Martin Indyk, diplomat who sought Mideast peace, dies

Martin Indyk, an author, think tank leader and diplomat who worked toward peace in the Middle East, has died aged 73. Read more

The appalling politicisation and misrepresentation of the ICJ

One has to be profoundly concerned with the ongoing politicisation of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and its growing association with abusive lawfare against Israel. Read more

“A sad and shameful day for all Australians” 

Australia’s support of a UN resolution on Palestine will help to broker peace, the foreign minister says, but a Labor MP argues it will leave Jewish Australians isolated. Read more

Penny Wong plans to visit Israel within weeks

Penny Wong will make a visit to the Middle East within weeks, following a bipartisan delegation travelling to Israel. Read more

860 visas for Palestinians with Australian connections

Between October 7 and November 20, the Department of Home Affairs approved 860 visas for Palestinians with connections to Australia, according to reports from the ABC. Read more

Shadow Federal Defence Minister Speaks to NSW Jewish community

More than 60 people attended a lunchtime speech and question and answer session with Federal Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie today, where he spoke on Australian defence policy and the Israel-Hamas war. Read more

Greens Senate walkout criticising the government

Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi led a protest walk-out by her party during the Senate yesterday’s Question Time at the end of a fire and brimstone speech criticising the government’s position on the Israel-Gaza war. Read more

Dr Colin Rubenstein addresses a minyan for the late Jeremy Jones AM

Dr Colin Rubenstein, Executive Director at the Australia /Israel and Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) has addressed a minyan for the late Jeremy Jones held at Sydney’s Mizrachi Synagogue. Read more

What are the next steps before Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is sworn In?

Wednesday night, shortly before a midnight deadline, Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu phoned Israeli President Isaac Herzog to give formal notification that he has enough Knesset support to form a government. Read more

Lyons’ blatant twisting of an email demonstrates the shallowness and unprofessionalism of his latest monograph

Sometimes the veracity of a piece of writing can be easily assessed from the way one source document is used or misused…writes Jamie Hyams. Read more

Change of leadership: Congratulations for Bennett

World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder has reacted to the formation of the new Israeli government. Read more

A difference of opinion

Jonathan Pollard was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1987 for spying for Israel in the United States…and now is the keynote speaker at an event in Jerusalem celebrating Jerusalem Day. Read more

More congratulations for the Biden-Harris camp

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council and the Zionist Federation of Australia have congratulated Joe Biden on his election as the President of the United States, and his running mate Kamala Harris, who becomes America’s first female vice-President. Read more

Jewish and pro-Israel groups welcome Israel-Bahrain normalization agreement

Jewish and pro-Israel groups instantly applauded Israel and Bahrain for agreeing on Friday to normalize relations between the two countries—the second of its kind between Israel and a Persian Gulf nation in the wake of the United Arab Emirates. Read more

AIJAC asks government to reconsider its position on Hezbollah

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) has welcomed the German government’s decision to join a growing list of countries that proscribe the entirety of Hezbollah as a terrorist group and again urges the Australian government to seriously reconsider its stance on the organisation. Read more

Prestige U.S. award for Colin Rubenstein

The Executive Director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council Dr Colin Rubenstein has been honoured for his advocacy on behalf of the Jewish people and Israel by the Board of Governors of the American Jewish Committee. Read more

Senator and union leaders report on their visit to Israel

Liberal Senator for Queensland  Amanda Stoker is a recent graduate of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) Rambam study program to Israel, and addressed an AIJAC function in Melbourne to discuss impressions of her visit to Israel in June.  Read more

AIJAC thanks Danby

The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council has praised Michael Danby who yesterday announced his retirement from federal parliament. Read more

Australia not happy with US decision to quit UNHRC

Australia is disappointed by the decision of the United States to resign from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Read more

AIJAC thanks Australian government for principled stance at UN

Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) National Chairman Mark Leibler and Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein have written to Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to express AIJAC’s “sincere appreciation for Australia’s principled stance at the UN General Assembly by voting in favour of the US amendment to the unbalanced motion on Israel, and then being one of only eight countries to vote against the motion when the amendment failed.”  Read more

Leaders praises Trump’s leadership

The World Jewish Congress on Monday enthusiastically welcomed the United States’ move of its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, calling it a “critical moment in history” and a “precedent worthy of emulation” by all of Israel’s allies.  Read more

Shift trends in the West

Australian Jewry’s role as arguably the most successful diaspora Jewish community was included in discussions at the Jewish World’s most significant  think tank, the Jewish People’s Policy Institute, in Jerusalem recently. Read more

18C and Australia multiculturalism

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) has commenter on the announcement by Attorney-General George Brandis QC of a parliamentary inquiry into freedom of speech, including sections 18C and 18D of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) and how the Australian Human Right Commission (the Commission) handles complaints.  Read more

Australian reporters report on their trip to Israel

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Community welcomes Malcolm

Australia’s new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is no stranger to the country’s Jewish community given that his federal seat of Wentworth is home to the majority of Jews living in Sydney. Read more

Malcolm Fraser: Community messages

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry and The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council have issued statements following the death of former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. Read more

The Walkleys – more have their say

Members of Australia’s Jewish community have slammed the Walkleys for awarding the highest journalistic honour in Australia to  Ruth Pollard, John Lyons and an ABC-Four Corners team. Read more

Bob Carr – AIJAC has its say…and Danby watches the 7:30 Report

AIJAC responds to Carr’s settlements remarks

The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council’s Dr Colin Rubenstein has responded to remarks made by Foreign Minister Bob Carr declaring Israeli settlements “on Palestinian land” illegal. Read more

Israeli ambassador rebuked – community responds

The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council and the Zionist Federation of Australia have voiced their criticism of Foreign Minister Bob Carr’s decision to rebuke the Israeli ambassador Yuval Rotem over the settlements issue. Read more

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