What happened in Sydney over the weekend was all too predictable.

On Sunday, Chabad of Bondi organised an event for the Jewish community to celebrate Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights.

To use the language of the Left, it is a festival that commemorates the victory of the Jews, the indigenous people of Israel, over the colonial power that had subjugated them for years, the Greek Empire.

The ultimate story of an indigenous people claiming back land that was taken from them by an all-conquering empire.

During this celebration, two alleged Islamist terrorists opened fire on a group of Jews in the heart of Sydney, killing 15.

This is a tragedy the likes of which we had hoped never to see again following the gun reforms post the Port Arthur Massacre in 1996.

Thirty years later, prior to last night, such a horrific event became a near certainty.

Many people have been calling out that just such an event would occur due to the void created by the lack of leadership from our elected officials.

The head of ASIO, Mike Burgess, has stated that in terms of threats to life, antisemitism is the number one priority for the organisation.

We now find out that one of the attackers was on an ASIO watchlist years ago for alleged ties to ISIS. Make it make sense.

The reason this was bound to occur is simple. The lack of action, or, more specifically, the inaction of the government.

Following the atrocities of October 7, when the Sydney Opera House was lit up with the flag of Israel as a sign of solidarity with the Jewish community was an opportunity for us all to come together and grieve.

Instead, a group of antisemitic thugs came to the steps of the Opera House in their hundreds and yelled ‘gas the Jews’.

After a protracted and thorough police investigation, the verdict? Oh, they weren’t yelling ‘gas the Jews’, they were yelling ‘where’s the Jews’, as if that level of incitement to violence is any better. Who are you going to believe, the investigation or your lying ears?

We then had the firebombing of the Adass synagogue, followed by an attempt on the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation.

The doxing of Jewish artists.

Harassment of Jewish students at our universities, with many being blocked from attending lectures by rabid mobs of antisemites.

Vandalism and assault at an Israeli restaurant in the CBD by a crowd of antisemitic thugs.

That’s not to mention the violent protests held in the CBD every single week for a two-year period, with cries of ‘from the river to the sea’ and ‘globalise the intifada’.

For two years, Jews were gaslit and told not to overreact and not everything is antisemitism and we are safe in Australia.

For two years, we were told to stop complaining and to think of the plight of the Palestinians instead.

Won’t someone think of the children?!

For two years, we have been told that anti-Zionism isn’t antisemitism, you can hate the state of Israel without hating the Jewish people.

Sunday December 14, 2025, proved that wrong, didn’t it?

A group of Jews came together to celebrate a religious festival.

Not a Zionist festival.

They came together as a group of Jews, not Zionists.

Without asking, you couldn’t even tell if there were any Zionists there.

What did they get for their troubles? Fifteen dead and countless more injured in the most violent attack in Australia in 30 years.

This is what ‘from the river to the sea’ means.

This is what ‘globalise the intifada’ means.

This is what ‘anti-Zionism isn’t antisemitism’ means.

Dead Jews thousands of kilometres away from a conflict in the Middle East, shot in cold blood for having the temerity to celebrate their religious festival in Bondi.

To our spineless government.

Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong, Tony Bourke. This happened on your watch.

Your equivocation and prevarication over the last two years on the issue of antisemitism has spoken volumes.

Your lack of leadership and policy direction has contributed to where we are today. Shame on you for creating the environment where this shameful day in Australian history could occur.

To the politicians, you’ve marched with these people in solidarity. You’ve spoken up to protect extremists in Australia. You’ve let these people into our country.

Platitudes like ‘there is no place for antisemitism in Australia’, ‘never again is now’, never again is too soon’ are not going to cut it.

We need real action, not words.

We need real outcomes.

We need real leadership.

To all of the socialists that will be out and about in their terror scarves in the coming days and weeks.

Maybe not exactly thrilled by the events of this past weekend, but certainly not upset.

You think the Red Green Alliance will work in your favour to take down the West.

You’re mistaken.

You too will eventually be eaten by the same snake you are aligning yourself with.

Pastor Martin Niemöller’s famous quote comes to mind. Except they came for the Jews first this time.