Israel offers training to counter terror inspired by IS

Israel insists it is willing to train Australian police in countering terrorism and antisemitism while accusing the federal government of lacking action on “radical Islam”.

Writing to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli says his government stands “ready and willing to assist” following the Chanukah event atrocity at Bondi Beach.

“We bring extensive experience in combating radical Islamic terrorism and antisemitism,” Mr Chikli wrote.

“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.”

Mr Chikli, who visited Bondi in the days after the December 14 attack, said there was “deep concern and an unequivocal demand for decisive and concrete action” among the Jewish community.

He rebuked the Albanese government over what he said was a failure to identify radical Islam as the “driving ideology” behind the mass shooting.

“The fact 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,” Mr Chikli said.

“The first step in fighting terrorism and antisemitism is precise diagnosis – not merely focusing on the weapons used but on the extremist ideology responsible for the violence.

“It is radical Islamist extremism that has attacked and continues to threaten the Jewish community and Australian society at large.”

A spokesman for Mr 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”.

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

“We know 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 differently and bring us together in the shared goal of preventing future tragedy,” the statement said.

Senior minister Tanya Plibersek has meanwhile sidestepped questions about the experts consulted by the government who have advised against holding a royal commission.

“That would be a question for the prime minister and members of the National Security Committee,” she told reporters in Sydney.

“Those discussions are quite rightly held on a need-to-know basis, and I’m not on the National Security Committee, so I’ll leave that to members of that committee to answer.”

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley on Tuesday said “if the prime minister has experts who have effectively said ‘no’, then he needs to provide that advice”.

Ms Plibersek reiterated the government had already committed to co-operating with a NSW royal commission, established the Richardson and Gonski inquiries and responded to the report of special envoy Jillian Segal.

She also noted the NSW Law Enforcement Conduct Commission would hold an additional inquiry and that both criminal and coroner’s court proceedings were anticipated.

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