Bondi Beach attacks: Relative of murdered rabbi stresses need to look at ‘root causes’ of antisemitic violence

The relative of the British-born rabbi killed in the Bondi Beach terror attack says the debate over Jewish safety must focus on the root causes of antisemitic violence.

Conservative shadow attorney general Lord Wolfson of Tredegar argued that debates about high walls around synagogues and more guards outside schools should be moved away from and extremist ideologies tackled.

On Sunday, 15 people were killed in a shooting attack on one of Australia’s most famous beaches during Jewish Hanukkah celebrations.

Among the dead were a 10-year-old girl and Eli Schlanger, 41, who grew up in Temple Fortune, north London, and was an assistant rabbi at Bondi Chabad.

Speaking in Parliament, Lord Wolfson declared his interest as a relative of the murdered rabbi.

Referring to a charity that provides protection for Jewish communities in the UK, his Conservative colleague said: “While we are always grateful for the support given to the Community Safety Trust, the debate on Jewish security needs to move from being about higher walls around our synagogues and more guards outside our schools to the root reasons why we really need such security.

“So will the minister explain what the government is doing in practical terms to counter the extreme ideologies fueling this antisemitic violence and remove them and their advocates from our social media, our universities and our streets?”

Expressing his condolences, Home Secretary Lord Hanson of Flint emphasized that steps were being taken to eliminate the scourge of antisemitism.

He added: “We must ensure that we promote tolerance, understanding and knowledge about different religions.”

The minister said this must start at a very early age “to enable people to live their lives in an open and tolerant way, to ensure that their religion does not require armed guards in synagogues and armed guards in schools.”

Earlier Lord Hanson told colleagues the UK Government was “appalled” by the terrorist attack.

He said: “It’s terrible that this is happening, especially during Hanukkah.

“My thoughts are with the victims, their families and everyone affected.”

He added: “There is currently no specific intelligence of a linked threat to the UK, but we must remain vigilant and work with the Community Safety Trust and police forces to support Jewish communities in the UK, including during Hanukkah events.

“The United Kingdom stands with Australia, the Jewish community in Sydney and those in the United Kingdom at this terrible time.”

Former navy commander Lord West of Spithead, who raised the atrocity in an urgent question in the upper house, praised the bravery of fruit shop owner Ahmed al-Ahmad, who tackled one of the terrorists.

A video shared widely on social media shortly after the attack showed the 43-year-old gunman fighting off a gunman.

Lord West, who previously served as security minister, said: “He is clearly a better person than me because he picked up his rifle and then put it down because I was going to shoot him (the terrorist).”

The Labor member added: “I’m afraid a small proportion of our British people appear to be under serious threat and I don’t see any use in pretending otherwise.

“Can the Minister confirm that this fact has been positively recognized by the Government and what steps can we take to make this part of our population safer?”

Also praising Mr Ahmed, Lord Hanson said: “The UK Government recognizes that there are real threats to the Jewish community, which is why we have invested £28 million this year to protect Jewish places of worship, schools and community centres.”

He also noted measures introduced to ensure police can take action against public harassment.

The Minister said: “This action taken in Sydney is completely unacceptable and our thoughts are with the Jewish community in Australia at this time, but we also need to be vigilant about the threat to the Jewish community in the UK.”

But Conservative Lord Polak said: “I’m tired. I’m tired of listening to people say, ‘Stand shoulder to shoulder with society.’

“It makes no sense when there are dead Jews on the ground, whether in Manchester or Sydney.

“If members do not know what globalized intifada means, it was on our television screens yesterday.

“That’s why I’m asking the minister to take action. This type of hate speech must be banned.”

He also called on the Government to ban Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations.

Lord Hanson said action was taken to support the Jewish community and combat antisemitism.

He said: “We will not tolerate antisemitism and will continue to monitor organizations that pose a threat to the security of members of the UK community, the Jewish community and everyone else.”