Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke over the phone with Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, father-in-law of the late Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was murdered in the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, and with The Jerusalem Post contributor and pro-Israel human rights lawyer Arsen Ostrovsky, who was wounded in the attack, his office said on Wednesday.
Netanyahu told the pair that this attack was a part of the “lax policies of the local authorities and the Australian government, which is obligated to act immediately with all available tools to eradicate terrorism and restore security to the Jewish communities.”
He also assured the Jewish community of Australia that Israel stands with them, expressing solidarity with the Chabad emissaries and Australian Jews.
“Australian Jews stand firm and hold fast to great faith and a formidable spirit against those who seek to harm us,” said the statement shared by Netanyahu's office.
Netanyahu links Bondi Beach attack to Australia's leaders
Netanyahu addressed the Bondi Beach attack on Sunday during a press conference where he blamed Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the attack.
"Antisemitism spreads when leaders stay silent. I call upon you to replace weakness with action, appeasement with resolve. Instead, prime minister, you replaced weakness with weakness and appeasement with more appeasement," Netanyahu said.
"Your government did nothing to stop the spread of antisemitism in Australia. You did nothing to curb the cancer cells that were growing inside your country."
Shir Perets contributed to this report.