

Police called for witnesses to help find the perpetrators of the "repulsive, racist, antisemitic and wholly un-Australian act."

By ALON EINHORN
Updated: FEBRUARY 10, 2019 23:17
Swastikas painted on the Bondi Beach mural (photo credit: COURTESY OF AUSTRALIAN JEWISH ASSOCIATION)
Swastikas painted on the Bondi Beach mural
(photo credit: COURTESY OF AUSTRALIAN JEWISH ASSOCIATION)
Twenty swastikas were painted at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday. Local police are investigating the incident and have appealed for witnesses to come forward.
Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel and former Opposition Leader Isaac Herzog called the event "shameful antisemitic vandalism."
"This hateful attack does not conform with Australian values of openness and inclusion," he continued. "I trust Australian authorities will find and prosecute those responsible."
“Outragous!” The Australian Jewish Association wrote on Twitter, in a report about the “numerous swastikas.”

Vic Alhadeff, CEO of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, condemned the graffiti, saying, “All Australians of goodwill will stand together in condemning this shocking display. The Jewish community is appalled at this expression of blatant racism.”
“To say that the Jewish community is appalled at this expression of wanton racism is a severe understatement,” Board of Deputies president Lesli Berger said. “The swastika represents the ultimate in race hatred.”
Former Australian ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma wrote on Twitter, calling the acts “abominable, intolerant and shameful.”

“This is a disgraceful act... Waverley Council and the community of Waverley stand united against antisemitism and racially motivated crime,” said Waverly Mayor John Wakefield. “Racism has no place in our culturally diverse community, and we condemn last night’s incident in the strongest terms.”
Australian MP Prof. Kerryn Phelps said, “There is no place for antisemitism in Australia.”