On October 1, the head of ASIO, Mike Burgess, expressed support for banning Hamas in its entirety. When questioned during a parliamentary inquiry, he stated, “Yes I would support it, but I am not the decision-maker.” Mr Burgess went further, “There’s no doubt the group as a whole does advocate …
Read More »Indigenous friends of Israel : Press release
“Regarding the recent motion by the Qld ALP regarding Israel, it is the Jewish people who have been subjected to ethnic cleansing from the land of Israel for many centuries,” said Norman and Barbara Miller, Convenors of the Indigenous Friends of Israel. “If you want to talk about ethnic cleansing, …
Read More »Antisemitic incidents in Australia in 2020 continue to cause concern.
Australia is generally considered a relatively safe and free environment for its Jewish population. Despite this, antisemitism persists, with many incidents of attacks and threats against Jews. This situation is one that many Australians are often unaware of. Each year, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), the peak national …
Read More »Giant Boomerang Menorah lights up Cairns Esplanade: Far North Queensland
Australia and Judaism Combine Celebrating 2020 Hanukkah Season Cairns, QLD, —To celebrate the 2020 Chanukah season, Chabad North Queensland lit up a giant boomerang menorah at the Cairns Esplanade. The life size menorah, was constructed entirely of boomerangs and provided Cairns’ Jewish and wider community with a safe way to …
Read More »Media Release: Adelaide Holocaust Museum to open its doors
MEDIA RELEASE: Adelaide Holocaust Museum is set to open its doors and the hearts of South Australians. The new Adelaide Holocaust Museum and Andrew Steiner Education Centre (AHMSEC) will be officially launched on Monday 9 November in the heart of the CBD. With the generous support of the Catholic Archdiocese, …
Read More »Zionist Federation of Australia: An historic day and an incredible peace.
The Zionist Federation of Australia warmly welcomes the signing of an Israel–UAE treaty and a Bahrain–Israel normalisation agreement, and congratulates the leaders of all three countries. Zionist Federation of Australia President Jeremy Leibler said, “From its very establishment, the State of Israel has sought peace with its neighbours. When Ben …
Read More »Sir Robert Menzies and Australia’s Jewish Community.
In an ABC documentary series to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Liberal Party of Australia, the daughter of Sir Robert Menzies, Heather Henderson, recalled that “sectarianism was alive and well in the fifties” and that her “father fought against that always.” Appreciating that he was at the helm of what was …
Read More »ECAJ lodges formal complaint concerning Network Ten’s ‘The Project’
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry- ECAJ, the peak representative body of the Australian Jewish community, has lodged a formal complaint with FreeTV Australia, the industry body that represents the Free-to-air Australian TV network, about an interview that was aired on Ten Network’s ‘The Project’ on Wednesday 5 August 2020. …
Read More »Comment posted on “Are we destined for Galut (Exile) forever?”
This comment (name withheld) was posted on “Are we destined for Galut (Exile) forever?” , and is re-posted with permission. It’s a great source of comfort that we have so many good non-Jewish friends who support us and Israel. THANK YOU ALL. Am Israel chai – Long live Israel. ……………………………………….. …
Read More »Joint media statement by faith community representatives on the Covid 19 virus
The rapid spread of the potentially deadly Covid 19 virus has justifiably deeply unsettled people across the world. People are right to take sensible precautions against contracting the virus. Media coverage has boosted our awareness of the dangers of the virus and steps we can take to protect ourselves and …
Read More »We want to call out antisemitism, so why won’t they let us?
As a very public Free Speech advocate (I am a Spokesperson for the Free Speech Coalition) I took claims that people would be silenced by Wellington City Council’s proposed adoption of the IHRA’s (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) working definition of antisemitism extremely seriously. After pressure from a variety of groups, …
Read More »The threat posed by right-wing extremism to Australia.
The contemporary far-right in Australia is best described as a conglomerate of different ideas and ideologies, held with varying intensity and activity, but connected by certain political positions. These positions, in general, include ultra-nationalism and racism, and opposition to multiculturalism, homosexual rights, equality for females, “the Left” and, in many …
Read More »MEDIA STATEMENT: ASIO chief sounds warning on neo-Nazi threat.
Executive Council ofAustralian Jewry. MEDIA STATEMENT: ASIO chief sounds warning on neo-Nazi threat 25 February 2020. The Director-General of ASIO – Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Mike Burgess has warned about the rapid increase in neo-Nazi activity in Australia. “The Director General is correct to sound the alarm about the emergence …
Read More »Australian presents submission to the International Criminal Court.
The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA), Zionist Council of New South Wales (ZCNSW) and the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today all highly praised the fact that Australia has opposed a bid by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate alleged war crimes in the Palestinian Territories. Full document …
Read More »Media Release: Australia urged to condemn biased “blacklist”
Following publication by the United Nations Human Rights Council of a “blacklist” of businesses operating in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) is calling on the Australian Government to maintain its principled stance towards fairness at the UN and condemn the list. The …
Read More »Open letter to PM Netanyahu from Pres. of Zionist Federation Australia.
OPEN LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU FROM JEREMY LEIBLER, PRESIDENT OF THE ZIONIST FEDERATION OF AUSTRALIA. Dear Prime Minister, I write this letter with a heavy heart. As the President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, an elected representative roof body of the Australian Jewish community, I am proud …
Read More »Analysis of John Minto’s perspective on Israel.
After numerous anti-Israel letters to the editor were published in The Press during April/May 2019, co-director of The Israel Institute of New Zealand, Dr David Cumin, wrote in to provide balance and facts on some of the issues. Mr Minto took particular issue with the statement that the Middle East …
Read More »The love and hate for Israel shown in an hour.
Earlier this month on Saturday 2 November 2019, I, along with 2 friends from the Israeli community in New Zealand, went to show our support as Jews and Israelis with the Kurdish people following their betrayal by President Trump and the subsequent attack on them by Turkey. Being the first …
Read More »Executive Council Australian Jewry annual Report on Antisemitism in Australia.
MEDIA RELEASE ECAJ annual Report on Antisemitism in Australia 24 November 2019 There were 368 recorded antisemitic incidents in Australia during the year ending 30 September 2019, according to the annual Report on Antisemitism in Australia, published by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry(ECAJ). The incidents were logged by …
Read More »Online hate uncovered in New Zealand anti-Israel group.
A group based in New Zealand has been found to have dozens of antisemitic posts and comments on its Facebook account. The national debate in New Zealand about online hate is being had at all levels of society, with Prime Minister Ardern meeting with other world leaders to garner support …
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