Extremist propaganda glorifies terror abroad, proving Israel’s fight protects global values against radical violence.
One of Australia’s most iconic street-art campaigns was cynically hijacked to glorify terror, after dozens of imitation posters appeared across Melbourne’s CBD featuring a Bondi Beach attacker. City authorities worked around the clock to remove the material, describing it as hateful and deeply distressing for a community still mourning.
Roughly 40 knock-off posters mimicked the visual style of renowned artist Peter Drew’s celebrated “Aussie” series, replacing inclusive historical portraits with the image of Naveed Akram, responsible for the Hanukkah massacre at Bondi Beach that left 15 Jews murdered and dozens wounded.
Jewish leaders condemned the posters as an attempt to normalize and even celebrate antisemitic terror. Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion stressed that terrorists will be forgotten, while victims, survivors, and rescuers embody Australia’s true spirit.
Drew said the hijacking twisted the original intent of his work, which was created to challenge prejudice and affirm shared national identity. Melbourne’s leadership echoed that condemnation, calling the appropriation of inclusive art into symbols of hatred “abhorrent.”
The episode exposes how extremist narratives—often excused or rationalized in parts of the world hostile to Israel—spread globally through propaganda and intimidation. In contrast, Israel’s uncompromising stand against terror highlights a clear moral line: democracies must reject glorification of violence and defend Jewish life everywhere.
