Travel warning for Jewish people visiting Australia after synagogue attack

One of the world's most respected Jewish human rights groups has issued a travel alert warning against travel to Australia in the wake of the Melbourne synagogue attack.

The advisory from the US-based Simon Wiesenthal Centre follows last Friday's arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue at Ripponlea, which is being investigated as an act of terrorism.

"We are not convinced that Jews are safe as the authorities have failed to take necessary measures to protect Jewish communities from increasingly belligerent and violent targeting by lslamists and other extremists," the centre said.

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The organisation also cited the federal government's backing of a UN resolution calling on Israel to end its presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which it described as "anti-Israel".

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the firebombing of the synagogue as a likely terrorist attack.

The Simon Wiesenthal Centre, known for Nazi-hunting and Jewish human rights activism, has never before warned Jewish people against visiting Australia.

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But the centre's associate dean Rabbi Abraham Cooper has written to Australia's ambassador in the US, Kevin Rudd, informing him about the travel advice for Jewish people.

"The Simon Wiesenthal Center is outraged that our fellow Jews in Australia are being targeted by hate crimes, culminating in a dire escalation--terrorist firebombing of a synagogue in Melbourne that injured Jews at prayer and destroyed a place of prayer and an area used for communal events," the letter said.

"Such attacks were unthinkable just a few years ago. But in recent years, especially since October 7th , 2023, Jews the world over have been demonised and targeted by lslamists, pro-Hamas extremists, and many in the media and public life.

"Unfortunately, this includes the dynamic Jewish communities in Australia.

"The Simon Wiesenthal Center is placing a travel advisory on Australia for Jews the world over considering travel to your country to exercise extreme caution.

"We are not convinced that Jews are safe as the authorities have failed to take necessary measures to protect Jewish communities from increasingly belligerent and violent targeting by lslamists and other extremists."

In a speech overnight, Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned what she called a devastating rise in antisemitism in Australia, but also insisted Israel must comply with international law.

She insisted it was not antisemitic to demand civilians be protected in Gaza or call for a two-state solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live peacefully.

Albanese yesterday rejected claims from Israel's prime minister that the synagogue attack was linked to Australia's UN vote last week.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has criticised the prime minister for not doing enough to protect Jewish people in Australia.