Two masked men on a motorcycle, a jerrycan of petrol, five in the morning, the synagogue in central Skopje. One jumped the fence carrying the fuel, the other kept watch. Both tried to set fire to the Jewish Community building — during a period when the region is burning from multiple escalating conflicts.

The Interior Ministry confirmed that two people in protective helmets — concealing their identities — carried out a coordinated attempted arson of the Jewish Community building and synagogue in Skopje on April 12. The incident was caught on camera, and the footage was published by the Israeli embassy.

Reactions — fast, but enough?

The Israeli ambassador praised the swift response of Macedonian authorities and stated she is committed to preventing similar incidents. Minister Mucunski condemned the attack: there is no place for such actions in Macedonia.

But here is the troubling detail: the Security Council had previously warned that the synagogue could be a target. If the risk was known, why wasn't there enhanced protection at 5am? The fast reaction is good — but prevention would have been better.

The investigation continues. The identity of the attackers is not yet confirmed. As the Middle East conflict amplifies tensions globally, Skopje gets a reminder that it isn't immune to the ripple effects. How long can this run without an incident?