U.S. warship drills with israel in Red Sea as Iran tensions continue
February 3, 2026 by Pesach Benson
Amid rising tensions with Iran and active U.S.–Iran diplomatic engagement, a U.S. Navy destroyer participated in a joint exercise with Israeli Navy vessels in the Red Sea, the Israel Defence Forces said on Monday. Read more
Mortars found in Gaza hidden in UN Relief Agency’s aid bags
February 3, 2026 by TPS-IL
During an operation by the IDF’s 7th Armoured Brigade to clear the Yellow Line ceasefire area in southern Gaza, approximately 110 mortar shells hidden in UNRWA (UN Relief Works Agency) humanitarian aid bags were located. Read more
Tree Planting in Melbourne in honour of Bondi victims
February 3, 2026 by David Marlow
Trees were planted on Tuesday at the Beth Weizmann Community Centre for the Jewish festival of Tu B’Shvat in honour of the 15 victims of the terrorist attack on Bondi Beach on 14 December. Read more
Protest ban extended to stop anti-Israeli visit ‘riot’
February 3, 2026 by AAP J-Wire
NSW Police have extended restrictions on public protests ahead of the Australian visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, citing community safety concerns and the risk of unrest in Sydney.
Bar-Ilan University to award the Jonathan Sacks Institute Prize to distinguished historian Prof. Deborah Lipstadt
February 3, 2026 by J-Wire Newsdesk
Israel’s Bar-Ilan University announced today that Prof. Deborah Lipstadt, one of the world’s leading authorities on Holocaust history and antisemitism, will receive the Jonathan Sacks Institute Prize for Outstanding Achievement as a Public Intellectual for 2026. Read more
Neo-Nazi told off as magistrate denounces brazen racism
February 3, 2026 by AAP
Neo-Nazi Jacob Hersant, who was convicted of performing a sieg heil outside court, is facing fresh charges after allegedly dressing as a Ku Klux Klan member. Read more
Former Sydney Uni staffer banned from campus after court appearance
A former staff member of the University of Sydney has faced court charged with multiple offences after allegedly launching an unprovoked antisemitic tirade at Jewish students during a religious gathering on campus last year.
Protest curb to stop ‘riot’ over Israel president visit
February 3, 2026 by AAP
Extraordinary protest bans are slated to be prolonged as Israeli president Isaac Herzog visits Australia following the Bondi terror attack. Read more
NSW mayors urged to turn grief into action for Bondi community
February 3, 2026 by J-Wire Newsdesk
NSW councils that lined up to mourn December’s Bondi terror attack are now being asked to put their money where their sympathies lie.
KKL-JNF distributes over 550K saplings to mark Tu B’Shevat
February 2, 2026 by J-Wire
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael–Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) is holding events in forests, parks, and communities across Israel to mark Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish New Year for Trees, which falls on Monday. Read more
UK lawyers say Britannica erased Israel from content
February 2, 2026 by JNS
A British legal group has accused Encyclopaedia Britannica of erasing Israel from its children’s educational materials, alleging that entries on the Britannica Kids website misrepresent Middle Eastern history and geography. Read more
Israel moves to end Médecins Sans Frontières operations in Gaza
February 2, 2026 by Pesach Benson
Israel’s Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry announced it is moving to terminate the activities of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders, MSF) in the Gaza Strip, citing what it described as a serious and ongoing violation of registration and transparency requirements for international humanitarian organisations. Read more
Apple buys Israeli startup in its second-largest deal
February 2, 2026 by JNS
Apple Inc. announced on Thursday that it has acquired Israeli startup Q.ai, a software company that implements AI technology for audio, among other applications. Read more
Activists vow ‘uncomfortable’ trip for Israel president
February 1, 2026 by AAP
Australia’s pro-Palestine movement is attempting to turn up the heat on the Albanese government ahead of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit. Read more
New Zealand extends defence liaison deployment to Israel
February 1, 2026 by Greg Bouwer
The New Zealand Government has extended the deployment of a New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) liaison officer to Israel for a further three months, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced on Thursday. Read more
NSW parliamentary committee recommends ban on controversial slogan
February 1, 2026 by J-Wire Newsdesk
A New South Wales parliamentary committee has recommended banning the public use of the slogan “globalise the intifada”, finding the phrase incites hatred and poses a risk to community safety.
Australia declines to join statement criticising Israel
February 1, 2026 by AAP
The Albanese government has declined to sign up to an international statement expressing concern about Israel demolishing an aid agency’s headquarters. Read more
Israel to open Gaza Strip’s Rafah crossing with Egypt
February 1, 2026 by Reuters
Israel will reopen the Rafah border crossing today for people to travel between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, a government agency says, the first opening of effectively the sole route in or out of the Palestinian territory since May 2024. Read more
Daytime Jewish prayer held at Joseph’s Tomb for first time in 25 years
January 30, 2026 by Pesach Benson
For the first time in 25 years, Jewish worshippers held a daytime prayer service Thursday morning at Joseph’s Tomb in Shechem (Nablus). Read more
How antisemitic vandal’s password brought him undone
January 30, 2026 by AAP
An antisemitic vandal’s choice of phone password has raised eyebrows as his attempt to appeal his sentence over a night of destruction fell flat. Read more
New Zealand declines Trump’s Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ — endorses concept, steps aside
January 30, 2026 by Greg Bouwer
New Zealand has confirmed it will not join United States President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace for Gaza,” but the government has stopped short of rejecting the initiative itself, instead endorsing its intent while declining participation in its current form. Read more
Dymocks drops author Matt Chun over antisemitic claims after Bondi
Australia’s major bookstore chain Dymocks has pulled all books by children’s author and illustrator Matt Chun from its shelves and website following accusations that his writings contain antisemitic views.
A hero of Israel’: nation bids farewell to last hostage Ran Gvili
January 29, 2026 by Pesach Benson
Israel bid farewell to Police Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, the last hostage from Gaza, on Wednesday as thousands of flag-waving Israelis lined the streets in sombre tribute. Politicians, police officers and ordinary people converged on Gvili’s Negev hometown of Meitar. Read more
Global surge in deadly antisemitism: 21 lives lost in 2025
January 29, 2026 by J-Wire Newsdesk
A sobering report released by the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism has revealed a “sharp and deadly” escalation in violence against Jewish communities worldwide over the past year. Read more
Daughter of Bondi terror attack victim brings Holocaust memory into the present
January 29, 2026 by J-Wire Newsdesk
A Sydney International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration on Tuesday, 27 January, was marked by a powerful address from Professor Sabina Kleytman, whose father, Alex, a Holocaust survivor, was murdered in the Bondi Beach terror attack last December. Read more
Antisemitic vandal’s surprising vow after Bondi attack
January 29, 2026 by AAP
A vandal who spearheaded an antisemitic rampage has vowed to seek retribution for the Bondi terror attack on behalf of the Jewish community, a judge has been told. Read more
Bondi Chabad rabbi: Antisemitism must not become what defines us
January 28, 2026 by Etgar Lefkovitz - JNS
An unabashedly strong and robust Judaism that is intrinsically connected to the heritage of the nation is the answer to the antisemitism around the globe, the director of Chabad of Bondi in Sydney, Australia, said on Tuesday at an event in Israel. Read more
Talik Gvili says ‘pride stronger than sadness’ after son’s remains retrieved from Gaza
January 28, 2026 by JNS
“The pride is so much stronger than the sadness,” Talik Gvili said on Monday, speaking with reporters outside the family home in Meitar, southern Israel, hours after her son’s body was retrieved from Gaza. Read more
Southwick elected new Victorian Deputy Opposition Leader
January 28, 2026 by David Marlow
David Southwick has been elected the new Deputy Leader of the Victorian Liberal Party, with less than a year until the Victorian state election. Read more
Hostage pins to be transformed into permanent memorial artwork
January 28, 2026 by Rob Klein
Melbourne artist and curator Nina Sanadze has launched a national project to collect yellow hostage pins, with the aim of transforming them into a permanent artwork to be preserved and displayed in partnership with the Sydney Jewish Museum.
