Bondi Beach vandalised with anti-Israel graffiti

Police are investigating after numerous buildings and signs were found vandalised with anti-Israel graffiti in Bondi Beach on Saturday morning.

Parts of the “Head On” photo exhibition, lifeguard towers and barriers, and other infrastructure was vandalised. The vandalism was found at approximately 2am. Further harmful graffiti was found on Ramsgate Avenue at around 4am. The graffiti included anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian messages.

Police have identified two men from CCTV images; they are seen to have slim builds and are aged around 20, and were last seen walking on Campbell Parade.

Waverley mayor Will Nemesh described the vandalism as “especially pernicious” and ensured that “Waverley Council will do everything in its power to assist police in catching the perpetrator or perpetrators”.

“We value our Jewish community and will do everything we can to ensure our Jewish community is safe,” he said.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Michele Goldman in an interview with 7 News described the antisemitic vandalism attack as  “deeply disappointing”. She added that it occurred “in the largest Jewish community in New South Wales.

“Seeing racist graffiti is a hateful attack on our Australian values,” she said.

Australian-Israeli human rights lawyer and advocate Arsen Ostrovsky said he saw the “disgusting antisemitic graffiti” while on a morning run at Bondi Beach.

“Sadly, this has become far too common, reflecting the alarming surge in Jew-hatred since October 7, including the repeated defilement of Australian landmarks being hijacked as platforms for intimidation and incitement against the Jewish community,” he wrote on social media.

“Thankfully NSW Police were immediately on the scene, but the perpetrators must be identified and held fully accountable. Australia cannot allow this kind of hate to fester or become normalised.”