Archbishop Anthony Fisher warns against provocative remarks as PM vows nation won’t be divided by ‘evil’

Anthony Albanese has vowed the nation will not be divided by the “pure evil” exhibited at Bondi Beach as the Archbishop of Sydney warned him inflammatory messages at pro-Palestine protests “must stop”.

Speaking at a memorial service on the steps of St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney on Wednesday, Archbishop Anthony Fisher, one of the PM’s closest spiritual advisors, said the “dark stain of anti-Semitism on our city and nation challenges us all”.

“For two years now, week after week, demonstrations have taken place here in Hyde Park, within earshot of the Great Synagogue, where inflammatory messages were articulated unchecked,” Mr Fisher said.

“This must stop.”

The archbishop continued, saying Jewish-Australians were “met with one of the oldest and darkest of human hatreds” when the community was targeted on Sunday.

“The Jews have suffered slavery in Egypt, exile in Babylon, oppression by empires, twice the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. They’ve known centuries of diaspora, pogroms, the Shoah, anti-Semitism in many guises. Now carnage in our own city,” he said.

“How can anyone live faith openly when fear whispers to hide your identity and existence? How can anyone maintain hope when despair seems the only response? How can anyone trust their neighbours, when trust is so callously violated?”

Mr Albanese — who was seated next to NSW Premier Chris Minns and Rabbi Benjamin Elton, chief minister of The Great Synagogue — said “there was pure evil at Bondi on Sunday”.

“Yet even in that moment we were given proof that evil will never overcome the courage, decency, compassion and kindness of Australians,” he said.

“That is central to the character of who we are. Our nation is stronger than the cowards who seek to divide us.

“The spirit of the country that we have built together will always be greater than those who seek to breach it.”

Jewish-Australians were “deliberately targeted” as they “came together at that beautiful place to renew their hope, their resilience, their belief in the power of light, the darkness of terror and antisemitism was cast upon them”, Mr Albanese said.

“Our prayers this evening are for the souls of the innocent people whose lives were so cruelly and violently stolen away at Bondi Beach that Sunday evening,” he said.

“We pray with those who knew and loved them. Including, I know, the family of Rabbi Eli, who was farewelled today.”

But he said “we are braver than the people who try to make us afraid”.

“We will not be divided,” he said.

“We will come together, as we are this evening – and we will come through this together.”

The Prime Minister called for the nation to “wrap our arms around the Jewish community”.

“And with our words and our deeds, make it clear, you are Australian – and all Australians stand with you,” he said.

“No matter which faith we worship or whether we have no faith at all, we stand with Jewish Australians.

“You have every right to worship and study and work and live in peace and safety.

“You have every right to be proud of who you are – and proud of the remarkable contribution your community has made to Sydney and to modern Australia, over generations.

“Sunday was a dark day for our nation.”