Car torched, anti-Israel graffiti defaces vehicles in Woollahra
A wave of anti-Israel vandalism in Woollahra in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, on Thursday, Nov. 21, has sparked outrage from authorities and the Jewish community.
A car was set ablaze on Wellington Street around 1 a.m., with Fire and Rescue NSW extinguishing the flames but leaving the vehicle destroyed. Additionally, anti-Israel graffiti defaced multiple cars across Wellington, Tara, Fullerton, and Ocean Streets, as well as a unit complex and the Chiswick restaurant on Ocean Street, owned by chef Matt Moran.
Authorities have established multiple crime scenes, and forensic teams are investigating. Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry told “The Sydney Morning Herald” that the car fire appeared suspicious, with initial burn patterns suggesting it started outside the vehicle. Police are appealing for information and surveillance footage to assist in the investigation.
Photos: Courtesy The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies
Writing on X, NSW Premier Chris Minns condemned the attack, describing the antisemitic incident in Woollahra as “absolutely deplorable.” He added, “It is unacceptable, un-Australian, and it will not be tolerated.” Minns also assured the public that the NSW Police have established Strike Force Mylor to investigate and identify those responsible for what he termed “disgraceful behaviour.”
Woollahra Mayor Sarah Swan expressed her dismay over the antisemitic vandalism and arson in the suburb, describing the incidents as “hateful criminal activity” that is “not welcome anywhere in Australia.” She called the attacks “very distressing and worrying for our community” and praised the efforts of the Eastern Suburbs Local Area Command in conducting a thorough investigation. “We encourage members of the public with information or relevant CCTV footage to report it immediately,” she said. The mayor also pledged the Council’s full support to the police as they work to identify those responsible.
David Ossip, president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBD), condemned the attacks, stating: “We are closely liaising with the authorities following reports that a car was set alight and other vehicles were defaced with anti-Israel graffiti in Woollahra overnight. This is the latest escalation in a campaign of intimidation and harassment targeted at the Jewish community.
There cannot be any tolerance for criminal behaviour like this, which undermines social cohesion and is antithetical to the Australian values we all hold dear.
The Jewish community will not be intimidated by such acts of criminality and antisemitism. We will continue to stand with our fellow Australians to reject acts and words of division and hate which seek to disrupt the societal harmony we all treasure.”
Ossip also highlighted ongoing efforts to combat antisemitism, noting that since January 2024, the Board has worked with councils to remove more than 80 instances of antisemitic graffiti or vandalism reported through its antisemitism portal.
Other leaders echoed Ossip’s sentiments. Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, described the incident as “extreme and violent.” Woollahra Mayor Sarah Swan added, in an interview with “The Sydney Morning Herald”, that “hateful criminal activity is not welcome anywhere.”
“The anti-Israel movement has been growing progressively more extreme, more violent, and more indifferent to who it harms. It wasn’t stopped at the Opera House steps. It wasn’t stopped at the pro-Hamas encampments. And it wasn’t stopped at the hate preachers. Now Australians are waking up to find their property destroyed and their suburbs violated.”
In Canberra, the Israeli embassy posted on X: “The Embassy of Israel in Australia is appalled by the antisemitic attack in Sydney last night.
Words are no longer enough—it’s time for action.
We stand with the Jewish community and call for immediate measures to protect and uphold the rights and safety of all citizens.”
Local federal MP Allegra Spender said her community “won’t be intimidated”.
“Australians care about having a country that is welcoming to everyone of all faiths, backgrounds and sexualities, we will not be intimidated by fringe groups who want to try and divide us,” she said.
In a show of unity, Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns joined forces with Liberal senator Dave Sharma to call out the behaviour.
Mr Burns said since Israel’s war in Gaza began and tensions escalated across the Middle East, Jewish Australians were feeling targeted.
“The sort of incidents that we’re seeing against the Jewish community is escalating and intensifying,” he said.
“Last night would have made a lot of people in the Jewish community right around the country feel extremely unsafe.”
Mr Sharma said he was pleased to learn NSW police had set up a strike force to investigate the incident.
“There are legitimate forms of political protests, there are legitimate forms of freedom of expression, this is not one of those,” he said.
Local residents voiced their distress. Frances Gottlieb, a Jewish resident whose car was vandalized, told “The Daily Telegraph” that the graffiti was “cowardly and antisemitic,” adding, “It’s obviously targeted and making a statement.”
Authorities continue to investigate and urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers or Waverley Police Station.
With AAP
