Israeli government said it is 'willing to assist' Australian police in countering terrorism

The Israeli government has steeply criticised the Albanese government in a letter to the home affairs minister.

BONDI BEACH SHOOTING

The letter comes amid a chorus of business and religious leaders calling for a federal royal commission into the attack. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

Israel said it is willing to train Australian police in countering terrorism and antisemitism, while accusing the government of lack of action on "radical Islam".

In a letter to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, the Israeli government said it is "ready and willing to assist" following the terror attack on a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach in which 15 people were killed and more than 40 others injured.

"We bring extensive experience in combating radical Islamic terrorism and antisemitism," Israel's Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli wrote.
"Accordingly, we would welcome the opportunity to host and train senior Australian police officers and security personnel in Israel, sharing our expertise and best practices in countering terrorism and antisemitism".

Chikli, who was in Bondi in the days after the attack, said there was "deep concern and an unequivocal demand for decisive and concrete action" among the Jewish community.

The senior cabinet minister rebuked the Albanese government over its failure to identify "radical Islam" as the "driving ideology" behind the Bondi attack.
"The fact that Prime Minister Albanese and Minister for Foreign Affairs [Penny] Wong have failed to clearly name the source of this violence — radical Islam — undermines the ability to confront it," Chikli said.

In response, a spokesperson for Burke said "the government has taken action on hate speech, hate crimes and hate symbols and is continuing to act through legislation announced in recent weeks".

The prime minister has been repeatedly asked to call out radical Islam after it was revealed the alleged father and son gunmen were inspired by Islamic State.

"We know that ISIS is an ideology, a perversion of Islam, that essentially doesn't agree with any recognition of nation states, seeks a caliphate," he said last week.

The letter comes amid a chorus of business and religious leaders as well as peak industry groups calling for a federal royal commission into the attack.
Nine representatives of major employers including the Business Council, Australian Banking Association and Minerals Council said the inquiry would show Australia is serious about combating antisemitism.

"A federal royal commission can help us understand what happened, what needs to be done different and bring us together in the shared goal of preventing future tragedy," the statement said.


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Source: AAP



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Israeli government said it is 'willing to assist' Australian police in countering terrorism | SBS News