JAKARTA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again launched a personal criticism of Anthony Albanese regarding the attack in Bondi.
Sixteen people were killed after two gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach. A total of 40 others were injured.
One of the shooters was killed and the second was hospitalized.
Netanyahu, who had previously criticized Albanese for his government's support of the Palestinian state, claimed he had warned the Australian leader that he was "adding fuel to the anti-Semitic fire".
"I ask you to replace weakness with action, mitigation with determination," Netanyahu said in a video uploaded to the Israeli prime minister's official X account, reported by 9news, Monday, December 15.
"Instead, Prime Minister, you replace weakness with weakness and soft attitude with more soft attitude," Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu also said he "saluted" the "great man" who dealt with one of the terrorists and disarmed him.
Australia was among several countries that officially recognized the Palestinian state in September during a meeting of world leaders at the United Nations.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar also criticized the Australian government.
"Western governments face a simple choice: fight antisemitism or normalize it," Sa'ar said.
"The Australian government has failed this test. Even compared to Western countries, the wave of anti-Semitism that has descended on it, both in virtual spaces and in public spaces, is huge. Of course, it's not just the Australian government that has failed."
Sa'ar said there had been a "surge in antisemitism in Australia".
"I also said that security for the Jewish community in Australia will only be achieved through real changes in the public mood," he said.
"Calls like 'Globalize the Intifada,' 'From the River to the Sea Palestine Will Be Free,' and 'Death to the IDF' are illegitimate, not part of free speech, and definitely lead to what we are witnessing today," he continued.
Albanese did not directly respond to Netanyahu's comments when asked at a morning news conference.
"This is a moment for national unity," Albanese said.
"This is a moment for Australians to come together. That's exactly what we're going to do," he said.
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