ASIO chief says antisemitism unchecked after Gaza
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- Mike Burgess testified that antisemitism was left unchecked after the Oct 2023 Israel‑Gaza war, fueling violence that culminated in the Dec 2023 Bondi Beach mass shooting that killed 15 at a Hanukkah celebration.
- ASIO raised Australia’s national terrorism threat level to “probable” in August 2024 in response to the surge in antisemitic incidents.
- Iran’s IRGC was identified by ASIO as behind two antisemitic attacks – a kosher restaurant in Sydney and the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne – prompting the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador in August 2024.
- Antisemitic attacks escalated from threats and intimidation to vandalism, arson and direct targeting of homes, schools, synagogues and vehicles in the months leading up to the Bondi shooting.
- ASIO says Iran uses proxies and agents to harm Jewish communities worldwide, but the agency cannot definitively attribute many attacks.
Why it matters: Jewish Australians face heightened risk as the government upgrades the terrorism threat level and tightens security, while Iran loses diplomatic standing after its envoy’s expulsion, underscoring the cost of unchecked hate.
