Yom Ha’azmaut: Sydney
Over 650 people heard NSW Premier Mike Baird speak of his recent trip to Israel at the Yom Ha’azmaut celebration in Sydney.
NSW Premier Mike Baird toasts the State of Israel Photo: Giselle Haber
Held at the city’s Shangri-La Hotel and organised by The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies and the ZCNSW Premier Baird was joined on the dias by Israel’s ambassador to Australia Shmuel Ben-Shmuel. The Premier spoke of the impact Yad Vashem made on him and how the trade mission he was on would strengthen relations between Israel and NSW.
In his speech, The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies president Jeremy Spinak said: “In the same way, tonight we do not celebrate the 68th year of a successful nation but we also reaffirm our commitment to ensure that we never face exile again. That never again will the Jewish people sing Hatikvah from hostile and unwelcoming lands.
This celebration is not to claim that Israel is perfect, nor blameless, but what we do seek is that it be treated equally by the community of nations.
That criticism of its government not become an excuse to delegitimise its sovereignty.
Everyday Palestinians and Israeli’s want peace. Both peoples deserve it.”
ZCNSW president Richard Balkin, NSWJBD president Jeremy Spinak, NSW Attorney-General Gabrielle Upton, Israeli ambassador Shmuel Ben-Shmuel, Premier Mike Baird, The Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Robert Goot Photo: Giselle Haber
