<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>337319</docID> <postdate>2025-01-31 09:03:02</postdate> <headline>Frydenberg flays Albanese over antisemitic attacks</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-317092" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20220522001662239583-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg... "The Jewish community - and it's about only 116,000 strong - is very scared. People are afraid to send their kids to school." (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Farid Farid</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg has accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of failing to set red lines not to be crossed after antisemitic attacks began ramping up in Australia. Â </strong></p> <p>The former Liberal party deputy leader said the discovery of a caravan containing explosives and addresses of Jewish targets was just the latest in a long list of incidents that have left the Jewish community less safe.</p> <p>"The Jewish community - and it's about only 116,000 strong - is very scared. People are afraid to send their kids to school. People are afraid now to gather at places of worship," he told the ABC's 7.30 program on Thursday night.</p> <p>Mr Frydenberg, who is Jewish, said he was personally "cautious and extra vigilant" after receiving "very serious threats" that he had referred to federal police.</p> <p>He said antisemitism had gained a foothold in Australia and from the beginning the prime minister "should have set red lines that were not to be crossed" to make sure culprits were arrested, convicted and punished.</p> <p>"Because of the absence of action those who hate and those who harm have been emboldened."</p> <p>Mr Frydenberg said he backed a coalition call for minimum mandatory sentences for those who commit terror attacks.</p> <p>Rabbi Zalman Goldstein, who heads the Maroubra Synagogue in eastern Sydney, said his congregation was feeling defiant amid a rising tide of anti-Semitism and would not allow fear to take hold.</p> <p>"The Jewish community is saddened to see this happening in Australia, and at the same time, the community is very strong and resilient - we don't get deterred or intimidated by bullies," he told AAP.</p> <p>"Our strength comes from thousands of years of Jewish perseverance and survival. We've been through a lot.</p> <p>"We're not going to allow fear to take hold."</p> <p>He thanked authorities for swiftly responding on Thursday after more racist slurs were plastered near Mount Sinai Jewish school in Maroubra and two other properties in surrounding suburbs.</p> <p>He also expressed relief a potential terrorist attack had been foiled.</p> <p>A massive, multi-agency probe that includes counter-terrorism investigators was launched when an explosive-laden abandoned caravan was found on a semi-rural road in Sydney's northwest outskirts.</p> <p>There was no detonator alongside the explosives but notes containing addresses of Jewish targets were also found in the caravan.</p> <p>NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the investigation was at a "delicate stage" with officers going through the physical evidence at the crime scene.</p> <p>"But in terms of tracing where the explosives might have come from... there's a fair bit of work to do yet," she told ABC Radio Sydney on Thursday.</p> <p>NSW Premier Chris Minns described the find as a "potential terrorist event".</p> <p>"I'm not a prophet but it's a great sign that police are finding more success and stopping them (perpetrators) in their tracks," Rabbi Goldstein said.</p> <p>Rising tensions exploited by disruptive agitators have resulted in the defacing and bombing of synagogues, childcare centres and homes in Melbourne and Sydney.</p> <p>Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the foiled attack was another "intolerable" addition to a growing list of hate crimes.</p> <p>"The epidemic of anti-Semitism is spreading in Australia almost unchecked," he posted on X.</p> <p>"We expect the Australian government to do more to stop this disease."</p> <p>ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said in a statement that while he understood community fears and frustrations, the threat level would remain the same.</p> <p>"While the caravan matter in New South Wales remains under police investigation, ASIO does not believe there is an ongoing threat to public safety."</p> <p>He said the current threat designation of probable was the same as it was at the height of the Islamic State.</p> </body>