Record year for NSW JNF
JNF in NSW has reported that their income for the last financial year had hit a record $6.71 million, an increase of 62.6% over the previous year.
JNF has also announced that expenses had been reduced by over 9%.
Stuart Romm
Guest speaker, Australian Workers Union General Secretary, Paul Howes gave an insightful review of the work of Trade Unions Linking Israel and Palestine (TULIP) which works in a practical way in supporting Israeli and Palestinian trade unions to undertake projects of mutual interest to foster peace in the region.
Displaying a profound understanding of Middle East affairs, Mr. Howes provided an insight into the Dubai passport affair, arguing strongly against the expulsion of an Israeli diplomat which he described as counterproductive given that far more intelligence information is provided to Australia by Israel than it provided to Israel.
Said Howes of the incident: “categorising al-Mahoub and Hamas as ‘militants’ is not just plain wrong, it provides a cover for Hamas to hide the reality of this ugly Islamo-fascist terrorist organisation under the cloak of international law.
“We’re talking about a man who has turned Palestinian children into human bombs to murder and terrorise Israeli civilians, not to mention the terror Hamas has waged against Palestinians who are deeply worried about its fundamentalism being imposed by authoritarian diktat”, he continued.
Howes strongly defended Australia’s position in the passport debate, stating that friends stand by each other in good times and bad and a friend is someone who lends a hand when the going gets tough.
“That’s why I am proud that our nation has played a role in the removal of al-Mahoub.” he has stated publicly, adding that while such a viewpoint is to be expected of a pro-Israeli, it should be clear that al-Mahoub’s death is quietly welcomed by the vast majority of the moderate Arab world.
Paul Howes
On Australia’s position in countering Middle East terrorism, Mr. Howes concluded: “It is in our nation’s interest to do whatever we can to remove these vile people from power – by any means necessary”.
In a spirited presentation of the organisation’s vision, achievements and activities, re-elected president, Stuart Romm outlined the efforts being made to green the northern Negev in the past five years. Addressing a packed NSWCCJW auditorium, Dr. Romm listed the numerous water projects undertaken by the JNF including reservoirs at Lahav, Arye, Hatzerim and those under construction at Tifrach and Nevatim.
He made particular mention of the major water treatment plant and storage project at Shomriya where a new, dynamic community has been relocated from former Gaza Strip residents.
“JNF has already planted 40,000 olive trees and huge areas with vines as well as major greenhouse production centres. The project is releasing fresh water quotas back to the Israeli Government to sustain demographic growth”, he point out said.
Closer to home, Mr. Romm listed no fewer than 12 separate major environmental activities undertaken by the JNF in NSW in the past year. In addition he foreshadowed a totally new approach being taken by the organisation in the planning of its major function which this year will take place on November 8.
Stuart Romm and Blue Box Worker of the Year Eugene Grunbaum
Sturart Romm presents Professor Fred Ehrlich the Sydney D Einfeld Memorial Award for service to Israel and the community
B'nai B'rith Chairman Dorrit Mahemoff, Stuart Romm and B'nai B'rith presdident Diane Laufer with the $50,000 cheque for a playground for the challenged
- JNF’s Rebecca Rich and Paul Howes
