President Isaac Herzog slammed the mass shooting that targeted a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, on Sunday.
“At these very moments, our sisters and brothers in Sydney, Australia, have been attacked by vile terrorists in a very cruel attack on Jews who went to light the first candle of Chanukah on Bondi Beach," Herzog said during an event honoring lone soldiers at the President's Residence in Jerusalem.
Herzog expressed his condolences to those wounded in the attack, sending "our warmest strength from Jerusalem."
“We repeat our alerts time and again to the Australian government to seek action and fight against the enormous wave of antisemitism which is plaguing Australian society.”
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana shared a picture of the Knesset lit up in the colors of the Australian flag, commenting that "Your pain is our pain. We will not surrender to antisemites and terrorism. Light will defeat darkness. Am Yisrael Chai (the people of Israel live)," in a post on his X/Twitter.
"We felt and experienced the intense antisemitism directed against the Jewish community in Australia," Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer echoed Herzog's words, also speaking at the event. "Our hearts are with the community, and we stand with them.”
“Following the murderous incident in Australia, and in an effort to support the Jewish community as much as possible, I immediately instructed the relevant professional teams to dispatch a delegation of experts in emergency response," Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli said in a Sunday statement.
"Together with the Jewish Agency, the [Diaspora] ministry is operating emergency teams in various fields: coping with trauma, mental health, community rehabilitation, crisis communications, and the like," he said. "In addition, remote trainings will be provided as much as possible on these same topics, under the framework of ‘Help the Helpers’, support for those whose role is to support the professionals."
In addition, Chikli announced his intention to travel to Sydney to "stand with the Jewish community in this difficult time and to ensure that we, as the State of Israel, are giving them everything within our ability.”
'The Australian government bears responsibility'
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett echoed the statement in his own post on X/Twitter, blaming the Australian government for the attack and demanding it take "immediate, decisive action to protect Jewish communities."
"The writing was on the wall," he wrote. "The Australian government bears responsibility."
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar also slammed the attack, calling the shooting the "results of the anti-Semitic rampage in the streets of Australia over the past two years, with the anti-Semitic and inciting calls of 'Globalise the Intifada' that were realized today."
"This is what 'Globalize the Intifada' looks like. A bloodied holiday for Jews," Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana wrote in an X post following the incident, sending his own well wishes to those wounded and families of the victims. "Wherever antisemitism is not confronted head-on, it will transform into terrorism against Jews.
"The best time to act was when it started. The second best time is NOW."
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir slammed the Australian government in his own scathing post to X, saying that "the blood of the murdered is on the hands of the Australian government, which announced recognition of a 'Palestinian' state and gave legitimacy to terrorism against Jews."
"I strengthen the Chabad emissaries, who continue to act with dedication, courage, and true mission, even in the face of threats and terrorism, in order to spread light," his post continued. "Especially now, we will increase light, stand tall, and prove: the Jewish light is stronger than the darkness, and its victory is inevitable."
"In these difficult moments, in the face of the horrific images that remind us of the October 7 massacre, our hearts are with our brothers and sisters in the Jewish community in Australia," Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich wrote in his own X post.
"Our heartfelt prayers for the peace of the injured, and our unwavering demand of the Australian government to crack down harshly on the rising antisemitism in the country and to protect its Jews," the post went on.
Former leader of Labor, MK Merav Micheali, also sent her condolences to the victims, noting that "an attack on the Jewish community of Sydney is an attack on Jews worldwide, no matter what you call it.
"Jews should never feel unsafe or targeted for proudly showing their heritage - anywhere in the world," the former transport minister wrote.
Sa'ar speaks to Australian FM Penny Wong
Sa'ar spoke to the Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong later on Sunday.
The conversation occurred at Wong's initiative, Sa'ar noted.
During the call, Wong expressed Australia's "pain and sorrow over the deadly antisemitic terrorist attack in Sydney."
Sa'ar responded that "since October 7, there has been a surge in antisemitism in Australia, including violent incitement against Israel and Jews in the digital and public spheres, including comparisons of Israel to the Nazis and to the Holocaust, as well as the burning of synagogues and Israeli flags, and marches featuring explicit expressions of hatred."
He also noted to Wong that "security for the Jewish community in Australia will be achieved only through a real change in the public atmosphere. Calls such as “Globalize the Intifada,” “From the River to the Sea Palestine Will be Free,” and “Death to the IDF” are not legitimate, are not part of the freedom of speech, and inevitably lead to what we witnessed today."
"The Australian government must take strong action against the use of these antisemitic calls," Sa'ar affirmed.