Thousands gather at Bondi Beach to mourn victims of antisemitic attack

Melbourne, Dec 21: Thousands of mourners gathered under tight police security at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday evening to mark a week since two gunmen targeting a Jewish festival killed 15 people. Since then, Australian governments have been galvanised into action on countering antisemitism and tightening already strict national gun controls.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, his predecessors John Howard and Scott Morrison, and Governor-General Sam Mostyn, who represents Australia’s head of state King Charles III, were among the dignitaries at the commemoration that drew more than 10,000 people. “This has to be the nadir of antisemitism in our country. This has to be the moment when light starts to eclipse the darkness,” New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies President David Ossip told the crowd.
The crowd booed Albanese when Ossip acknowledged his presence.
Opposition leader Sussan Ley, who had said that a conservative government led by her would reverse a decision made by Albanese’s centre-left Labour Party government this year to recognise a Palestinian state, was cheered.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lashed out at Albanese over the attack on the Hannukkah celebration, saying, “Your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on the antisemitic fire.” (PTI)