Australian Jewish organisations react to Washington, DC terror
'When people in those hate-filled marches chant ‘globalise the intifada’, this is what they mean'
Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) president Daniel Aghion has expressed the community’s horror at “what appears to be an act of antisemitic terror” in Washington, DC.
Two Israeli Embassy staff members were shot “at close range” while attending a Jewish event at the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday night, US eastern daylight time.
According to Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, the staff, who were a couple, were about to get engaged with the man planning to propose next week in Jerusalem.
The alleged gunman has been apprehended.
“It is reported that the alleged gunman shot two members of staff of the Israeli Embassy from close range and yelled ‘Free Palestine’ during his arrest,” Aghion said.
“A Jewish communal event hosted by the American Jewish Committee, a close partner of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, was taking place inside the building at the time of the attack. Our deepest sympathies are with the families of the dead, with the Israeli diplomatic corps and the American Jewish community.”
Aghion expressed hope that justice would be swift and decisive. “This senseless, brutal and targeted attack again shows us the danger posed to us all by the incitement and violence of the pro-Palestinian movement,” he said. “The ECAJ has been in touch with the Australian Federal Police this afternoon and reminds the community to remain vigilant.”
Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) executive director Colin Rubenstein said that when people chant ‘globalise the intifada’, “This is what they mean.
“This appalling act of terrorism is a direct outcome of the hatred we’ve witnessed in the streets of the US, Australia and around the world,” he said. “Condemnation of terrorism after the fact isn’t good enough; we implore our political leaders to condemn the chants of hatred before they become acts of violent hatred.”
He said the Australian Jewish community is rightly worried for its security. “If this act could happen on the streets of the American capital, it could happen in Australia,” he said.
Rubenstein noted that AIJAC has been a long-standing partner of the American Jewish Committee. “We stand with the AJC and the American Jewish community, and offer our deep sympathy to the families of the young couple who were murdered. May their memories be a blessing,” he said.
The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) said in a statement it was devastated and outraged by the “senseless murder”.
“Jewish community spaces, like the one targeted in Washington DC, are vital centres of Jewish identity, education, and remembrance,” ZFA president Jeremy Leibler said.
“In Australia, many members of our community regularly attend events in these spaces, and the fact that such a location would be the site of a targeted killing underscores the grave and escalating threats facing Jewish communities globally.”
ZFA CEO Alon Cassuto said “these brutal murders did not occur in a vacuum”.
“For 18 months, we have witnessed a sustained campaign of incitement, demonisation, and dehumanisation directed at the State of Israel and the Jewish people,” he said.
“Unchecked rhetoric that promotes hatred and violence has real-world consequences; when a nation and their people are relentlessly vilified, not only does violence become imaginable, but inevitable.”
The Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) said in a statement, “This senseless antisemitic attack, targeting a Jewish community centre, is a devastating reminder that rhetoric, demonisation, and hatred — when left unchecked — will continue to fuel real-world violence.
“When individuals around the world are allowed to sanitise phrases like “Globalise the Intifada” and dismiss their violent implications, it is not activism. It is incitement. And it has consequences.
“Alongside communities across the world, we mourn those murdered in this devastating attack, and our hearts are with their loved ones.”
Sydney Jewish Museum president Greg Shand noted that “despite the best efforts of our law-makers and enforcers, the same environment of anti-Israel sentiment crossing the line into antisemitism exists in Australia”.
“Sadly, we have seen a 300 per cent increase in acts of anti-Jewish hatred here. The Sydney Jewish Museum will continue to do everything possible to educate those and inform those who visit all with the aim of creating a more cohesive and tolerant society,” he said.
“While freedom of speech is sacrosanct, violent protests that become a vehicle for expressions of hatred and vilification are beyond the pale.”
Sydney Jewish Museum CEO Kevin Sumption pointed out that the Capital Jewish Museum’s publicly stated vision – “To act in the service of equity and justice for all and promote diversity, inclusivity, and ultimately equity, build an inclusive, multicultural democracy, teach difficult histories, and work to foster an anti-racist society” – closely resembles the SJM’s own.
“We stand in solidarity with our friends in Washington D.C. and we mourn with them,” he said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong posted on X on Thursday, “The Australian Government is shocked and appalled by the killing of two Israeli Embassy staff in Washington DC. Our thoughts go out to their families, loved ones, and colleagues. There is no place for antisemitism in the world. It must be denounced and condemned.”
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