Bondi terror attack is ‘a stain on our nation’, PM says
The deadly terror attack on a crowd celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach was an attack on the Australian way of life, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says. Read more
Faith leaders unite in shared grief after Bondi attack
January 22, 2026 by AAP
Religious leaders have gathered to deliver a message of hope as they mourned those killed in the Bondi massacre. Read more
Condolences are not leadership
January 22, 2026 by Michael Gencher
While Parliament has stood to offer condolence motions following the Bondi Beach terror attack, Australians have been told that unity, grief, and social cohesion are our shared response. Read more
Shabbat Bo
January 22, 2026 by Jeremy Rosen
Read more
New Zealand Holocaust commemorations as antisemitism surges
January 22, 2026 by J-Wire Newsdesk
As New Zealand observes International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Tuesday, January 27, the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand says that the “warning signs” of the 1945 atrocities are “again visible today.” Read more
‘Light will win’ on national day of mourning
January 22, 2026 by AAP J-Wire
NSW Premier Chris Minns has used the national day of mourning to thank the Jewish community for bringing the country together while still raw with grief from the Bondi terror attack.
PM shuts door on racial vilification laws after Bondi attack
Racial vilification laws called for by Jewish advocates are unlikely to be pursued after laws passed Parliament in response to the Bondi terror attack.
Heated debate in Knesset over death penalty for terrorists
January 21, 2026 by Pesach Benson
Israel’s Knesset National Security Committee on Tuesday advanced preparations for legislation that would expand the use of the death penalty for convicted terrorists, holding a charged debate that exposed deep divisions between security officials, legal authorities, lawmakers, and bereaved families. Read more
Neo-Nazi and Hizb ut-Tahrir target new hate speech laws
January 21, 2026 by AAP J-Wire
New hate speech laws are facing a potential legal challenge from a prominent neo-Nazi, just days after the legislation passed federal parliament.
Jewish leaders welcome new antisemitism legislation passed by federal parliament
January 21, 2026 by J-Wire News Service
Australia’s federal parliament has passed the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026, with Jewish community leaders describing the legislation as an important and overdue response to rising antisemitism and extremist activity.
Events for National Day of Mourning – Thursday 22 January
January 21, 2026 by J-Wire Newsdesk
Australia will observe a National Day of Mourning on Thursday, 22 January, to honour the 15 people killed in the Bondi Beach terrorist attack during a Chanukah celebration in December, with commemorations taking place nationwide and communities encouraged to take part in shared acts of remembrance and unity.
Coexistence and other Fighting Words
January 20, 2026 by Anne Sarzin
Book review by Dr Anne Sarzin Read more
Police question Netanyahu aide Yonatan Urich in ‘BibiLeaks’ investigation
January 20, 2026 by Pesach Benson
Yonatan Urich, a close adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was summoned for police interrogation on Monday as part of an expanding investigation into the leak of classified military documents to a German newspaper. Read more
Hate crimes reforms secure bipartisan backing as parliament fast tracks laws after Bondi attack
January 20, 2026 by J-Wire with AAP
The federal government has secured crucial bipartisan backing for hate speech reforms, with the coalition declaring in principle support for legislation aimed at cracking down on antisemitism in the wake of the December 14 terrorist attack at a Jewish Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach.
Israel begins dismantling UNRWA’s Jerusalem headquarters
This morning (Tuesday), Israeli security forces began to evacuate and destroy the UNRWA (UN Relief Works Agency) headquarters on Ammunition Hill in northern Jerusalem. Read more
Jewish teenagers targeted in St Kilda East ute attack
January 20, 2026 by David Marlow
Just three days before the National Day of Mourning for the victims of last month’s antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, a group of Jewish teenage boys were targeted with an antisemitic attack by the occupants of a white ute.
Joshua Belinfante: learning from master filmmakers, telling his own stories
January 20, 2026 by Rob Klein
Young Australian filmmaker Joshua Belinfante has been mentored by two of the world’s most influential directors, German Werner Herzog and Iranian Asghar Farhadi, experiences he describes as defining and deliberately challenging.
Zubin Mehta’s tone-deaf chutzpah
January 19, 2026 by Ruthie Blum - JNS
In an interview on Jan. 15 with India Today’s Rajdeep Sardesai, conductor Zubin Mehta proudly announced that he had cancelled all of his scheduled performances in Israel for the coming year “because of [his] objection to Mr. [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s way of treating the whole Palestinian issue.” Read more
Yarden Bibas marks slain son Kfir’s third birthday
Yarden Bibas, whose family became a symbol of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas kidnappings, has marked what would have been his murdered son’s third birthday with a wrenching Instagram post. Read more
Parliament honours 15 killed in Bondi Beach terror attack
Australia’s parliament fell into silence on Monday during a condolence motion in the House of Representatives, confronting the human cost of the antisemitic terror attack that killed 15 people at Bondi Beach on December 14, 2025.
United Nations has prolonged Jewish-Arab conflict since 1974
January 19, 2026 by David Singer
The United Nations (UN) has never been a real player in securing an end to the Jewish-Arab conflict since it extended a rousing welcome to Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Chairman Yasir Arafat on 13 November 1974. Read more
Holocaust Remembrance Day to focus on generational responsibility
January 19, 2026 by J-Wire News Service
Australia’s annual International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration will be held next Tuesday, 27 January, hosted by the Sydney Jewish Museum in partnership with the Australian Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants.
Australia to ‘respectfully’ consider Gaza board invite
January 19, 2026 by AAP
Anthony Albanese will consider an invitation from Donald Trump to join the US leader’s Gaza peace board. Read more
Unique Holocaust education programme “In My Pocket” expands to Lithuania
January 19, 2026 by Rob Klein
The “In My Pocket” initiative, an innovative Holocaust education programme developed in Australia, has now extended to Lithuania.
On the other hand
January 18, 2026 by Michael Kuttner
Israel’s first vertiport for aerial taxis is set to be built at Atidim Park, a major business and high-tech complex in Tel Aviv. Read more
US names Rubio, Tony Blair, Kushner to Gaza board
January 18, 2026 by Agencies
The White House has announced some members of a so-called “Board of Peace” to supervise the temporary governance of Gaza, which has been under a fragile ceasefire since October. Read more
‘Light will win’: Australia prepares for national day of mourning to honour Bondi victims
January 18, 2026 by J-Wire Newsdesk
Australia will pause this Thursday, January 22, for a National Day of Mourning to honour the victims of the December 14 Bondi Beach terrorist attack. Read more
Hate speech laws could be ‘salvaged’ after backdown
January 18, 2026 by AAP
Despite criticising Labor’s proposed hate speech laws as unsalvageable, the coalition is looking to get elements passed in an emergency session. Read more
ECAJ considers contempt action over extremist Islamic preacher’s video
January 17, 2026 by Rob Klein
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) is exploring contempt of court proceedings against Islamic preacher Wisam Haddad. This follows allegations that he violated a federal injunction regarding antisemitic statements in a recent online video.
The high stakes in Iran
January 16, 2026 by Melanie Phillips - JNS.org
The stupendous courage of the Iranian people has inspired awe at this massive display of unquenchable human spirit. Read more
