Enough already
Federal Liberal Member for Wentworth, Dave Sharma, and Federal Labor Member for Macnamara, Josh Burns, will today move a bipartisan Private Members’ Motion in the House of Representatives calling on Israel to immediately extradite Malka Leifer.
Dave Sharma
Leifer is wanted on 74 charges relating to child sexual abuse from her time as the Principal of the Adass Israel School in Melbourne.
Ms Leifer’s extradition was requested by Australia in 2014.
There have been 63 court hearings since that time, and the case still has not moved to the formal extradition phase, despite a psychiatric panel declaring Malka Leifer fit for extradition in January this year.
Ms Leifer’s alleged victims, sisters Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper, have waited long enough for their former principal to face justice in Australia.
Ms Erlich and Ms Meyer visited Parliament in October 2019 where they met with Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, Deputy Opposition Leader Richard Marles, and several other MPs from both major parties.
Over five years since the initial extradition request was made by the Australian Government, Ms Leifer remains in Israel.
Dave Sharma said: “We have been exceptionally patient in this case, but enough is enough. It is time for Ms Leifer to be extradited to Australia and face her accusers.
The Australian Parliament and the Australian Government will not rest until justice is done in this case.
To our friends in Israel we say: it is time to act. Do the right thing and support justice for victims in both our countries.”
Josh Burns
Josh Burns has called the ploys to keep Leifer from extradition are “shameful”.
“This motion is important because we must maintain pressure until Leifer faces an Australian courtroom.”
He said: “Allegations of interference in this case, especially by the Israeli Minster for Health, Yaakov Litzman, are shameful.”
“The Australian Federal Parliament stands with Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper, together with all other victims of child sexual abuse.”
Dassi Erlich
Alleged victim Dassi Erlich said ahead of the motion: “Today a bipartisan motion in Parliament will demand that Leifer be brought back to face justice!
It is important that this issue remains outstanding in the minds of the Israeli legal and political establishment.”
We feel validated and encouraged that this frustrating process will not be ignored by Australia until the extradition is honoured by Israel.”
The Motion:
Mr Sharma: To move—That this House:
(1) Notes that Malka Leifer, the former Principal of the Adass Israel Girls School in Melbourne, fled Australia in 2008 as child sexual abuse allegations against her surfaced;
(2) Reaffirms the formal extradition request that was filed by Australia in 2014 requesting she be returned to Victoria to face 74 charges of child sexual abuse;
(3) Acknowledges the bravery of Ms Leifer’s alleged victims – especially Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper for their tireless pursuit of justice;
(4) Further notes that over 5 years have elapsed, and over 60 court hearings have been held in Israel, since this extradition request was first lodged, without any significant progress having been made;
(5) Expresses regret and concern at the numerous attempts to prevent and delay Malka Leifer facing justice in Australia; and
(6) Calls for the immediate extradition of Malka Leifer to Australia to face 74 charges of child sexual abuse.
Absolutely. This bipartisan motion should go ahead. Every day that goes by without Israel agreeing to and implementing Leifer’s extradition to Australia is a day of shame. I am not used to feeling anything but pride for the State of Israel, so this makes life difficult for Jews in the Diaspora; it’s more than an embarrassment.
As for the Israeli Health Minister, Yaacov Litzman, he should be sacked. To leave him where he is is also a disgrace.
The Australian parliament should vote to suspend diplomatic relations with Israel.