Anthony Albanese is slammed over ‘tone deaf’ comment to Jewish community leaders

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been criticized as tone-deaf after telling Jewish community leaders that “the Arabs are doing it really hard right now.”

The Prime Minister made the comments following an anti-Semitic attack in Woollahra last month, in which graffiti was sprayed on cars and buildings, including celebrity chef Matt Moran’s Chiswick restaurant, and one car was set on fire.

Since then there have been two more attacks, one with the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne on December 6 when Jews gathered to pray, which injured one person, and another graffiti and car burning attack in Woollahra on December 11.

Jewish leaders were reportedly surprised by Mr Albanese’s words and commented on them, but the prime minister’s office said he had called for unity and the quote did not reflect the tone of the conversation.

Sky News presenter Sharri Markson said on social media that the Prime Minister’s comment highlighted the Labor leader’s “instinctive instinct to talk about how hard the Arab community is doing when the country is experiencing an anti-Semitism crisis”.

Viewers have similar opinions, with one saying he “just can’t help it.”

‘A weak Prime Minister… who allows hate speech on the streets and lumps our pain with the Arabs. Shows a complete lack of understanding,” wrote another.

“Isn’t it true that we are only seeing the tip of the underlying iceberg of anti-Semitism?” a third added.

The Prime Minister made the comments following an attack in November in Sydney’s Woollahra, in which a car was set on fire (pictured)

Anti-Israel graffiti was also sprayed on cars and a popular restaurant in Sydney in November

On Tuesday, Mr. Albanese met with the Jewish community outside the United States Adam Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea and was He was greeted with a spiky reception, with one woman shouting from the crowd that his performance was “cheap and late.”

“People have come to Australia because we are a peaceful country,” Albanese told the crowd.

“We are a country that respects people of different faiths and is enriched by our diversity here.”

His government this week reaffirmed its commitment to the Jewish community, including announcing $32.5 million in funding for the Executive Council of Australian Jewry to improve security at locations such as schools and synagogues.

“This is a time when the country must look for national unity, not areas of distinction and disagreement on every issue,” Albanese said.

“I would have thought that every Australian would be shocked by what happened last Friday and would be as willing to condemn it as to oppose it. It’s un-Australian, I said that. It is intended to create fear in the community and must be addressed.”

On Thursday, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to support a permanent and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, the delivery of humanitarian aid and the protection of children and civilians.

The motion was passed with 158 members, including Australia, voting in favor and nine against, while 13 abstained during an emergency session.

This was said by the Australian ambassador to the UN, James Larsen The demand for full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance to Gaza was urgent.

“Israel must take urgent action to alleviate this humanitarian crisis,” he said.

The Prime Minister talks to members of the local Jewish community during a visit to the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne on December 10

The shell of the synagogue after it was set on fire as Jews gathered to pray on December 6

Housing Minister Clare O’Neil leaves flowers at the synagogue on December 10

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry rejected the motion, saying an unconditional ceasefire meant Israel would have to abandon hostages “and allow the Hamas terrorists to re-establish themselves as the de facto rulers of Gaza’.

“No country in the world should be expected to betray its own citizens, as Israel is being called to do,” President Daniel Aghion said.

Australia also voted to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in a second motion that passed by 159 votes, nine against and eleven abstentions.

The motion called on the Israeli Knesset to overturn laws banning the organization from operating in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza and the West Bank.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has repeatedly stated that the organization is the only one capable of distributing aid on the scale needed in Gaza.