Words of support from Boris and Scott
It was almost an impromptu event when UIA major donors received a week’s notice to hear former prime ministers Australian Scott Morrison and British Boris Johnson following their visit to the Oct 7 kibbutzim.
Boris Johnson and Scott Morrison Photo: Giselle Haber
Nevertheless, more than 80 supporters rescheduled their busy day to hear Steven Lowy, Chairman of the World Board of Trustees of Keren Hayesod-UIA, introduce the guests at the surprise lunch.
He said: “We have two amazing leaders of the world who truly love Israel, who truly, truly share our beliefs and values, and who themselves have been a shining light among the leadership for the world.”
He spoke of his second trip to Israel since October 7 and said the country had changed a lot since the attack. Steven Lowy said: “One of the highlights listening to Scott and to Boris is that they clearly understand that there is no moral equivalency between the barbaric acts that took place on October the seventh by the terrorist group of Hamas and the defence of the IDF forces in favour of Israel.”
He added: “The economic devastation is staggering. More than 12% of the workforce is currently in the army. There is no distinction between civil and military society today.”
Steven Lowy announced that US$ 175 million had been raised worldwide since October 7 for Israel’s emergency short needs.
Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson visited Israel together after October 7. They spoke to young men and women who had been in the area where the atrocities had been perpetrated.
Scott told the major donors: “Some of them had been in places like Kfar Aza where Boris and I visited and they had witnessed the worst day for Jews since the Holocaust. I said to one young man, how are you dealing with this? And he replied, ‘well, I’m not. I’ll deal with it later. We have a job to do now.’ And that bravery and that courage was truly inspiring.”
This was not just the wild barbarity of what you’ve seen from ISIS fighters. This was a cold, calculated and planned atrocity at a scale that I still can’t get my head around. The same type of planning, the same type of deliberate evil that you suffered during the Holocaust. That wasn’t a random act, and there are apologists, and there were many of them that the United Nations the other night and one just a shame that Australians were absolutely shocked.
I was thrilled to be able to join Boris. I had been deeply troubled by what’s been happening in our own country. I’m deeply troubled about how my Jewish friends are feeling isolated and abandoned. This is not Australia. I cannot tell you another community, like the Jewish community in Australia, which has committed and sacrificed and given more to this country than the Jewish community. To those in the room today, to see your contribution and your sacrifice and your generosity to be returned with isolation and abandonment. I can only imagine how that makes you feel. And so when Boris and I went to Israel, we went to say you’re not alone. We went to say, we will always remember and we will always stay with you.”
Referring to last week’s UN General Assembly vote, Scott Morrison reflected on the bipartisan parliamentary support for Israel immediately after October 7. He said: “The test of Australia’s support for Israel was not on that day. The test for Australia’s code on Israel would come in the weeks and the months ahead when those who are standing with Israel will become fewer. And sadly, Australia failed that test ultimately, but be encouraged that while that might be the government’s position, I don’t believe that’s the position of Australians and I do not believe it’s the position of those who share my view, including many in the Labour Party, including here in New South Wales and I particularly commend the job the premier Chris Minn’s has done.”.
Scott Morrison focused on the two words “October 7”. He applied those two words to the United Nations. He questioned how some justified what occurred on the seventh of October and drew some sort of moral equivalence. The way they do it, is by forgetting the words “October 7”. They are being completely dropped from the global debate. They talked about the day before. And they talked about the days after, but they refused to confront the evil and the atrocity of October 7.
Boris Johnson told Scott Morrison that he was going to Israel after October 7 and invited him to accompany him…which he did.
He said: “We walked through the paths now so familiar to so many, through Kfar Aza. On every step of the way, we agreed so passionately about the meaning of what we were looking at and the vital importance of using our platforms to try to explain what happened to people who totally misunderstood it.
Normally rational, decent human beings can no longer see which way is up, and they have lost all moral compass. And they’re so blind that they can’t see what should be stark staring obvious that there is a difference between a terrorist attacking civilians and a soldier trying to stop another such terrorist atrocity.”
He emphasised: “There’s a difference between sitting down one morning with the specific objective of trying to kill main rape, catch and punish those who instigated and conducted that makes sense. And there’s a difference between trying to maximize human pain and humiliation and grief and try to minimize that suffering. There’s a difference between a pluralist democracy with a tradition of free speech and adherence to equalities and human rights. And a nihilistic theocratic death count: that’s the difference between Israel and Hamas.”
Boris Johnson asked what is it about Israel that brings this moral fog into the brain?
He had more questions. “And what is it about Jewish kids today even in my city of London, which I had the privilege of representing for three years, now afraid to take class, for fear of being bullied in the same phenomena you’re seeing in other Western capitals? Why is it that educated people, professionals, think it’s right to go up and tear down the posters of children, innocent children who are being held hostage by a mass? What’s going on? I think we all know the answer. And this emotion is antisemitism. And it’s the latest mutation of an ancient virus that has been lurking beneath the floorboards of our civilization.”
He finished off by saying: “The Jewish people must have a homeland where they can be free from persecution and where they can live without fear of the kind of persecution happening on the streets. . More than ever, Israel must exist to succeed, and thrive and must be able to protect and defend itself. And it proves to me we’ve got to be collectively vigilant in the fight against anti-Semitism in Britain, in Australia, and around the world.
This kind of support is, of course, not only so welcome but also affords some light relief for Jews in Australia and elsewhere from the constant barrage of pro-Palestinian commentary and criticism of Israel and the IDF.
However, Scott Morrison, please don’t say to your Jewish friends ‘this is not Australia’ – a phrase quoted as knee jerk reaction from most politicians at aberrant acts committed in this country – because this is indeed very much part of Australia. The huge increase in antisemitism shows that. It must be owned and acknowledged before it can be addressed.