Cars vandalised in antisemitic attack in Sydney

A ute has been set on fire and a dozen cars vandalised in what police have described as a “political incident” in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Before 1am this morning, firefighters were called to extinguish the burning ute in Woollahra. When police arrived, they found a dozen cars spray-painted with white graffiti “Fuk(sic) Israel” sprayed on its windows, and similar attacks on Matt Moran's Chiswick restaurant and a nearby building.

The attack was clearly aimed at the private property of Jewish Australians. The area has a high Jewish population and includes the Wolper Jewish Hospital and the Emmanuel Synagogue.

One resident described the attack as "a big middle finger". "It's not the sort of thing you want to see, especially as a Jewish person living in Australia, born in Australia. Not a very welcoming or, I think, not, not what Australia is really about," he told The Australian.

The attackers did not only target Israel. Some cars cars were tagged “PKK is coming” – apparently a reference to the Kurdish separatist group also known as the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which is classified as a terrorist organisation in Australia, and has a long-running conflict with Turkey. The Turkish consulate is near the location of the attacks.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has responded strongly to the vandalism, describing the images as “disturbing and deeply troubling to all Australians”.

“There is no place for antisemitism in Australia. Conflict overseas cannot be made a platform for prejudice at home.”

Local federal MP, Allegra Spender, said she was “deeply concerned” by “appalling antisemitic graffiti” and “completely unacceptable damage”.

NSW Premier Chris Minns labelled the incident a deplorable “antisemitic attack”. “It is unacceptable, un-Australian, and it will not be tolerated,” he said.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies President David Ossip described it in a statement as an "escalation in a campaign of intimidation and harassment targeted" at his community.

"There cannot be any tolerance for criminal behaviour like this, which undermines social cohesion and is antithetical to the Australian values we all hold dear," he said.

"The Jewish community will not be intimidated by such acts of criminality and antisemitism.

"We will continue to stand with our fellow Australians to reject acts and words of division and hate which seek to disrupt the societal harmony we all treasure."

READ MORE

A dozen cars vandalised, popular eastern suburbs restaurant graffitied in ‘political’ vandalism (SMH, paywall)

Investigation underway after car set alight and dozens of other vehicles spray-painted with anti-Israel slurs in Woollahra (Skynews)

‘Big middle finger’: Jewish residents react to antisemitic attack in Woollahra (The Australian, paywall)