Daycare attack sparks crisis talks over antisemitism
Australia’s leaders will meet in a desperate bid to find solutions to a growing antisemitism crisis after “bastards” burnt a childcare centre a short distance from a synagogue.

Anthony Albanese at the Jewish Museum
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened a national cabinet meeting for Tuesday afternoon, bowing to pressure for stronger action after a series of incidents targeting the Jewish community.
The Only About Children centre in Maroubra in Sydney’s east was set on fire soon after midnight on Tuesday and the words “F*** the Jews” were sprayed in black paint on a wall.
The site is a block away from Maroubra Synagogue and the attack marks the latest in a string of anti-Semitic arson and graffiti incidents in the city’s east, which is home to a large Jewish community.
Mr Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns, who both attended the site on Tuesday, pledged to throw all necessary resources at tracking down those responsible.
“This is a place for children and families and it should never have been denigrated by this despicable and horrifying crime,” the PM told reporters.
A TIMELINE OF MAJOR ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS
* November 21: A suburb in Sydney’s east that is home to a large Jewish population was targeted with anti-Semitic and anti-Israel graffiti, while a car was also reportedly set on fire. Three men have been charged over the incidents
* December 6: The Adass Israel Synagogue in south Melbourne was burned down in an attack Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelled an act of terrorism
* December 11: Graffiti including “Kill Israiel” (sic) was sprayed on buildings and footpaths in a Sydney suburb known for its Jewish community, while a car perpetrators allegedly drove to the scene was set on fire. A 34-year-old woman has been charged in relation to the incident
* January 6: “F*** the Jews” was painted on a car in Sydney’s east, while other anti-Semitic slogans were sprayed on nearby buildings and footpaths
* January 10: Swastikas were painted on the Southern Sydney Synagogue, an act the NSW premier called “disgusting and disgraceful”
* January 11: A synagogue in Sydney’s inner west was spray-painted with red swastikas and vandals attempted to set it on fire, but the blaze didn’t take hold
* January 16: Police charged a man who allegedly used social media to make death threats against members of the Jewish community
* January 17: A house that formerly belonged to Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin was targeted in an arson and graffiti attack
*January 21: A childcare centre a short distance from the Maroubra Synagogue, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, was set on fire with the words “F*** the Jews” sprayed in black paint on a wall
AAP