Israelis in Australia
More than 30 leaders of the Israeli communities based in Australia attended the inaugural “Israelis in Australia” conference at the weekend. Read more
Shavout stoush
One of the brothers of child sex abuse advocate Manny Waks was involved in a bitter altercation with a senior rabbi over Shavuot. Read more
Slipper calls for the dismissal of anti-Israel campaigner
Independent Queensland MP Peter Slipper has called on Sydney University to sack Professor Stuart Rees of the Sydney Peace Foundation. Read more
Australia appoints new ambassador to Israel
Wallenberg citizenship on display
The certificate conferring Australian citizenship on Raoul Wallenberg by Prime Minister Julia Gillard at a recent ceremony held at Government House in Canberra is on public display in Melbourne. Read more
Coalition MPs get behind the London Declaration…but Labor says it is bi-partisan
NSW Young Labor Women stand up to BDS
The NSW Young Labor Women’s Network has held a planning session at Max Brenner in Sydney…a gesture demonstrating their opposition to the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel. Read more
Workshops on safety for children
Tzedek, a not-for-profit organisation which advocates for Jewish victims and survivors of childhood sexual abuse, is to launch its first public workshop for the Melbourne Jewish community on parenting safe children. Read more
Pyne Signs
Liberal MP Christopher Pyne, a longstanding friend of Israel and the Jewish community, has signed the London Agreement. Read more
Stamps of friendship
Stamps marking the heroic charge of the Australian Light Horse Brigade in Beersheba in 1917 were jointly issued by Israel and Australia. Read more
‘Til Death Don’t Us Part
In a sign of increasing inter-faith ties, Sydney’s Jews and Muslims will share the last available burial space at Rookwood Cemetery. Read more
Roozendaal quits Macquarie St
Eric Roozendaal, the former NSW treasurer, roads minister and ports minister in the former Labor government, quit politics on Thursday. Read more
BDS vote a non-event
An expected counter-motion to last month’s pro-BDS resolution at the University of Sydney did not go to the vote on Wednesday night because the Student Representative Council meeting did not reach a quorum. Read more
Fayad – Hardly a Moderate
The recently resigned former Palestinian Prime Minister Salman Fayad is being eulogized as the late great hope of moderation for the Palestinian Authority write Michael Kuttner and David Bedein. Read more
ABC says Zygier sabotaged mission
Ben Zygier, the Australian-born Mossad agent, unwittingly scuppered a top-sec ret operation to repatriate the bodies of three Israeli soldiers missing in Lebanon for three decades, according to an ABC report. Read more
Tzedek applies to appear at the Royal Commission
Tzedek, the Jewish organisation which has been established to end the silence on child sexual abuse within the Jewish community, has made an application to appear at the Royal Commission into child abuse. Read more
A private viewing of the Archibald
The Moriah Foundation has hosted its members and the Moriah College Grandparents Club at a private viewing of the Archibald Exhibition. Read more
Limmud-Oz breaking records
There will be a record 17 international presenters at this year’s Limmud-Oz in Sydney to be held next month. Read more
Israel and Australia in joint stamp issue
Stamps bearing tribute to the heroic Australian Light Horse Brigade and the monumental battle fought by the ANZACs in Beersheba in 1917 will be jointly issued by Israel and Australia on 10 May. Read more
Koved zayer ondenk – Lest We Forget in Yiddish
Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts Michael Danby visited Germany for ANZAC day and to attend a ceremony at which indigenous remains were returned to Aboriginal leaders. Read more
University condemns antisemitic remarks about campus Max Brenner store
The University of New South Wales has issued a statement commenting on antisemitic remarks posted on social media following the announcement that a Max Brenner chocolate store will open on campus. Read more
South African organisation facilitates Aliyah for Australians
The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) has signed an arrangement with Telfed, the South African Zionist Federation’s Israeli arm, to facilitate immigration for Australian olim. Read more
Jerusalem Prize for David Zwartz
Long time Wellington community stalwart David Zwartz has been awarded the Jerusalem Prize…the first New Zealand recipient. Read more
Kiwis Kosher Again
The New Zealand Government has cleared the direct transportation of pets from Israel following a two year ban. Read more
Travelling South African rabbi to visit Australia
A rabbi whose career focused in being the spiritual leader of Jewish communities in rural areas of South Africa will visit Australia next month. Read more
Jewish ANZAC commemoration in Melbourne
The Victorian Association of Jewish Ex & Servicemen & Women Australia has held its memorable ANZAC commemoration service. Read more
B’nai B’rith and Hatzolah participate in drugs forum
More than 150 members of the Melbourne community have attended a “Drugs Without Borders: Rethinking Responses”, forum organized by B’nai B’rith Victoria. Read more
Jewish Anzac commemoration
Over 170 guests attended a wreath-laying ceremony commemorating Anzac Day at the NSW Jewish War Memorial as the Last Post was played in memory of those Jewish servicemen and women who lost their lives fighting for Australia. Read more
The Other Son – an interview with Lorraine Levy
French filmmaker Lorraine Levy directed “The Other Son”, a warm, thought-provoking and sensitive film on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is a film no-one should miss. She answers questions about the project. Read more
A Terrorist’s Dream – To have Jews as the Enemy.
From Gil Solomon:
It must be any Arab terrorist’s dream come true that they have Jews as their enemy.
If you are a terrorist facing Israel, you can fire rockets by the thousands and finally receive a response you know will end prematurely and inconclusively. You face an Israeli enemy which, during a war, gives advance notice by flyers and phone calls to apartment residents that a specific building is being targeted, giving so called “innocent” civilians and yourselves enough time to escape with your life.
Recently a US drone targeted a known terrorist in Pakistan and according to media reports even after confirming the man’s wife and extended family were present, the missile launch went ahead killing the terrorist and nine of those present with him and not a peep from anyone. This should serve as an example of the blatant experiences Israel should highlight the next time she faces her accusers. No country on the face of the earth goes to the extent Israel does in trying to avoid civilian casualties but one must ask, what benefit has it gained?
If you are a terrorist facing Israel, you can fabricate stories of a supposed massacre (e.g. Jenin), knowing full well that nothing occurred but that it will cast dispersions on an enemy which foolishly states that it will investigate the claim and thereby, to the rest of the world, implies there may be something to the story. In this regard, if you are a terrorist you know that in respect to your Israeli enemy, that they have not a clue how to counter the Hasbara war you are waging against them and wouldn’t even know that Hasbara is a war.
If you are a terrorist facing Israel, you will certainly know that her enemies can make the most outrageous and heinous statements, such as, according to media reports that “Jews are the offspring of pigs and apes”, knowing full well that the Israelis will still offer to sit down with you in talks with no preconditions! Not even the demand that the indoctrination of children in hate must stop.
If you are a terrorist facing Israel, you will know that if captured, as in the case of case of Barghouti, a terrorist “with blood on his hands” sitting in an Israeli prison, you can still be given access to the world media!
If you are a terrorist facing Israel, you will rejoice in that country’s decision of allowing the Muslim Waqf to take control of the Temple Mount after the 1967 war, all for a dubious halachic ruling which is not universally accepted today. This will allow you to go on excavating under the Temple Mount with a bulldozer, destroying any remaining Jewish artefacts in order to rid the place of any trace of the first and second Temple periods and in the process build a mosque there for future proof of claim to the land.
If you are a terrorist facing Israel, you will know that so successful is your propaganda, that your enemy will still be held responsible by the world media for so called settlement “expansion” even though it is clearly only building a new house or an extension to an existing home but within the boundaries of the existing settlement.
If you are a terrorist facing Israel, you will know that no nation in the Western world will call you to account for your ongoing perpetrated myths and lies.
If you are a terrorist facing Israel, you know that your enemy will indulge your ludicrous and incessant claims and still be willing to sit down with you in good faith.
If you are a terrorist facing Israel, you should pray that your enemy will continue treating you as they do now, that is, not as any “normal” country would do. If your enemy was a “normal” country like Russia, China or the USA facing barrage after deadly barrage of missiles, you could rest assured that parts of the Gaza Strip and West Bank would have been reduced to rubble long ago.
Finally and most disgusting of all, if you are a terrorist facing Israel you will know that within the Jewish Diaspora, you will have countless numbers who have fallen for your propaganda, fallen for your attempts to rewrite history, who will flock to your side and denounce Israel for every step it takes in its defence. In short, you will be able to count on many of those who you call the “offspring of pigs and apes” who will defend your every move and pronouncement. If this is not obscene enough, these same “offspring of pigs and apes” will devise ways of bring economic hardship to Israel by such devious campaigns as a BDS.
Gil Solomon
Sydney
