Australia & NZ.

MEDIA RELEASE   * Recognising West Jerusalem could strengthen progress towards two-state solution * ZFA welcomes Government’s improved position on Iran 15 December 2018 For Immediate Release The President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, Jeremy Leibler, described today’s announcement by Prime Minister Scott Morrison recognising West Jerusalem as the capital …

MEDIA RELEASE – 15 DECEMBER 2018 The Australian Jewish Association (“AJA”) welcomes today’s formal announcement by Prime Minister Scott Morrison that Australia shall move to recognise west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Jerusalem has been the capital of Israel since shortly after the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.  …

ECAJ MEDIA RELEASE. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), the peak representative body of the Australian Jewish community, has welcomed the Australian government’s ground-breaking announcement that “Australia now recognises West Jerusalem, as the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel.”  …

New Zealand voted for a historic United States-led resolution against Hamas terror at the United Nations, along with 87 other countries.  There were 36 abstentions and 57 nations voted against the resolution. Despite a majority in favour of the resolution, it was not adopted because the general assembly voted to …

Earlier in the week, the IDF announced the beginning of Operation Northern Shield after discovering Hezbollah efforts to construct a network of terror tunnels on the Lebanon border. President of the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) Jeremy Leibler said, “the discovery of these terror tunnels proves that Hezbollah is in …

Hanukkah (or Chanukah, or other spellings) is a Hebrew word meaning ‘rededication’.  The festival commemorates the Jews’ struggle for religious freedom from the Greek-Syrians more than 2,000 years ago (c160BCE). Jewish practice was outlawed by King Antiochus and the Temple (on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem) was turned into an …

Following on from a very special lunch between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur organised by the Zionist Federation of Australia where leaders of a number of Christian Zionist organisations met with representatives of the Zionist Federation of Australia, the ZFA was delighted to co-host a delegation of Jewish and Christian …

Indigenous solidarity reached a crescendo in Northland over the weekend as the Northland Ngapuhi hosted Israeli Ambassador, HE Dr Itzhak Gerberg, for a powerful Powhiri and Hakari Banquet. Held at the Kohewhata Marae (a) in Kaikohe, Northland, the “Heart to Heart Powhiri” held in Māori tradition included a ceremony, songs …

Last week, the United Nations General Assembly’s decolonization committee, which includes all 193 member states, adopted nine resolutions against Israel, and zero on the rest of the world. New Zealand voted for 8 and abstained on one. In contrast, Australia voted no to 6 of the resolutions and abstained on …

Kiwis from all over New Zealand gathered at the Waipuna Lodge in Auckland this past weekend to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the reestablishment of the State of Israel and Aliyah (assisting the return of Jews to their ancient homeland). The multi-cultural event drew members of the New Zealand Christian, …

NZ Justice Minister, Andrew Little, has named a replacement to David Rutherford to lead New Zealand’s Human Rights Commission. The candidate chosen is Professor Paul Hunt, an academic at the University of Essex who is described on his Wikipedia entry as a “human rights scholar-activist“. While his CV and academic …

Israel marks the annual Feast of the Tabernacles (Sukkot) holiday with a march of support through Jerusalem. Thousands of Christians from all over the world make the traditional pilgrimage to Jerusalem including representatives from the Maori Community. The representatives from the New Zealand Maori Community included Stephanie Harawira and the …

Guest post from Pacific Pearls which is a God Movement in a Christian Maori Movement. Sunday 29th July 2018 will be a day that will be etched in eternity in the hearts of the Maori and Jewish nation. The Aotearoa Israel Powhiri drew Maori from “O Nga Hau e Wha” …

MP Alfred Ngaro launched the New Zealand-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group at the Executive Wing of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings,. ​Ambassador Dr. Itzhak Gerberg and Deputy Chief of Mission Kasa Bainesay-Harbor were welcomed to the New Zealand Parliament by Group Chairman Hon. Alfred Ngaro along with a group of Members …

There is much to find objectionable in Senator Fraser Anning’s first speech to the Australian Senate. The baffling, deplorable invocation of Nazi genocide by referring to immigration as a “problem” requiring a “final solution”, is particularly striking.  But we mustn’t allow this conspicuous statement to prevent us from seeing the real …

Over the last decade or so there has been a noticeable increase in bias of the New Zealand government against Israel. This despite New Zealand voting in favour of the 1947 UN Partition Plan. Whilst the slide in government opinion can arguably be traced back to the Clark government, it …

The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) applauds the passage last week by the Israeli Knesset of the Jewish Nation-State Law. Although largely symbolic, it is nevertheless a significant piece of legislation because it is a reasonable, logical and indeed positive initiative because it is a clear statement of the principles upon …

CAIRNS, QLD. It’s Never too late to celebrate! This past Tuesday, the 10th of July at the Chabad Centre for Jewish life in North QLD (a division of RARA) in Cairns, Grant took on a new label becoming “Bar Mitzvah”ed- a full fledged Jewish adult, albeit, well into his adulthood …

New Zealand’s state-owned television network, TVNZ –  TV New Zealand reported on the Gaza riots in no fewer than three bulletins during their One News show in June.  Following a complaint, TVNZ has admitted that they were inaccurate when reporting the number of casualties as “hundreds of people have been …

National Party leader, Simon Bridges, has acknowledged that New Zealand “got it wrong” by co-sponsoring United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 alongside Malaysia, Senegal, and Venezuela. Though New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, challenged the process at the time – that the decision was not put to cabinet – Mr …