A statement from AMEC concerning the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, 14 December 2025.

There are occasions when words simply fail us; when we are not sure what to say or how to say it. The Apostle Paul in his Letter to the Romans writes,

“So too the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads on our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.” (Romans 8:26)

As we write, these last twenty-four hours have indeed left us at a loss for words. The historian Geoffrey Blainey coined the phrase the “tyranny of distance”. In these last hours, we have seen the fruits of the “tyranny of complacency”, it can never happen here. Unfortunately, it has happened here, and like all rational Australians, we are appalled.

As leaders of the Australasian Middle Eastern Apostolic Churches (AMEC), we unequivocally condemn the brutal actions of delusional individuals who, for whatever reason, brought death and mayhem to a Jewish religious gathering at Bondi Beach in Sydney.

As powerless watchers of the horrific events, we can but entrust the murdered victims to the mercy and loving kindness of Almighty God. May the Searcher of Hearts draw them ever closer to Himself in eternal life; and may the Divine Physician grant a speedy recovery to the wounded. We pray especially for the bereaved, that in the midst of their grief, the Most High will enfold them in His consolation.

We give heartfelt thanks to the Good Lord for all those, who with scant regard for their own safety, did what they could for the security of others; and amongst these are especially the police and paramedics.

In the days ahead, there will be some in the Australian Jewish Community, who will advise those who can, to exercise the Right of Return and make the Aliya, and that is their choice. 

However, to our Australian Jewish brethren we would say that if you leave this Great Southern Land to which you have contributed so much, the Hanukkah Lights each year will burn less brightly; and the darkness will have taken one more step into our Australian community.

Today, we strongly urge the civil authorities, State and Federal, to do all that is both effective, lawful and prudent to encourage communal cohesion, including the suppression of provocative public behaviour and discourse.

During these last months of the year, the northern winter, many communities celebrate festivals to rejoice in the gift of light; Christmas and Epiphany, the Days of Light and Glory; the Jewish Hanukkah; Diwali, across the subcontinent.

May the Light remain Ever-Unconquered.  

✠ Robert Rabbat, DD

President of AMEC

AMEC Members

Melkite Catholic Church, AMEC President	Most Reverend Robert Rabbat, DD
Coptic Orthodox Church, NSW AMEC Vice President	Most Reverend Anba Daniel
Maronite Catholic Church	Most Reverend Antoine Charbel Tarabay, DD
Chaldean Catholic Church	Most Reverend Amel Shamon Nona, DD
Antiochian Orthodox Church	Most Reverend Basilios (Kodseie)
Syrian Orthodox Church	Most Reverend Mor Malatius Malki Malki
Armenian Apostolic Church	Most Reverend Vardan Navasardyan
Syriac Catholic Church	Most Reverend Georges Casmoussa
Armenian Catholic Church	Very Reverend Msgr. Basil Sousanian
Ancient Church of The East	Very Reverend Chorbishop Joseph Joseph
Coptic Catholic Church	Rev. Fr. Andrawes Faraj