Authorities minimize antisemitic targeting while anti-Israel extremism—often tied to radicalized immigrants—spreads across Australia.
An Australian court ruled Monday that Angelo Loras, the man who set fire to the East Melbourne Synagogue while 20 Jewish worshippers were inside, was motivated by mental illness rather than antisemitism—despite the disturbing circumstances surrounding the attack.
Magistrate Malcolm Thomas determined that Loras, a 35-year-old Iranian-born man, acted under delusion after not taking his schizophrenia medication. Loras pleaded guilty to arson and recklessly endangering lives, and was deemed eligible for release due to time served.
But Jewish communal leaders say the ruling raises serious concerns.
Jamie Hyams, of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, noted the troubling pattern:
- Loras arrived at the synagogue on a Friday night,
- carrying a bag of accelerants,
- attempted to force entry,
- and chose a synagogue out of all possible buildings.
Hyams warned that even if mental illness was a factor, it is “worrying” that the attacker targeted a Jewish house of worship—especially amid Australia’s sharp rise in antisemitic incidents since Hamas’ October 7 massacre.
This arson attack occurred the same night an Israeli restaurant in Melbourne suffered significant damage in another disturbance—one of many violent incidents tied to radical anti-Israel sentiment sweeping the country.
Australia’s Jewish community has endured a wave of hostility:
- Dec 2023: The Adass Israel Synagogue firebombed—Prime Minister Albanese later revealed Iran coordinated the attack.
- Sydney’s Woollahra suburb: Car torched, properties vandalized with anti-Israel graffiti.
- “F* the Jews”** spray-painted on a vehicle in Sydney.
- Southern Sydney Synagogue vandalized with antisemitic graffiti.
- Newtown synagogue defaced with red swastikas.
- Home of Alex Ryvchin (Executive Council of Australian Jewry) vandalized.
- Two Australian nurses filmed proudly declaring they would refuse to treat Israelis and would send them “to hell.”
The nurses—Ahmad Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh—have since been banned from working with the National Disability Insurance Scheme, but the incident underscores a chilling trend:
open expressions of Jew-hatred are spreading, emboldened by anti-Israel extremism and foreign influence, especially Iranian-linked networks.
Against this backdrop, many Australian Jews worry that labeling the Melbourne synagogue arson as mere “mental illness” risks ignoring the broader pattern—and the escalating threat.
