Sydney – A municipal council in a suburb of Australia’s largest city said it was not to blame for a decision to ban the construction of a synagogue because it could become the target of a terrorist attack.
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In a statement Friday, the Waverley Council asserted that the decision to reject the synagogue was made by a local land use court, which said the congregation had not addressed the security concerns raised by the congregation in its own development application.
“Waverley Council did not refuse this development application,” it said in a statement Friday. “It was a decision of the Land and Environment Court and confirms that a synagogue is a permitted use at this location.”
The congregation, known as Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe, or FREE, sought to build a synagogue near the popular Bondi beach. It called the application’s rejection, on the grounds that it posed a “potential risk to users and other members of the general public,” a reward for terrorism.
According to the council, as part of their development application, FREE submitted a risk analysis report prepared by a counter-terrorism consultant. It described a number of potential risks and threats to the synagogue. The council noted that FREE sought a ruling from the Land and Environment Court, which ruled that the potential risks were not sufficiently addressed.
“The Waverley community is enriched by our diverse faiths and places of worship including our synagogues,” the council said in a statement. “Waverley Council has a strong history of partnerships with the Jewish community and will continue to work closely with the Jewish community and Jewish organisations.”
One of Waverley’s three Jewish councilors, Leon Goltsman, told JTA: “The record shows exactly how much this council actually does for the Jewish community, and it’s distressing the way mainstream media is so quick to jump onto a story without first researching the facts.”
Community leaders were nevertheless shocked at the decision.
“The decision is unprecedented,” Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, a spokesman for FREE, told news.com.au. “Its implications are enormous. It basically implies that no Jewish organization should be allowed to exist in residential areas. It stands to stifle Jewish existence and activity in Sydney and indeed, by creating a precedent, the whole of Australia, and by extension rewarding terrorism.”
Yidden are unwanted from Mahwah New Jersey to Syndey Australia. Go home Yidden, go to the State of Israel.
So they’re going to come out with we have to close all the other synagogue because they may attract terrorist
The whole world is H’shem’s.
I got news for you. Yidden are unwanted in the State of Israel. Secular zionist are very welcome however.
Somehow its a “shtik” to engage in unfortunate rhetoric when Jewish stuff envolved. Mayb its taake for safety?? Why scream antisemite ritaway?? The Govt Sounds perfectly legit with their argument. The ‘safest’ place called ‘ISRAEL’ accommodates everyone. Go all and see for urself. I wish it wernt so comical.
A truly original form of anti-semitism .
The article is short on facts in what’s most important: what exactly did the city council want the group to change to make it secure?
Also, I got the creeps when I read that this group wants to build what they’re calling a shul using a name FREE (ie. frei).
Just a matter of time before they ban Judaism altogether
I agree with #11 .I lived in Borough Park from 1944-1949. On a sentimental visit back to my old neighborhood in 2009, I was shocked to see the lack of derech eretz, regarding motorists, and the way they drive. Specifically, on a residential street in Borough Park, which had a yellow line (which means no passing), someone did just that. In addition, there were cars double parked, or worse. There was nothing that I learned in driving school, or all of the years I’ve driven on the highway and in various cities, which could have prepared me for that. If I didn’t see the traffic situation first hand, I would not have believed it. Also, when I visited Flatbush, and was proceeding to my car, with luggage, an ostensibly frum kid was deliberately standing in the middle of the sidewalk, and refused to get out of my way, for spite, until I yelled at him. Also, I saw another motorist look around (to make sure there were no cops), and go through a red light. People thought nothing of blocking fire hydrants or driveways. Hence, I can agree with the goyim of Mahwah, as they don’t want to be pushed around or intimidated. People have a right to live in peace, and not be harassed at any time.