Anti-Semitic Attack on Victorian Politician

[Br.IanVonTurpie]

https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2024/06/19/josh-burns-office-vandalism-gaza

Labor MP has condemned a "callous and dangerous" vandalism attack on his Melbourne electorate office.

Macnamara MP Josh Burns' office had its windows smashed, and fires lit outside, in an attack early on Wednesday that is being branded as "politically motivated

The walls of the office were also graffitied in red paint with devil horns and slogans that read "Zionism is fascism".

"It's pretty bad inside there. There's red paint all at the front of my office. There's a lot of glass that needs to be repaired. There's extensive damage and there were fires out the front of the office, so there was a lot of police activity this morning," Burns said.

Police have launched a manhunt after at least five people were seen near the electorate office on Barkly Street, St Kilda, in Melbourne's inner south-east, about 3.20am on Wednesday.

Investigators said small fires were lit in telecommunications pits at the front of the building before the group ran from the scene.

Burns, who is Jewish, has also previously had his election posters defaced. But Wednesday's incident represents a dramatic escalation of attacks on MPs' offices in protest at the conflict in Gaza.

  Hmm why does everybody target Jew$

[Rev.FrankSmith]

Noted

[Br.IanVonTurpie]

https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/nsw/2024/11/21/woollahra-israel-vandalism-cars?ahe=562830b26ca9c07

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and police have condemned a "brazen" and "disgusting" slew of anti-Israel vandalism across Sydney on Wednesday night

A vehicle was torched, while nine others and three homes were spray-painted with graffiti in a spree in a prominent Jewish area of Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Detective Acting Superintendent (((Adam Solah))) said police were called to the burning vehicle in Wellington Street, Woollahra, shortly after midnight.

It had been spray-painted with anti-Israeli slogans before being set alight. Fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze, but the car was destroyed.

Nine other cars in surrounding streets had been sprayed with words such as "f–k Israel".

https://twitter.com/spenderallegra/status/1859347478086406367

The door of a unit complex in nearby Ocean Street was also targeted, as was the Matt Moran-owned restaurant Chiswick.

The area is also home to several consulates.

Solah said the damage bill ran to about $80,000 for the cars, and a further $20,000 to $30,000 for the buildings.

"It is brazen, it's offensive – the behaviour of the people who did it is disgusting behaviour that is against community standards," Solah said.

"These are people's houses they live in, people's cars – and one of the vehicles that got spray-painted and set fire to, we are told this morning, is completely destroyed. Again, it is the behaviour that is completely unacceptable."

Locals were seen cleaning their cars with acetone-free nail polish remover on Thursday morning.

"I did lots of googling but this seems to be the only way that's working," one resident said.

Earlier, Albanese also condemned the incident as "disturbing" and "deeply troubling".

"There is no place for antisemitism in Australia," he said.

"Conflict overseas cannot be made a platform for prejudice at home. I have trust in our law enforcement agencies to deal with this."

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the attack was "absolutely deplorable".

"It is unacceptable, un-Australian, and it will not be tolerated," he said.

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.

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.

Some folks must have been real mad to have gone on a spree like this!