Australian journalist warns ‘unity’ won’t stop antisemitic violence
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
An Australian journalist who witnessed an anti-Semitic terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney has warned that government calls for unity are pointless unless they have consequences for extremism, arguing that inaction is emboldening bad actors and “horrifying” and “traumatizing” Jewish communities.
“Words mean nothing if the people you’re trying to instill fear or warn don’t believe what you’re saying because your actions don’t support them,” Erin Molan said Monday on “Fox & Friends.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his wife Jodie Haydon attended the memorial service for those who lost their lives in the shooting attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Sunday. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images)
Molan, who has repeatedly warned that antisemitism is on the rise in Australia, has completely rejected the rhetoric of unity after witnessing the attack on Bondi Beach on 14 December, saying words without action are not enough to deter those who want to kill Jews and only reveal the weakness of the government.
ISRAELI DIASPORA MINISTER SAYS AUSTRALIA SHOULD SEE THAT IT WAS ‘WRITTEN ON THE WALL’ BEFORE TERRORIST ATTACK
He drew attention to the fact that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the memorial ceremony for the victims of the Hanukkah attack and was booed by the participants there.
“Our prime minister continues to call for unity. That’s great, but guess what? The enemy who wants to kill us doesn’t care about unity,” he said.
“If you’re not willing to do the hard things to destroy an enemy who’s trying to kill you, then none of this matters. It won’t keep our people safe.”
People walk past a memorial painted on the wall of the walking bridge following the December 14 shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Friday. (Steve Markham/AP Photo)
Citing antisemitic slogans outside the Sydney Opera House in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, as well as later demonstrations on the iconic Sydney Harbor Bridge, Molan said the increased abuse and harassment of Jews had been “completely ignored” by the Australian government.
AFTER THE HANUKKAH MASSACRE IN AUSTRALIA, CRITICS SAY RECOMMENDING TERRIBLEISTS AFTER OCTOBER 7 INCREASED ANTI-SEMITISM
He claimed that authorities failed to respond decisively while terrorist flags were waved, synagogues were bombed while full of people inside, Jewish schools were vandalized and cars were set on fire in front of Jewish homes.
She also criticized moves by Western governments to recognize a Palestinian state, saying such steps reward Hamas for the Oct. 7 massacres.
“Our government has completely surrendered and has been praised by terrorist organizations, by Hamas,” he said.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
Molan argued that anyone who celebrated violence against Jews faced consequences.
“Did Brian, who celebrated death, waved terrorist flags and chanted for people to kill Jews, pay a price in this country? No,” he told host Brian Kilmeade. “Therein lies the problem. Weakness breeds violence.”
