Australia’s government has defended its record on curbing anti-Semitism after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused it of anti-Israel policies, following an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue, Reuters reports.

Netanyahu accused PM Anthony Albanese’s centre-left Labor government of encouraging crimes such as Friday’s attack on the Adass Israel synagogue through policies including support of a recent UN motion backing a Palestinian state.

“Unfortunately, this criminal act cannot be separated from the anti-Israel spirit blowing from the Labor government in Australia,” Netanyahu posted on X.

Murray Watt, Australia’s minister for employment and workplace relations, responded that “the Albanese Government has taken a range of strong actions to stand against antisemitism and to stamp it out from our community”.

“I respectfully disagree with Prime Minister Netanyahu on this matter,” Watt said in Brisbane, according to a transcript. Albanese condemned the attack on Friday, saying there was no place for anti-Semitism in Australia.

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