Australia

Rabbi's Hanukkah-Decorated Car Firebombed in Melbourne

Is the government showing decisive leadership against antisemitism, or has it catastrophically failed to protect Jewish Australians?

Published DEC 25 2025

Rabbi's Hanukkah-Decorated Car Firebombed in Melbourne

Story

Above: The car with a "Happy Chanukah" sign was set alight in Melbourne on Dec. 25, 2025. Image credit: The Australia Today via X

The Facts

A Rabbi's car displaying a Hanukkah decoration and a "Happy Chanukah" sign was set on fire in the driveway of a property in St Kilda East, Melbourne, early Christmas Day. No one was inside the car at the time, but occupants of the house were evacuated as a precaution.
ABC Australia
The Australian
South China Morning Post
9News Australia on Youtube
Victoria Police "identified a person who may be able to assist with their investigation" into the suspicious fire and are actively "making inquiries into their whereabouts." The car's interior was extensively damaged, and multiple windows appeared to be smashed.
News.com.au
The Canberra Times
The Jerusalem Post
The Jewish protection group CSG Victoria said the car displayed a Chanukah, the nine-branched candelabrum used during Hanukkah. It confirmed that no community members were injured and said it was working closely with the police.
guardian
ABC Australia
The Jerusalem Post
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the firebombing as "just beyond comprehension," calling it "another terrible act of suspected antisemitism." In an X post, he said, "There is no place in Australia for this kind of hatred, and it has to stop."
Anthony Albanese on X
TRT World
SBS News
The incident occurred 11 days after the Bondi Beach terrorist attack on Dec. 14, in which 15 people were killed when gunmen opened fire at a Chanukah by the Sea festival. Jewish leaders have called for a royal commission into antisemitism following both incidents.
RNZ
ABC Australia
The Australian
The Albanese government has resisted calls for a royal commission after Bondi, instead backing a New South Wales inquiry and prioritizing a review of intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Meanwhile, the Victoria government has promised a crackdown on hate crimes.
9News Australia
SBS News
The Canberra Times

Sources Split

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The Spin

Australian Labor Party narrative

This firebombing highlights the dangerous escalation of antisemitism that demands immediate action. This attack, following the Bondi massacre, proves that hatred spreads when left unchecked and threatens the safety of Jewish Australians. The government's adoption of the Special Envoy's plan, including new hate speech laws and visa cancellation powers, shows decisive leadership to combat this evil ideology.

Prime Minister of Australia

1 News

Liberal/National Coalition narrative

Albanese has catastrophically failed to protect Jewish Australians after two years of escalating attacks, firebombings and harassment. His weak response to the Bondi massacre avoided mentioning Islamist terrorism and shelved the antisemitism envoy's recommendations for six months. Refusing a royal commission while being booed at memorials proves this government prioritizes political calculations over Jewish safety.