Australia begins inquiry into antisemitism following Bondi attacks, spike in antisemitic incidents

The December mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney's famed Bondi Beach shocked Australia, a country with strict gun laws, and fueled calls for tougher controls and stronger action against antisemitism.

Police allege the father and son gunmen were inspired by the Islamic State.

The Royal Commission, the most powerful type of government inquiry in Australia, which can compel people to give evidence, will be led by retired judge Virginia Bell.

It will consider the events of the shooting as well as antisemitism and social cohesion in Australia, and is expected to report its findings by December this year.

Bell is expected to make a short opening statement at a court in Sydney later on Tuesday, explaining how she will approach the inquiry's terms of reference.

There will not be any testimony heard or evidence given.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had initially resisted calls to set up a Royal Commission, saying the process would take years, which attracted criticism from Jewish groups and victims' families.

“A Royal Commission is not the beginning or the end of what Australia must do to eradicate antisemitism, protect ourselves from terrorism, or strengthen our social cohesion,” said the prime minister back in January when announcing the commission.

The Bondi attack followed a spate of antisemitic incidents in the country, including the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue.

At the January press conference announcing the commission, Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal said that it was important the government listened to those advocating for a commission, noting that the scale of antisemitism had escalated after the October 7 massacre, but hadn’t begun then.

“We saw a sustained pattern of threats, intimidation, and violence immediately after. But there had been growth in antisemitism before then. Then we had Bondi, and Bondi did not occur in isolation,” said Segal.

“There were signs pointing to it, and we must examine those warning signs so that something like that does not happen again to Jewish Australians or to any Australians.”

Nomani, a prominent pro-Palestine activist with links to the Islamist fundamentalist organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, had resigned from the board of Sydney’s Malek Fahd Islamic School after the outlet uncovered the disturbing video.

The New South Wales (NSW) Education Standards Authority initiated an investigation, and there have been calls for Federal Minister for Education Jason Clare to step in, given that the school is predominantly funded by the federal government.

The teenager, Joshua Levy, was attending the camp alongside over 1,500 scouts and volunteers in Victoria, and was getting a milkshake when he was confronted by another scout.

The other scout reportedly demanded to know why Joshua was wearing the Israeli flag and accused Israel of murdering children. Levy left but was approached again later that day by the same individual at a crowded event.