A shul in Allawah, South Sydney, was defaced with swastikas and hateful graffiti, including messages glorifying Adolf Hitler.

Additional slogans, such as “Hitler on top,” the Arabic phrase “Allah hu Akbar,” “Free Palestine,” “[Curse] Israel” and “Jew dogs,” were spray-painted on the building’s exterior walls.

Local police discovered the vandalism during a routine patrol early Friday and have opened a hate crime investigation.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack, stating, “There is no place in Australia, our tolerant multicultural community, for this sort of criminal activity.”

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns described the incident as a “monstrous act” committed by individuals “determined to divide our community.” He emphasized the need to address such acts of hatred.

New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna assured the public that the investigation includes counter-terrorism detectives, and pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice. He called the incident “disgusting” and warned those responsible that they would face prosecution.

Security camera footage revealed two individuals, both masked and dressed in black hoodies, committing the crime.

David Ossip, president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, and Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, urged the community to reject antisemitism and called for swift arrests.

Dr. George Foster, president of the synagogue and the son of Holocaust survivors, voiced his shock and distress, comparing the incident to the Nazi economic boycott of 1933, when antisemitic graffiti defaced Jewish-owned shops and businesses.

He also reflected on the synagogue’s troubled history, recalling a firebombing in 1991 and a graffiti attack in 2002.

This attack is part of an increase in antisemitic incidents in Australia. On Tuesday, a man was charged for allegedly pretending to point a gun at a synagogue worshipper in Saint Ives. On Monday, offensive graffiti targeting Jews was found on a car in eastern Sydney.

Last month, Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue was severely damaged in an arson attack, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu linked to rising anti-Israel sentiment in Australia. Days after the synagogue was torched, a car was set ablaze and the words “Kill Israel” were sprayed on a garage door in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra.

The arson attack prompted Canberra to form a federal task force to address antisemitism.

The Australian government, however, has faced criticism for its policies, including reversing recognition of Yerushalayim as Israel’s capital and a series of actions that reflect an anti-Israel stance.

In addition, safety concerns led to the cancellation of an international ice hockey tournament involving the Israeli team. Visa issues have also drawn attention, with former Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and IDF veterans facing challenges entering the country.

This string of incidents highlights the growing challenges faced by the Jewish community in Australia amid an explosion of antisemitism following the Hamas-led massacre of more than a thousand Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023. JNS

{Matzav.com}