Current Synagogue Firebombing Melbourne Investigated as a terrorist attack * Antisemitic attacks escalating

[Kurve]

ANTISEMITIC EVENTS

May 25, 2024: Australia’s largest Jewish school graffitied in Melbourne.
Oct 13: Antisemitic graffiti on Jewish bakery in Sydney, with note left for owner reading “be careful”.
Nov 21: Cars torched, buildings vandalised in Sydney’s east, an area with a large Jewish population.
Dec 6: Adass Israel Synagogue torched in Melbourne’s south, treated by police as a suspected terror attack.

Jan 7, 2025: Man charged after allegedly threatening worshippers Chabad North Shore synagogue in Sydney’s north.
Jan 10: Allawah Synagogue in Sydney's south graffitied with swastikas.
Jan 11: Graffiti and attempted arson of the Newtown Synagogue in Sydney’s west.
Jan 11: Cars and house vandalised with antisemitic graffiti in Sydney’s west.
Jan 17: Cars torched, building formerly owned by a Jewish community leader vandalised in Sydney’s east.
Jan 21: Childcare centre set alight and graffitied in Sydney’s east.


.

 

[BFew]

Bjorn again!

Kurve, you’re not gonna believe this

Bjorn Johnson | Actor, Stunts, Additional Crew

Known for: Self Reliance, Hunters, Counterpart

www.imdb.com

'Born May 26, 1957 · Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Birth name Bjørn Alfred Johnson
Height 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)'

which would make him 67yo now.
Only 20 years older than the 47yo reported in the abc news article posted by Kurve

Are you 100% sure you have the correct bloke there Ghostie?

 

[Ghost Patrol]

'Born May 26, 1957 · Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Birth name Bjørn Alfred Johnson
Height 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)'

which would make him 67yo now.
Only 20 years older than the 47yo reported in the abc news article posted by Kurve

Are you 100% sure you have the correct bloke there Ghostie?

Nah its a running joke in conspiracy forum relating to crisis actors.

There is more than one Bjorn Johnson on imdb though….

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

Bjorn Johnson consistently refuses to speak, even to Legal Aid.

A man charged over an anti-Semitic graffiti attack on a business in a Newcastle suburb has refused to speak as he faced court.

Bjorn Johnson, 47, appeared in Newcastle Local Court today, charged with intentionally marking premises without prescribed consent and knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol without an excuse.

The Wadalba man was arrested and remanded in custody on Sunday after painted Nazi symbols were found on a wall outside a Hamilton pharmacy and reported to police.

Man accused of painting Nazi symbol on wall refuses to speak in court

A man charged over anti-Semitic graffiti on the wall of a pharmacy in Newcastle remains in custody after refusing to answer a magistrate's question in court.

www.abc.net.au

Obviously has the courage of his convictions, like all of them.

 

[Kurve]

Two cars were firebombed, others vandalised with antisemitic slurs and walls splashed with red paint. Looks like maybe they cans of paint as well, took the lids off and threw them at the walls.

Cars torched, home targeted in Sydney eastern suburbs attack

Startled residents woke to find two cars ablaze and a house vandalised with red paint in the oceanside suburb.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

Two cars were firebombed, others vandalised with antisemitic slurs and walls splashed with red paint. Looks like maybe they cans of paint as well, took the lids off and threw them at the walls.

Cars torched, home targeted in Sydney eastern suburbs attack

Startled residents woke to find two cars ablaze and a house vandalised with red paint in the oceanside suburb.

www.smh.com.au

What can be done to put a stop to this campaign?

 

[Kurve]

What can be done to put a stop to this campaign?

I don't know.

 

[Ghost Patrol]

Sanctions on Israel may help long term. Similar to apartheid era South Africa. Short term is a bit more difficult.

If media and politicians stopped conflating all Jewish people with zionism/Israel, and perhaps explained that many Jewish people do not condone what Israel is doing, it might help with stopping random attacks. But probably wouldn't stop targeted ones.

 

[Kurve]

The attack last night was on the former home of the CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin. That probably means this group did a little homework and it wasn't just the house of a random Jew they knew lived in the neighbourhood.

This is really violent.

 

[DapperDon]

https://www.news.com.au/national/po...y/news-story/34b81001035f1c9d16bd2538659b6363

Racist graffiti has been sprayed in a predominantly Muslim community, with the local MP and Home Affairs Minister condemning the act as “horrific”.
The words ‘F**k Arabs’ and ‘Israel Palestine’ were located on a wall in the western Sydney suburb of Wiley Park on Friday.

Both community leaders need to talk to their flocks, I can see this leading to uglier things otherwise.

 

[Kurve]

So many haters.

https://www.wsj.com/world/nearly-half-of-adults-worldwide-hold-antisemitic-views-survey-finds-574a1766

 

[Jazny]

Sanctions on Israel may help long term. Similar to apartheid era South Africa. Short term is a bit more difficult.

If media and politicians stopped conflating all Jewish people with zionism/Israel, and perhaps explained that many Jewish people do not condone what Israel is doing, it might help with stopping random attacks. But probably wouldn't stop targeted ones.

Jews get attacked = sanction Israel Brilliant.

Israel is fighting a war because a racist terrorist group that openly advocates killing Jews committed a mass atrocity on Israeli soil. Maybe solve racism against Jews is an important thing that needs real solutions, not just shoehorning in anti-Israeli sentiment at every oppurtinity.

Maybe we need to explain Zionism is not even a bad thing and how near global persecution from the pogroms in Russia, the Holocaust, and mass expulsion of Jews from middle Eastern countries has lead Jews to seek refuge in their own majority state in an area where they have had a continuous presence for millennia and is central to their identity.

 

[Ghost Patrol]

Maybe we need to explain Zionism is not even a bad thing and how near global persecution from the pogroms in Russia, the Holocaust, and mass expulsion of Jews from middle Eastern countries has lead Jews to seek refuge in their own state in an area where they have had a continuous presence for millennia and is central to their identity.

This was taught to all of us at school. 'Never again' was meant to mean never again. But Gaza now looks like 1945 Warsaw.
We were also taught that apartheid was bad, and have seen what happened after South Africa was sanctioned for it. Cape Town is now considered one of the world's most liveable cities!

 

[Jazny]

But Gaza now looks like 1945 Warsaw.

What a ridiculous statement. Twice as many Jews were killed by starvation and disease alone in Warsaw than have died in the entire Israel Hamas war that Hamas started on October 7th counting both combatants and civilians. This 83,000 starvation and disease death count was out of a population of less than 400,000. 254, 000 were sent to extermination camps and killed. So the vast majority of them were killed, starved, and forced into labor. It seems around 90% or so of the population of Warsaw were brutally killed during the Holocaust.

Can you tell me with a straight face that the Israel Hamas war, which Hamas started by committing a mass atrocity against Israel, looks anything like that? Anything at all like it?

Like any country fighting a war, Israeli troops will have committed war crimes. Ukrainian troops will be committing war crimes. American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and every other war they fought. It's not defensible, but it's also not unique to Israel. Particularly when Israel is fighting probably the most complex war any country has had to fight. Hamas embeds itself within the civilian population and uses them as human shields. Any country trying to fight Hamas would be killing tens of thousands of civilians. The exaggeration of Israel's crimes only furthers antisemitism.

 

[Ghost Patrol]

What a ridiculous statement. Twice as many Jews were killed by starvation and disease alone in Warsaw than have died in the entire Israel Hamas war that Hamas started on October 7th counting both combatants and civilians. This 83,000 starvation and disease death count was out of a population of less than 400,000. 254, 000 were sent to extermination camps and killed. So the vast majority of them were killed, starved, and forced into labor. It seems around 90% or so of the population of Warsaw were brutally killed during the Holocaust.

Can you tell me with a straight face that the Israel Hamas war, which Hamas started by committing a mass atrocity against Israel, looks anything like that? Anything at all like it?

Like any country fighting a war, Israeli troops will have committed war crimes. Ukrainian troops will be committing war crimes. American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and every other war they fought. It's not defensible, but it's also not unique to Israel. Particularly when Israel is fighting probably the most complex war any country has had to fight. Hamas embeds itself within the civilian population and uses them as human shields. Any country trying to fight Hamas would be killing tens of thousands of civilians. The exaggeration of Israel's crimes only furthers antisemitism.

We haven't got an official death toll for Gaza, and won't have for a long time. I believe the same applied with Warsaw, it took ages to collate the official toll and for the extent of atrocities to become known.

Anyways, I think you are straying too far off topic. My original comment was relating to stopping antisemitic attacks, it provides both long and short term ideas. Screaming 'but Hamas' for 15 months has seemingly made things worse, wouldn't you agree?
Perhaps time to try something different?

 

[Kurve]

This was taught to all of us at school. 'Never again' was meant to mean never again. But Gaza now looks like 1945 Warsaw.
We were also taught that apartheid was bad, and have seen what happened after South Africa was sanctioned for it. Cape Town is now considered one of the world's most liveable cities!

Sorry to do this to you Ghost. Also not a fan of appeasement for violent, hateful crime in Australia.

Latest update​

Still current at:18 January 2025
Updated:13 January 2025
Latest update:We continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution in South Africa. Protests and large gatherings can occur anywhere. Avoid areas affected by protests, demonstrations or large public gatherings. Monitor media for updates and follow advice from local authorities. Use major roads where it's safe to do so and verify that alternate routes recommended by your GPS are safe prior to travel. Express kidnappings happen in South Africa. Always be alert to your personal security and surroundings (see ‘Safety’).

You may not be allowed to enter or exit South Africa on an Australian passport if you're an Australian-South African dual national (see 'Full advice/Dual citizenship').
We advise:
Exercise a high degree of caution in South Africa due to the threat of violent crime.

https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/south-africa

 

[Ghost Patrol]

Sorry to do this to you Ghost. Also not a fan of appeasement for violent, hateful crime in Australia.

Latest update​

Still current at:18 January 2025
Updated:13 January 2025
Latest update:We continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution in South Africa. Protests and large gatherings can occur anywhere. Avoid areas affected by protests, demonstrations or large public gatherings. Monitor media for updates and follow advice from local authorities. Use major roads where it's safe to do so and verify that alternate routes recommended by your GPS are safe prior to travel. Express kidnappings happen in South Africa. Always be alert to your personal security and surroundings (see ‘Safety’).

You may not be allowed to enter or exit South Africa on an Australian passport if you're an Australian-South African dual national (see 'Full advice/Dual citizenship').
We advise:
Exercise a high degree of caution in South Africa due to the threat of violent crime.

https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/south-africa

There are also warnings from various groups relating to travel to Australia, Israel, USA etc.

 

[Kurve]

There are also warnings from various groups relating to travel to Australia, Israel, USA etc.

For Australia, it's just the usual traveller precautions. It's not like South Africa.

Australia - Take normal security precautions​

Take normal security precautions in Australia.
Back to top

Safety and security​

Crime​

Violent crime is low.
Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and bag snatching, occurs mostly in larger cities. Vehicle break-ins are common.
Robberies of safe-deposit facilities are common at inexpensive hotels and hostels.

• Ensure that your personal belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times
• Never leave personal belongings, such as money, credit cards, cell phones and other electronics, unattended
• Exercise caution in popular tourist areas

Travel advice and advisories for Australia

Travel Advice and Advisories from the Government of Canada

travel.gc.ca

 

[Ghost Patrol]

For Australia, it's just the usual traveller precautions. It's not like South Africa.

Australia - Take normal security precautions​

Take normal security precautions in Australia.
Back to top

Safety and security​

Crime​

Violent crime is low.
Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and bag snatching, occurs mostly in larger cities. Vehicle break-ins are common.
Robberies of safe-deposit facilities are common at inexpensive hotels and hostels.

• Ensure that your personal belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times
• Never leave personal belongings, such as money, credit cards, cell phones and other electronics, unattended
• Exercise caution in popular tourist areas

Travel advice and advisories for Australia

Travel Advice and Advisories from the Government of Canada

travel.gc.ca

Depends where the advisory comes from. for example -

SWC Issues Travel Advisory for Jews Considering Travel to Australia

www.wiesenthal.com

 

[Ghost Patrol]

Anyways, my approach in seven words/acronyms or less would be - listen to the JCA, not the ECAJ

 

[Jazny]

We haven't got an official death toll for Gaza, and won't have for a long time. I believe the same applied with Warsaw, it took ages to collate the official toll and for the extent of atrocities to become known.

Uh huh. You think close to 90% of Gaza has died?

Anyways, I think you are straying too far off topic. My original comment was relating to stopping antisemitic attacks, it provides both long and short term ideas. Screaming 'but Hamas' for 15 months has seemingly made things worse, wouldn't you agree?
Perhaps time to try something different?

Exaggerating Israel's conduct certainly hasn't helped, I would suggest you do some reading that isn't your weird anti-Zionist social media circles and try something else.

 

[Ghost Patrol]

Uh huh. You think close to 90% of Gaza has died?

Exaggerating Israel's conduct certainly hasn't helped, I would suggest you do some reading that isn't your weird anti-Zionist social media circles and try something else.

No, I made no claims on % of deaths. Pictures of Gaza 2025 resemble pictures of Warsaw 1945. That's what it looks like, literally.

Over the past couple of decades our government policies have drifted both to the right, and towards authoritarianism. Things have gotten worse. So my solution - start shifting back towards the centre/left, and away from authoritarianism.

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

Sorry to do this to you Ghost. Also not a fan of appeasement for violent, hateful crime in Australia.

Latest update​

Still current at:18 January 2025
Updated:13 January 2025
Latest update:We continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution in South Africa. Protests and large gatherings can occur anywhere. Avoid areas affected by protests, demonstrations or large public gatherings. Monitor media for updates and follow advice from local authorities. Use major roads where it's safe to do so and verify that alternate routes recommended by your GPS are safe prior to travel. Express kidnappings happen in South Africa. Always be alert to your personal security and surroundings (see ‘Safety’).

You may not be allowed to enter or exit South Africa on an Australian passport if you're an Australian-South African dual national (see 'Full advice/Dual citizenship').
We advise:
Exercise a high degree of caution in South Africa due to the threat of violent crime.

https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/south-africa

This list must be a joke. Last year the top three were Vienna, Copenhagen and Zurich.

Time Out's 50 best cities in the world in 2025

• Cape Town, South Africa.
• Bangkok, Thailand.
• New York, US.
• Melbourne, Australia.
• London, UK.
• New Orleans, US.
• Mexico City, Mexico.
• Porto, Portugal.

Cape Town barely has enough permanent drinking water.

 

[DapperDon]

I think people may be confusing Johannesburg for Cape Town. Crime in J'berg is one of the world's worst (for Western countries)

In regards to half the world are anti-semites, do we think if the numbers are that high then maybe the discussion should be what is exactly considered anti-semitic rather than just calling everyone one? I mean, if Netanyahu had his way every non-Jew would be anti-semitic.

 

[Kurve]

In regards to half the world are anti-semites, do we think if the numbers are that high then maybe the discussion should be what is exactly considered anti-semitic rather than just calling everyone one? I mean, if Netanyahu had his way every non-Jew would be anti-semitic.

Who's calling everyone an antisemite?

It's so embedded though, most people who are antisemites have no idea and would be horrified at being called out on it.

 

[DapperDon]

Who's calling everyone an antisemite?

It's so embedded though, most people who are antisemites have no idea and would be horrified at being called out on it.

Sorry, I didn't mean anyone here was calling anyone anti-semitic, just that the article stating half the population have anti-semitic traits says to me that the term anti-semitic is being used as a blanket for anything perceived to be anti-Israeli.

People can have feelings of distrust and anger to Israel without being anti-semitic. It's no different to saying anyone who has ill feelings of Iran should be considered Islamaphobic. Or anyone who considers the Catholic church evil is Anti-Catholicism.