Fresh vow to stop anti-Semitism with new taskforce

A new anti-hate taskforce charged with tackling the "bigger picture" of anti-Semitism will meet within days, as a premier vows to stamp out hatred towards Jews.

At least four violent incidents in Melbourne are being treated as anti-Semitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night.

Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside.

The congregation had been singing traditional songs as they sat down for dinner after a regular service, when all of a sudden, chaos broke out.

"My 13-year-old son comes running in and says, 'something's not right, the doorbell has been ringing'," Rabbi Dovid Gutnick told ABC radio.

That's when they saw smoke and flames coming from under the door.

Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters shortly afterwards, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)".

Hours later, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight outside a Greensborough business in the city's northeast.

CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires, with detectives looking for five people who were last seen fleeing on e-bikes.

A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited the synagogue on Monday, after revealing details of the anti-hate taskforce intended to "look at the bigger picture across our city and state".

"Just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, that it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to the hate, put a stop to anti-Semitism," she told reporters outside.

The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter terrorism officers to see if there are any links between the events.

A 28-year-old from Footscray was the only arrest made for allegedly hindering police at Miznon, but has since been released.

Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved.

A group called Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance took responsibility for the incident.

"While politicians in so-called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel's genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians," a statement on the group's Instagram read.

Rabbi Gutnick said his community was reeling from the incident, and that people can carry empathy for one group without descending into hate.

"There is a boundary, and people have gone beyond the pale in the things that they've said and now in the things that are being done," he said.

"Words don't end at words. They lead to actions."

Victoria Police, the state government and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece will this week examine police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests.

"We back our police, we're giving them more powers," the premier said.

Ms Allan promised bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December.

However, the legislation is yet to be introduced to state parliament.

The attacks drew an international response, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters".

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the "swift response".

Victoria's opposition leader Brad Battin said the state needed to crack down on hate speech at protests by reinstating "move on" laws.

Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with the issue.