Australian Royal Commission on Antisemitism Opens

Australia's most authoritative public inquiry convened in Sydney on Tuesday to examine the surge in antisemitism following a deadly mass shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach. The attack on December 14, 2025, claimed 15 lives and injured dozens more, prompting widespread outrage in a nation known for its stringent gun laws.

The Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, led by retired High Court Justice Virginia Bell, opened with preliminary statements outlining its mandate. The commission, which holds powers to compel testimony and evidence, will investigate the drivers of antisemitism, its prevalence in institutions and society, and the broader context of social cohesion. It will also review the circumstances of the Bondi incident, including security arrangements at the event and the performance of intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Police investigations indicate the perpetrators, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram, were motivated by Islamic State ideology. Sajid Akram was fatally shot by officers at the scene, while Naveed Akram survived and now faces charges including 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder, and a...