There’s a formula to public statements elected officials release after mass casualty attacks: Express sincere sympathy for the victims and reference already-confirmed information, including the targeted individuals and event. However, those rules are sometimes bent when the victims are Jews.
On Sunday, hundreds of Jews gathered at Sydney, Australia’s Bondi Beach for Chabad’s “Chanukah by the Sea” celebration, marking the first night of Chanukah. Two men attacked the group, murdering at least 15, including a Rabbi leading the event. Forty-two others were hospitalized.
All of this is horrifying enough. But public statements from elected officials across the Anglosphere added insult to injury, erasing or gaslighting Jews.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called this a “targeted attack on Jewish Australians,” said “an attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian,” and promised to “dedicate every resource required to making sure you are safe and protected.” That promise would be more believable if Albanese’s government had done more in response to the mob shouting “Gas the Jews!” outside the Sydney Opera House two days after 10/7, arson attacks on two Melbourne synagogues in December 2024 and July 2025, or assaults and vandalism targeting Jews since 10/7.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney tweeted he was “horrified by the antisemitic terror attack,” and Canada “stands with the people of Australia and Jewish people everywhere in sorrow, and determination never to bow to terrorism, violence, hatred and intimidation.” That prompted angry responses from people who rightly accused Carney and his party of abandoning Canadian Jews. The proof is in the numbers. A B’nai Brith Canada report recorded “6,219 antisemitic incidents in 2024,” which “was 125% higher than in 2022, and about 7% higher than in 2023.”
Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Lammy tweeted it was “horrific to see this antisemitic terror attack on a Chanukah celebration,” offering prayers to “all affected and Jewish communities worldwide feeling this pain.” Except, British Labour just spent two years standing in solidarity with British antizionists who marched weekly for Israel’s destruction, not with the vast majority of British Jews.
Irish Taoiseach (head of government) Micheal Martin tweeted he was “shocked and appalled by the gun attack” and said “such hate and violence can never be tolerated,” without specifying the identity of the victims, why they gathered, or the relevant “hatred.” Ireland’s government is so implacably antizionist, Israel’s government closed their Dublin embassy last December. Dublin City Council also recently made news for wanting to rename a local park named for Irish Jew Chaim Herzog, former president of Israel, possibly as “Free Palestine Park.”
First Minister of Scotland John Swinney tweeted he was “horrified” and called this “an appalling incident” but directed “sympathy and solidarity . . . to those affected,” erasing the Jewish nature of the victims and the targeted event.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced he was “shocked by the distressing scenes at Bondi” and sent thoughts to “those affected.” Again, the Jewish identities of those attacked and the event itself were deleted.
In the United States, Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen called this “a horrific act of antisemitism,” adding “antisemitism has no place in our world.” But this month started with Van Hollen picking a public fight with the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington’s CEO — by name — and calling him an “apologist for the Netanyahu government” in an attempt to stigmatize.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib described herself as “heartbroken by the horrifying attack on the Jewish community in Australia,” calling it an “unbearable tragedy.” However, Tlaib spoke at a conference that drew terrorist sympathizers in August.
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani acknowledged the attack targeted “a Hanukkah celebration” and deemed it “a vile act of antisemitic terror,” while dubbing the attackers “men with long guns.” However, Mamdani’s devoted years to antizionism, a hate movement that endangers Jewish safety, and has refused to condemn the phrase “Globalize the Intifada,” which is precisely what this attack was.
There are those who will be grateful these elected officials acknowledged Australian Jewry’s tragedy. However, the words those officials choose matter, as do their actions, including what they enable and what they ignore. It all sets a tone for the public in their home countries.
The Bondi Beach attack wasn’t a random attack on all beach-goers. The father and son involved shot at Jews gathered to celebrate a Jewish holiday. Yet, some officials can only bring themselves to express sympathy if they bleach out the victims’ identity. Even then, they offered weak words of solidarity.
Others offered warmer and more specific messages, as is customary, along with hypocrisy. Officials who only selectively criticize Jew-hatred, do nothing to ameliorate it in their own nation, or actively stoke it, simply aren’t believable friends after such a tragedy.
The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland rightly requested world leaders “examine their words and their actions and to reflect honestly on whether rhetoric that dehumanises, inflames or excuses hatred has consequences.” Without a doubt, yes.
The world’s been reminded yet again that Jew-hatred is deadly. What the West needs now are responsible leaders willing to stand for truth, moral clarity, and Western civilization, including their nations’ Jewish minorities. Unfortunately, too many politicians across the Anglosphere simply don’t fit the bill.
[Featured image via YouTube]
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