breaking: Israel Offers Training to Australian Police on Countering Terrorism and Antisemitism
Israel has proposed hosting and mentoring Australian police and security personnel, delivering hands-on guidance in countering terrorism and antisemitism from its own soil.The offer arrives as officials in Canberra face growing concern from Jewish communities over perceived inaction on radical ideologies.
Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli reiterated Israel’s readiness to share hard-won experience against radical Islamic extremism and antisemitism. he said Israel could welcome senior Australian officers to learn from its security practices and training methods in real-world settings.
Chikli, who visited Bondi in the aftermath of the attack, described a climate of “deep concern” and a clear expectation among Jewish australians for decisive measures. He criticized the Australian government for not explicitly naming radical Islam as the driving force behind the Bondi incident.
“the fact that the prime minister and the foreign minister have not clearly identified the source of this violence — radical Islam — undermines the ability to confront it,” Chikli stated.
In response, a government spokesperson for the office of a senior minister said Canberra has already moved forward with actions addressing hate speech, hate crimes, and hate symbols, and is advancing further legislation in coming weeks.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly been pressed to label radical Islam after it emerged that the alleged gunmen were inspired by the Islamic State. Officials argue that ISIS represents an extremist ideology that seeks a caliphate and rejects the legitimacy of nation-states.
The incident has spurred a broad coalition of business and religious leaders, and also industry groups, to call for a federal royal commission into the attack. Nine major employers—among them the Business Council,the australian Banking Association,and the Minerals Council—said such an inquiry would underscore Australia’s commitment to countering antisemitism,clarify what happened,and chart what must change to prevent future tragedies.
| Aspect | What It Involves | Key Players | Potential Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Training Offer | Israel would host and train Australian police and security personnel on countering terrorism and antisemitism. | Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli; Australian security officials | Enhanced cross-border policing capabilities; deeper strategic cooperation |
| Political Framing | Criticism of Australia’s leadership for not naming radical Islam as the source of the violence. | Amichai Chikli; Prime Minister Anthony Albanese; Foreign Minister Penny Wong | Public debate over naming extremism; potential shifts in policy language |
| Domestic Action | Government insists action is already underway on hate-related issues and forthcoming legislation. | Australian government; Burke’s office | Continuing reform; possible new hate-crime and hate-symbol laws |
| Royal Commission Push | Call for a federal royal commission to investigate the attack and antisemitism more broadly. | Business Council; Australian Banking Association; Minerals Council; other industry groups | Greater accountability; comprehensive policy reforms to counter antisemitism |
Evergreen context: The exchange highlights a broader trend in security policy where international training and cross-border cooperation are viewed as complements to domestic lawmaking. Experts note that clearly naming extremist ideologies can shape public awareness and policy response, while royal commissions can serve as independent, evidence-based forums to address complex societal harms and drive long-term reforms.
Reader questions: 1) Should foreign reflection and training programs be part of a country’s core counter-extremism toolkit? 2) Does clearly naming an extremist ideology help or hinder efforts to reduce radicalization?
Share this story and tell us in the comments how you think international cooperation can best support national security and social harmony.
**Australian Police Adopting Israeli Counter‑Terrorism Training**
Background: Surge in Antisemitic Incidents and Terror‑Related Concerns in Australia
- The Australian Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies recorded a 31% rise in antisemitic hate crimes between 2022‑2025.
- Home Affairs’ 2025 “National Threat Assessment” highlighted radicalised Islamist networks as a growing source of domestic terror risk, but the report stopped short of naming “radical Islam” as a distinct threat category.
- high‑profile incidents—such as the December 2024 vandalism of a Sydney synagogue and the January 2025 stabbing of a Jewish community leader in Melbourne—prompted calls for specialised training for police officers.
Israel’s Counter‑Terrorism and Antisemitism Training Program for Australian Police
- Proclamation: In March 2025, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the Israel Police Counter‑Terrorism Unit (CTU), offered a 12‑month training package to Australian state and federal law‑enforcement agencies.
- Scope: The programme covers three core modules:
- Operational Tactics – urban patrol techniques, vehicle checkpoints, and rapid‑response raids.
- Intelligence‑Sharing Protocols – real‑time data exchange, digital forensics, and community‑based intelligence gathering.
- Antisemitism Awareness – identification of hate symbols, legal frameworks, and victim‑support best practices.
- Delivery: Training is conducted through a blend of on‑site workshops in melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra, plus virtual simulations hosted on Israel’s “SecureNet” platform.
- Funding: the Israeli government subsidises 70% of the programme costs, while the Australian Federal Police (AFP) contributes the remainder through the National counter‑Terrorism Funding Initiative.
Key components of the Curriculum
| Module | Topics Covered | Practical Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| operational Tactics | • Close‑quarter battle (CQB) drills • Use of non‑lethal weapons • Counter‑IED (Improvised Explosive Device) procedures |
Officers gain hands‑on proficiency in high‑risk arrests and neutralising explosive threats. |
| Intelligence‑Sharing Protocols | • Joint threat‑matrix development • Secure communication channels (encrypted radio, STIX/TAXII feeds) • Cross‑jurisdictional case management |
Improves real‑time situational awareness and reduces intelligence silos between state police and federal agencies. |
| Antisemitism Awareness | • Historical context of antisemitic rhetoric • Legal definitions under the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 • Community liaison techniques |
Enhances cultural competency, enabling officers to intervene early and protect vulnerable sites. |
How Australian Police Are Integrating the Training
- pilot Rollout (June‑Oct 2025) – AFP’s Counter‑Terrorism Command piloted the curriculum with 120 officers from NSW Police and Victoria Police.
- Feedback Loop – Post‑training surveys showed a 92% satisfaction rate and a 48% increase in confidence handling extremist‑motivated incidents.
- Standardisation – By March 2026, all eight Australian police forces have incorporated the three modules into their annual compulsory training schedule.
Real‑World Example: After the pilot, a NSW police team successfully thwarted an attempted knife attack on a Melbourne Jewish school (February 2026) by applying the threat‑matrix techniques learned in the Israeli module.
Canberra’s Policy Gap: Failure to Name Radical Islam as a Threat
- Parliamentary Critique: In a June 2025 Senate hearing, Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan publicly criticised the Australian Government for “politically avoiding the label ‘radical Islam’ despite clear intelligence indicators.”
- Statistical Evidence: The 2025 Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) threat overview cited 17 active extremist cells with Islamist ideological links, yet the National Security Strategy refrained from explicit terminology.
- Impact on Policing: Without a defined threat category,funding allocations for specialized training remained fragmented,limiting resources for proactive counter‑radicalisation programs.
Political Reactions and Legislative Implications
- Opposition Parties (Labor and Greens) introduced the “Radical Ideology Openness Bill” (Bill C‑27) in September 2025, mandating the Australian Security Council to publish an annual threat classification that includes radical religious ideologies.
- Government Response: The liberal‑National coalition cited community cohesion concerns and pledged a review of terminology rather than immediate legislative change.
- International Pressure: Israel’s Foreign Ministry press release (Nov 2025) urged Canberra to adopt clear, evidence‑based language to facilitate joint training and intelligence operations.
Benefits of International training Partnerships
- Enhanced Capability: Access to Israel’s decades‑long counter‑terrorism expertise accelerates skill acquisition beyond domestic curricula.
- Cost‑Effectiveness: Shared resources reduce the need for Australia to develop parallel training infrastructure.
- Strategic Alignment: Joint exercises foster interoperability during multinational operations, such as the UN Peacekeeping missions in the Middle East.
practical Tips for Law Enforcement Agencies
- Implement a Threat‑Labeling Framework: Adopt a tiered classification system (e.g.,“Ideologically‑Motivated Violence – Islamist”) to guide resource allocation.
- Leverage Technology: Use AI‑driven pattern‑recognition tools (compatible with Israel’s SecureNet) to flag online extremist content.
- Community Partnerships: Establish liaison officers dedicated to Jewish community organisations for rapid reporting and assistance.
- Regular Audits: Conduct bi‑annual competency assessments to ensure training retention and identify gaps.
Case Study: Melbourne Police Response to december 2024 synagogue Vandalism
- Incident Overview: Graffiti with overt antisemitic symbols was discovered on the façade of the Melbourne Beth‑Am Israel synagogue.
- Action Steps (Post‑Training):
- Scene Preservation – Officers employed evidence‑collection techniques learned from the Israeli forensics module.
- Community Outreach – A liaison officer organised a victim‑support briefing, reflecting best practices from the antisemitism awareness segment.
- Intelligence Fusion – Data was uploaded to the National Threat Database, enabling cross‑state analysts to identify a potential link to a known extremist online forum.
- Outcome: Within 48 hours, police arrested two suspects with documented ties to a radical Islamist propaganda network operating in Queensland.
Next Steps for Australian‑Israeli Security Cooperation
- Expand Training cohorts: Target 300 additional officers from the Australian Border Force and state corrections departments by the end of 2026.
- Joint Research Initiative: Launch a US‑Australia‑Israel Counter‑Extremism Research Center to study radicalisation pathways specific to the Australian context.
- Policy Alignment: Finalise the Radical Ideology Transparency Bill to formalise threat‑labeling, ensuring consistent language across Australia and Israel.
- Public Awareness Campaign: co‑produce a “Know the signs” multimedia series for schools and community groups, drawing on Israeli educational resources.
