Hanukah and Bondi Beach Australia Attack

Bondi Beach is the legendary suburban beach near Sydney, Australia. Often called the lucky country because of the people, the climate, geography and any other number of items make the country seem wonderful. Australians themselves will tell you it isn't perfect. The country is a democracy that has engaged in dialogue and achieved a measure of peace and prosperity. There have been some violent gun incidents in the past including 1996 in Tasmania where Australia suffered one of the biggest mass shootings in world history. The response was a firearms crackdown unprecedented in the country's history. Such was the horror that it changed the country on how to stop such things from happening.

It is with this in mind, it is completely shocking how two men could acquire long guns to attack Jewish people on the first day of Hanukah on Australia's most famous beach. It appears there are 15 victims of the two shooters. There may have been more if not for a bystander who ran from some distance to disarm one of the men.

There has been a rise of antisemitism following the October terrorist attack is Israel and the two year hostage ordeal and military response. There still a lot not known about the shooters but police in Australia are saying it was a targeted incident. It is Australian summer and Sunday would have have seen many enjoying the outdoors and the Hanukah event. Gatherings of the Jewish community are sometimes last minute details for security reasons. However, it seems the suspects knew exactly where to find the celebration.

World leaders have condemned the attack against Jewish people in Australia. Israel leader Netanyahu has pointed blamed Australia for the attack for not doing enough on anti-Semitism. It seems a little early for recriminations. Netanyahu is likely referring to responses to Gaza by the world. He is careful not to criticize the U.S. but has plenty to say on pretty much every other country. 

To be clear anti-Semitism is unacceptable at any time. We have seen evidence of it in Canada where Gaza protestors seem to conflate all Jewish people as being responsible for events overseas. It has resulted in some awful encounters. Still, I believe, at least for Manitoba, we have not reached the point that Australia has. Whether that is luck or general culture of the people, it is hard to say.

Anti-Semitism has been in Canada a long time. There has been an increase and now all of is linked to October 7 attack in Israel. Some statistic, even according to Israeli media, are not sourced. However, where they are sourced, indicate the rise. Unlike Australia, the U.S. and France, we haven't had a catastrophic attack and I hope we never do.

There are 400,000 Jews in Canada, the fourth largest grouping in the world. It hasn't always been easy. Some of it was downright awful. However, I suspect many would agree that things had been remarkably peaceable in the last decades. The election of Carney has brought fear he will allow Jews and Israel to be vulnerable. The conditional recognition of a Palestinian state is not an invitation for attack on Jews or Israelis. That's in Canada or elsewhere.

Australia will be go through a full mourning and reflection. They have this before when they had one of the most terrible spree shooting in history in Tasmania. It resulted in one of the strongest responses ever seen in a democratic society of guns and safety. It is obvious there were some loopholes left that will be looked at. Still, even if guns were not involved, the suspects also had explosives and could have used knives. The point is that an investigation will need to uncover if there were warnings that these suspects gave to indicate a threat. This could be communications, assistance or encouragement from other or a foreign actors.

In Canada, Carney has not got one piece of legislation approved except the budget. There are criminal code measures and other items awaiting support but they appear blocked with every party playing brinkmanship. One more floor crossing and there will be no election for four years. It will be up to the federal government then to ensure there are no attacks like the one we saw in Australia.