Australian Jewish Association: Recent Episodes
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Antisemitism excuses, distortions, and blurred lines. What does it mean? * February 27, 2024 By Adam Kreuzer, Antisemitism Education and Strategies Officer and Board Member, Australian Jewish Association (AJA)
It’s hard to be a Jewish Australian right now and not lose some sleep anxiously worrying about the plight of our Jewish community and the extent to which pro-Palestinian sentiment has entered the mainstream psyche across ethnicities and cultures which traditionally have been “friendly towards the Jews”. The number of times I’ve had someone tell me that they’re not antisemitic but simply opposed to what colonialist Israel are doing to the “innocent” people in Gaza has made me stop and think about the true essence of antisemitism and what this actually means in the context of the current Israel-Hamas conflict.
There are many who will straightforwardly state that they are not antisemitic, but in fact oppose the concept of Zionism. Some of their best friends are Jews. Let’s make no mistake about this, they are one and the same. According to the American Jewish Committee, “the belief that the Jews, alone among the people of the world, do not have a right to self-determination – or that the Jewish people’s religious and historical connection to Israel is invalid – is inherently bigoted. When Jews are verbally or physically harassed or Jewish institutions and houses of worship are vandalized in response to actions of the State of Israel, it is antisemitism.”
This is exactly what is occurring in Melbourne and other Australian cities on a daily basis. The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) is leading the charge when it comes to highlighting such instances across the country and calling out this hatred for what it is.
Adding fuel to the fire, we see local government institutions such as the Melbourne City Council dangerously wading into international politics and debating their stance on Israel’s handling of their conflict with Hamas. This is way outside their core focus of rubbish and roads. The large crowd of professional protesters could be heard for miles shouting, “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”. This intense level of antisemitic hatred towards the Jewish people and the State of Israel is not something I have ever experienced or witnessed in my lifetime.
Therefore, I am keen to clear up some excuses, distortions and blurred lines relating to what antisemitism actually is and how this can be advocated and articulated outside of our Jewish community. The most reliable reference point for these purposes is the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
According to their website, “the Declaration of the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust (or “Stockholm Declaration”) is the founding document of the IHRA. It contains a series of pledges to remember the Holocaust, educate future generations on the tragic events of the past and strengthen governmental cooperation to work towards a world without genocide.” This document should be proactively shared widely across all chambers of Australian Parliament (local, state and federal) for awareness, understanding and utilisation.
The IHRA has 35 Member Countries and 9 Observer Countries, working together to address Holocaust-related issues. This is what makes the IHRA definition of antisemitism so valuable and defensible. In 2016, the IHRA adopted the following non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism which I am keen to bring to your attention:
“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
How can this play out in practical terms and is this actually occurring in Australia currently? The IHRA provide guidance on this, stating that “antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong.” It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms, and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.”
You only have to visit the Melbourne CBD on a Sunday afternoon and walk past the State Library, to see this play out in front of your very eyes. The chanting is hypnotic and robotic. It’s relentless and uninhibited. It’s targeted and biased. Adopting a consistent definition and terminology will arm us with the required tools, resources, and approaches to combat this anti-Israel vitriol in an intelligent and informed manner.
Let’s be clear, the State of Israel should not be immune to legitimate criticism as afforded to any democratic nation around the world. As the American Jewish Committee state, “criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.” What we are seeing play out in Australia right now goes well beyond legitimate criticism and is being called out for such reasons accordingly.
When we have a Prime Minister in Anthony Albanese who was the Secretary of the Australian Parliamentary Friends of Palestine and has been on record as calling out the “repressive policies of the Israeli government and its military”, one cannot help but feel somewhat pessimistic about, and bewildered by, the direction our country’s foreign policy is taking and how safe one can feel as a current member of the Australian Jewish community.
Australia was a beacon of freedom, tolerance, hope and opportunity for my late grandparents when moving as far away as possible from the horrors of the Holocaust. They lived here in peace, alongside Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and others. It’s frightening to see how far we have lurched the other way in 2024 and as long as the Albanese Government remains in power this will sadly remain as the status quo.
The post Antisemitism excuses, distortions, and blurred lines. What does it mean? first appeared on Australian Jewish Association.
The post Antisemitism excuses, distortions, and blurred lines. What does it mean? first appeared on Australian Jewish Association.
'Hateful' anti-Israel posts on social media accounts in NSW public servant's name 'causing anxiety' among Jews February 5, 2024 Publication: Daily Telegraph*
By: Robert Gregory, Director of Public Affairs, Australian Jewish Association
A Jewish group has called on the Minns Government to discipline a NSW Government employee after social media accounts in his name were used to make extremist posts in support of terrorist groups, denying that Israeli hostages were raped and calling for more terrorist rockets to be fired at Israeli civilians.
Mahmoud Elmaadawy — a program manager at the NSW Department of Service, also had inflammatory postings on his LinkedIn account, underneath his official government work details, sparking concern in the Jewish community.
The Australian Jewish Association says the Minns Government needs to “call out extremism within its own ranks”.
On January 25 on X, formerly Twitter, the social media account in the name of Mahmoud Elmaadawy tweeted that: “It must be tasty like grilled IDF soldiers” in response to a social media post condemning a new Jordanian restaurant opening up with the name “October 7”.
The account also commented in response to a tweet from the Australian Jewish Association, about the death of 10 Israeli solders when two buildings collapsed, saying: “May the numbers rise more and more Amen”, and included a prayer emoji.
On January 22 a post claimed: “ … we haven’t seen a single photo/video of one Israeli child murdered. Emily the kid who was held hostage with her mum was smiling and waving goodbye to resistance soldiers. Her mom even wrote a message to Hamas” and was followed by a laughing emoji.
Other social media postings include a comment on a map showing a barrage of rockets fired by Hamas on Israel, with the comment: “May resistance send more and more for all the civilians who died in Gaza Amen.”
Mr Elmaadawy’s official Linked In account posted – in response to a thread discussing his boss — Customer Service Minister Jihad Diab being a Muslim: “I don’t think you need to be a Muslim to speak up and talk about the genocide and war crimes IDF is committing against civilians, you just need to be human!”
Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory said Jewish people felt uncomfortable about seeing such posts alongside the name of a NSW Government Department. He called for him to be disciplined.
He also pointed out that the department’s own social media rules for public interaction forbade the public from making political or offensive comments.
“It’s politically easy to condemn a handful of neo-Nazi thugs for marching but it’s crucial that the NSW Government calls out extremism within it’s ranks,” he said.
“To see the name of a NSW Government Department appear alongside hateful and extremist posts would make Jewish Australians feel very uncomfortable.
“Free speech is a cherished value but calling for proscribed terrorist groups to fire missiles at innocent civilians, crosses the line.
“It’s notable that the department doesn’t allow offensive content from customers, when interacting with it on social media. The community would expect that the department’s staff would set a good example.
Controversial social media postings on a Twitter account in the Mahmoud Elmaadawy, saying: “It must be tasty like grilled IDF soldiers”. Photo: Supplied,
On January 22 a post claimed: “ … we haven’t seen a single photo/video of one Israeli child murdered. Emily the kid who was held hostage with her mum was smiling and waving goodbye to resistance soldiers. Her mom even wrote a message to Hamas” and was followed by a laughing emoji.
Other social media postings include a comment on a map showing a barrage of rockets fired by Hamas on Israel, with the comment: “May resistance send more and more for all the civilians who died in Gaza Amen.”
Mr Elmaadawy’s official Linked In account posted – in response to a thread discussing his boss — Customer Service Minister Jihad Diab being a Muslim: “I don’t think you need to be a Muslim to speak up and talk about the genocide and war crimes IDF is committing against civilians, you just need to be human!”
Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory said Jewish people felt uncomfortable about seeing such posts alongside the name of a NSW Government Department. He called for him to be disciplined.
He also pointed out that the department’s own social media rules for public interaction forbade the public from making political or offensive comments.
“It’s politically easy to condemn a handful of neo-Nazi thugs for marching but it’s crucial that the NSW Government calls out extremism within it’s ranks,” he said.
“To see the name of a NSW Government Department appear alongside hateful and extremist posts would make Jewish Australians feel very uncomfortable.
“Free speech is a cherished value but calling for proscribed terrorist groups to fire missiles at innocent civilians, crosses the line.
“It’s notable that the department doesn’t allow offensive content from customers, when interacting with it on social media. The community would expect that the department’s staff would set a good example.
A posting by the account of Mahmoud Elmaadawy, stating in response to terrorist rockets being launched on Israel: “May resistance send more and more for all the civilians who died in Gaza, Amen.” which the Australian Jewish Association says could breach public servant social posting rules. Photo: Supplied,
On January 22 a post claimed: “ … we haven’t seen a single photo/video of one Israeli child murdered. Emily the kid who was held hostage with her mum was smiling and waving goodbye to resistance soldiers. Her mom even wrote a message to Hamas” and was followed by a laughing emoji.Other social media postings include a comment on a map showing a barrage of rockets fired by Hamas on Israel, with the comment: “May resistance send more and more for all the civilians who died in Gaza Amen.”
Mr Elmaadawy’s official Linked In account posted – in response to a thread discussing his boss — Customer Service Minister Jihad Diab being a Muslim: “I don’t think you need to be a Muslim to speak up and talk about the genocide and war crimes IDF is committing against civilians, you just need to be human!” Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory said Jewish people felt uncomfortable about seeing such posts alongside the name of a NSW Government Department. He called for him to be disciplined.
He also pointed out that the department’s own social media rules for public interaction forbade the public from making political or offensive comments.
“It’s politically easy to condemn a handful of neo-Nazi thugs for marching but it’s crucial that the NSW Government calls out extremism within it’s ranks,” he said.
“To see the name of a NSW Government Department appear alongside hateful and extremist posts would make Jewish Australians feel very uncomfortable.
“Free speech is a cherished value but calling for proscribed terrorist groups to fire missiles at innocent civilians, crosses the line.
“It’s notable that the department doesn’t allow offensive content from customers, when interacting with it on social media. The community would expect that the department’s staff would set a good example.
The post ‘Hateful’ anti-Israel posts on social media accounts in NSW public servant’s name ‘causing anxiety’ among Jews first appeared on Australian Jewish Association.
The post ‘Hateful’ anti-Israel posts on social media accounts in NSW public servant’s name ‘causing anxiety’ among Jews first appeared on Australian Jewish Association.
Jewish teachers have been urged to ditch mainstream unions amid fears of anti-semitism February 5, 2024 Publication: theaustralian.com.au*
By: TRICIA RIVERA – JOURNALIST
Jewish teachers fearful of anti-Israel activism in classrooms have been urged to ditch mainstream education unions and report incidents of anti-Semitism in their workplaces.
As the school year begins, Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory is concerned radical political activism will worsen in 2024.
He said growing union support for the Palestinian cause had pushed Jewish teachers to terminate their memberships. “Jewish teachers are concerned with the introduction of anti-Israel activism into the classroom, and with the failure of established teachers’ unions to intervene and oppose it,” he told The Australian.
“We’ve heard concerns from teachers and pupils that instead of learning important information, the classroom (will) be turned into a charged political environment.”
In the past few months, advocacy groups in Victoria and NSW have orq•anised weeks of solidarity with Palestine. The action, endorsed by some branches of the AEU, encouraged teachers to invite Palestinian advocates into campuses.
While the AIA has engaged with mainstream unions, Mr Gregory said he did not believe the groups would be receptive to its concerns. “I think these unions have morphed far from their original role,” he said.
“We would have expected after the October 7 attacks increased support for Jewish teachers, unfortunately that hasn’t been the case. We are shocked.”
A Jewish high school teacher, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, recently quit her membership of the NSW Teachers Federation over concerns it was growing too political.
“I felt it was kind of moving out of what I joined a union to be doing for me and to have legal coverage. The legal coverage I’d need would be around people showing up with keffiyehs or a Hamas T-shirt and now there’s no way they’re going to help me out with that stress,” she said.
“They’ve made it divisive.”
The reports of anti-Semitic incidents have prompted the AIA to recommend teachers who have left or are wanting to leave their union to join the Teachers Professional Association of Australia.
The TPAA is marketing itself as a low-cost alternative, with its spokesman, Edward Schuller, saying it will support Australia’s ally.
The post Jewish Teachers have been urged to ditch mainstream unions amid fears of anti-Semitism first appeared on Australian Jewish Association.
The post Jewish Teachers have been urged to ditch mainstream unions amid fears of anti-Semitism first appeared on Australian Jewish Association.
The Faruqi effect : keeping the world clean, one protest at a time February 3, 2024
By Adam Kreuzer, Antisemitism Education and Strategies Officer, Committee Member – Australian Jewish Association (AJA)
Tuesday 30th January 2024*
Ladies and gentlemen. Let me introduce you to the strange political mystique of Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Greens Leader, and NSW Senator. This is a political world focused on aggressively leading and promoting the pro-Palestinian cause, brainwashing our impressionable youth, and positioning Israel as the colonial dictator and collective punisher of the innocent Palestinian people. Faruqi’s one-sided political messaging is scary and frightening to many Jews across Australia and needs to be brought to your urgent attention for consideration.
According to the Greens website, Faruqi joined the federal senate in August 2018. In her first speech to Parliament, “she continued her work calling out discrimination, condemning the legitimisation, normalisation and encouragement of hate in politics and the media.” If this is Faruqi’s worldview when it comes to preaching love and understanding, it comes as no surprise that her obsessive hatred and anti-Israel vitriol continues to gather steam on a daily basis and finds new supporters particularly amongst Australian students who are flocking to the morally bankrupt Australian Greens in sympathetic droves.
Fast forward to November 2023 and we find Senator Faruqi deleting a social media post (see below) where she gleefully posed in front of an anti-Semitic sign from a pro-Palestine student protest in Sydney. How are these social media posts and supportive attendance at such protests condemning hatred in politics and the media, as per her first speech to Parliament?
According to Sky News, Senator Faruqi is seen standing with six students who attended the march, five of whom are holding hand-made placards. While four of the signs bear messages of support for Palestine, the fifth (circled in the picture provided) instead depicts a figure placing an Israeli flag into a trash bin alongside the words “keep the world clean”.
Senator Faruqi had captioned the post: “courageous students will lead the way for justice for Palestine, even when their Labor government won’t.” Thankfully the Federal Opposition under the steadfast leadership of Peter Dutton, has been “highly critical of the Greens’ response to the conflict in the Middle East, accusing the party of promoting hate speech and spreading misinformation about Israel.”
An editorial in The Australian called out Faruqi for her actions at the time, stating that “the contemptible behaviour of Pakistani-born Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi, who posed on Friday beside a placard reading “keep the world clean” and showing an Israeli flag over a rubbish bin, has no place in a civilised society, let alone Australia’s upper house.”
In a strong display of support for the Australian Jewish Community, shadow education minister Sarah Henderson told Sky News that Senator Faruqi “must unreservedly apologise” for contributing to the spread of anti-Semitic content. “This sign constitutes vile antisemitism” she said. “The Greens Senator must explain why she posed for a photograph with a protestor displaying such hatred for Jews. Senator Faruqi must unreservedly apologise for her role in spreading this disgraceful antisemitic message.” Posing and smiling in front of such hateful content
demonstrates unreserved and unapologetic support for such actions to take place against the Jewish people, that is, cleaning the world of Jews.
Senator Faruqi ended up dragging her feet to issue an apology of sorts, protecting her political skin to fight against Israel for another day yet.
Liberal senator Andrew Bragg told The Australian that “you have a senator going to hang out with people who want to destroy the Jewish state and the Jews. Not something I’d ever thought I’d see in Australia, and it won’t be accepted into the mainstream.” Senator Faruqi cannot tolerate either mainstream political party taking a moderate line on the current conflict between Israel and terrorist group Hamas, stating that the Coalition is “morally bankrupt when it comes to Palestine” and the ALP has shown itself to be “heartless, gutless cowards.” What is bleedingly obvious is Senator Faruqi’s convenient silence when it comes to Hamas and their moral obligation to avoid using their own civilians and hospitals as human shield platforms to fight the Israeli Defence Force in Gaza.
In a staged protest of what they allege is the government’s inaction over the Hamas-Israel war, Senator Faruqi said that “weasel words are not going to stop (Israeli) war crimes. Today we bring the people’s protest into parliament.”
Unsurprisingly, the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS.org) take this venom a few steps further, stating that “what occurred on October 7 was an uprising of the oppressed that took the form of a military operation because of Gaza’s character as an enclosed ghetto surrounded by the Israeli armed forces. The deaths of civilians were tragic. Responsibility lies with the Zionist regime’s brutal treatment of the Palestinian masses, including murderous attacks on previous peaceful protests at the Gaza border.”
It is with this moral defence and deliberate obfuscation of Hamas’ deadly actions on October 7th, that is at the core of Senator Faruqi’s all-out assault against Israel and is passionately echoed by the Australian Greens in a frighteningly persistent, deliberately ignorant, and myopic tone. They will stop at nothing to undermine the safety and security of Jews across Australia. In February 2023, Senator Faruqi led the charge to further brainwash and influence anti-Israel sentiment amongst Australian tertiary students, writing to Australian universities asking them not to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism. What a shameful, biased, and disgraceful act, to say the least.
Many within the Australian Jewish Community are utterly disappointed and mystified by the Albanese’s Government’s lukewarm response to the Hamas attack and mass murder of Israeli civilians on October 7th last year. Senator Faruqi would beg to differ, telling Al Jazeera that “the decision to ignore thousands upon thousands of Palestinian and allied voices shows the Australian government’s complete disregard for the very people who put faith in them when they elected them. People will not forget this betrayal. History will not look back kindly on the actions of the government.”
No government is perfect. However, I would gladly support the actions of a democratically elected government in Israel to safeguard the security of their citizens over a classified terrorist regime with the stated aim of death and destruction to all Jews, being Hamas.
There are no limits as to how far the likes of Senator Faruqi and the Australian Greens will go to spread falsehoods about Israel, shift the narrative to the far left of the political spectrum, and create the kind of fear and uncertainty amongst the Australian Jewish Community that nightmares are made of. We can, of course, vote with our feet, come the next federal election. I encourage you in good conscience to consider the anti-Israel policies, actions, and efforts, of Senator Faruqi and the Australian Greens, and hold them to strong account at the ballot box when you next have the chance.
The post The Faruqi effect : Keeping the world clean, one protests at a time first appeared on Australian Jewish Association.
The post The Faruqi effect : Keeping the world clean, one protests at a time first appeared on Australian Jewish Association.
Hoping that the ALP will support Israel? Forget it! * January 25, 2024 By Adam Kreuzer, Antisemitism Education and Strategies Officer, Committee Member – Australian Jewish Association (AJA)
Monday 22nd January 2024
Last month, an open letter was co-organised by the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network, NSW Labor MP Anthony D’Adam and Greens MP Jenny Leong. This letter was endorsed and signed by dozens of high-profile Federal Labor figures including Maria Vamvakinou from Victoria, WA senators Louise Pratt and Fatima Payman, as well as former NSW Labor premier, foreign affairs minister and long-time anti-Israel proponent, Bob Carr.
Amongst a broad range of biased, hypocritical, and antisemitic vitriol being espoused, the following statements contained within the letter caught my eye for major focus and concern:
“It is beyond dispute that Israel is committed to policies designed to entrench the domination of one people over another in the territories of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories” the letter states. “Attempts to deny this, or smear those who allege it, are an attempt to defy truth and reality. These events and policies have involved the destruction of Palestinian society and the denial of the legitimate national aspirations of the Palestinian people.”
This blatant disregard by the ALP at state and federal level to support the sovereign rights of Israel as a democratic country to take whatever means necessary to safeguard the security of their citizens is in no way surprising, when you look at the top ten federal electorates which have the highest percentage of Muslim residents. This is represented in the table below and shows that Federal Labor would be committing electoral carnage by advocating for anything but a clearly pro-Palestinian approach, both locally and on the international stage.
| Federal Electorate | State | % Muslim Population | Current Member of Parliament (MP) | Political Party | Portfolio(s) of Responsibility | | 1 | Blaxland | NSW | 26.25 | Jason Clare | ALP | Minister for Education | | 2 | Watson | NSW | 21.14 | Tony Burke | ALP | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Minister for the Arts, Leader of the House | | 3 | Calwell | VIC | 17.03 | Maria Vamvakinou | ALP | Chair of Joint Standing Committee on Migration | | 4 | Werriwa | NSW | 11.10 | Anne Stanley | ALP | Government Whip | | 5 | McMahon | NSW | 9.65 | Chris Bowen | ALP | Minister for Climate Change and Energy | | 6 | Bruce | VIC | 9.61 | Julian Hill | ALP | Chair of Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, Chair of Select Committee on Workforce Australia Employment Services | | 7 | Wills | VIC | 8.86 | Peter Khalil | ALP | Chair of Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security | | 8 | Parramatta | NSW | 8.26 | Andrew Charlton | ALP | | 9 | Scullin | VIC | 8.01 | Andrew Giles | ALP | Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs | | 10 | Chifley | NSW | 6.84 | Ed Husic | ALP | Minister for Industry and Science |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census, extracted, and adjusted to new electorate boundaries by Griffith University’s Relational Insights Data Lab
Just imagine the backlash at the ballot box at the next election in some of the above federal electorates where one in five residents are Muslim, should Labor show even remote or lukewarm support for Israel on any level. Why would they?
In contrast to this shameful anti-Israel bias from Labor, Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has provided unequivocal support to the Jewish community following the mass killings by Hamas in Israel on October 7th last year. Dutton has been on record stating “if we needed any more convincing of Hamas’ unashamed sadism, it’s the glee they have displayed in stating that they will film and post online the execution of those little boys and girls, of men and women, of survivors from the Holocaust.”
If you needed more convincing, Dutton also stated that “the Coalition supports – and proudly supports – Israel’s right to do what is necessary and needed in the circumstances with every asset available to safeguard its sovereignty, to bolster its borders, to protect its people, and to thwart threats it now faces – the existential threats. There must be no restraint shown to those who showed no restraint themselves in committing these vicious and vile acts of terrorism.”
It’s no secret that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is a long standing, passionate advocate for Palestinian rights and clearly supports their agenda to the detriment of Israel.
The proof is in the pudding, as Albanese is a founding member of the Parliamentary Friends of Palestine group. Albanese is on record (when Deputy Prime Minister) as saying that he is “a strong advocate of justice for Palestinians” and that he is “very critical of a lot of Israel’s policies.”
Albanese is also on record emphasising the importance of applying pressure “where we can, to try and redress the repressive policies of the Israeli government and its military.” Members of Albanese’s own branch in his inner Sydney electorate of Grayndler recently accused Israel of “acts of retribution on an innocent Palestinian population.”
Regardless of which side of the political spectrum you sit, one thing is for sure. If you are hoping that the ALP will support Israel, forget it.
The post Hoping that the ALP will support Israel? Forget it! first appeared on Australian Jewish Association.
The post Hoping that the ALP will support Israel? Forget it! first appeared on Australian Jewish Association.
Hysteria, bias and Lies - Let's set the record straight!* January 22, 2024 Hysteria, bias and lies – let’s set the record straight!
By Adam Kreuzer, Antisemitism Education and Strategies Officer, Committee Member – Australian Jewish Association (AJA)
Thursday 18th January 2024
“Does any of us under the age of, what, 80 remember a darker time to be a Jew?” – Progressive British author Jonathan Freedland.
Given the mass hysteria, complete absence of criticism towards the terrorist group Hamas for their rape, torture and murder of innocent Israeli civilians, and blatant anti-Israel bias being passionately espoused by the Australian Greens, Pro-Palestinian activists, and the mainstream media, it’s important for the Australian Jewish Association (AJA) to clarify some key facts in relation to the current conflict between Israel and Hamas. Let’s set the record straight.
FACT # 1: Hamas is listed as a terrorist organisation in Australia.The Australian Government has classified Hamas as “an ideologically and religiously motivated violent extremist organisation, which fuses Palestinian nationalist and Sunni Islamist objectives” and has listed Hamas in its entirety as a terrorist entity since 2001.
The Australian Greens vehemently opposed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s statement in Parliament that “the evil committed by Hamas in Israel has chilled every Australian heart. This was no act of war against the army of an enemy. It was the slaughter of innocent people. It was an act of terror.” The Prime Minister’s subsequent backtracking and nuanced commentary to appease the pro-Muslim constituency and elements within the ALP is disappointing but in no way surprising.
FACT # 2: Hamas instigated the conflict with Israel.
The conflict began when Hamas militants launched their deadly cross-border surprise attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023, in what has been described as the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. CNN have reported that “more than 1,400 Israelis were killed in the assault, and more than 240 were taken hostage, according to a count by Israeli officials.”
FACT # 3: The massacre of Israelis meets the globally recognised definition of a mass killing.
The complete lack of acknowledgement, recognition or acceptance that attacks by Hamas on October 7th, 2023, were anything but a mass killing is astounding and biased in every way. Let’s look at the definition of a “mass killing” to prove this further.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s (USHMM) Early Warning Project assesses the risk of mass atrocities in countries around the world “using state-of-the-art quantitative and qualitative methods and a range of widely available data.”
This globally recognized research body considers “a mass killing to have occurred when the deliberate actions of armed groups—including but not limited to state security forces, rebel armies, and other militias—result in the deaths of at least 1,000 noncombatant civilians who are targeted as part of a specific group, over a period of one year or less.”
FACT # 4: Israel’s response to the mass killings by Hamas is not genocidal in intent or outcome.
On Tuesday 9th January 2024, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken slammed genocide charges against Israel in its war against Hamas as “meritless” in a press conference in Tel Aviv. Blinken believed it was “particularly galling” given that those attacking Israel continue to “openly call for the annihilation of Israel and the mass murder of Jews.”
Statistics being reported by the mainstream media relating to deaths in Gaza are sourced from the Gaza Ministry of Health (a contradiction in terms) and can’t be trusted. This, in addition, to evidence showing Hamas using innocent Palestinian citizens as human shields and building tunnels directly below schools and hospitals.
This has now been proven beyond doubt and is another inconvenient truth chosen to be ignored by those who continue to push the blatant, antisemitic agenda. The USHMM defines genocide as “an internationally recognized crime where acts are committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.”
According to the Washington Post, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s stated military goals in response to this mass killing by Hamas on October 7th, 2023, are to:
- End Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip.2. Target the Hamas leadership.3. Collapse the military of Hamas and their governmental capabilities to the point that they cannot recover.
This is Israel’s 9/11 moment, and they must safeguard their citizens from any future threats and attacks. Hamas have a moral and ethical obligation to protect their citizens from armed conflict, rather than using them as human shields. The lack of focus on Hamas and their actions, beliefs or objectives is unbalanced, biased and unreasonable.
FACT # 5: LGBTQI rights are non-existent in Gaza and result in punishment, torture, and death.
According to prominent ex-Muslim author and activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali, “if you’re a Muslim family and within your family, there’s someone who’s suspected of being gay, it’s the obligation of the family to commit honour killing. So, it doesn’t even go as far as the government and tribunals and trials. But when that happens, it’s done quite publicly, and it’s done in the most gruesome fashion.” Ali also said that “the Islamic Republic of Iran is in place, Hamas was actually governing Gaza, and what were they doing to homosexuals? They throw them from tall buildings.”
BBC News Arabic / Arab Barometer, 2018-2019, was a research study which asked Palestinians a simple question: Is homosexuality an acceptable practice? 95% of respondents opposed and 5% supported.
Reason.Com state that “gay and transgender people, both in Gaza and the West Bank, face an extraordinary level of persecution, persecution that may result in a yearslong prison sentence or even death.” This same website reports that “last year, in the West Bank, 25-year-old Ahmed Abu Marhia’s severed head was found on the side of the road after he was murdered for being gay. The killer videoed the execution and shared it on social media.” Many LGBTQI Palestinians are seeking asylum in Israel. This is a fact. The same country that the “Queers for Palestine” movement is rallying and mobilising against, with such passion, anger, and enthusiasm.
The immersing and intertwining of extreme Anti-Zionist and Hamas-apologist elements amongst global leadership of the LGBTQI community is alarming, hypocritical, and frightening, to say the least. One can only hope that those protesting from within this community will come to their senses and sanity will prevail. I won’t be holding my breath.The post Hysteria, bias and lies – let’s set the record straight! first appeared on Australian Jewish Association.
The post Hysteria, bias and lies – let’s set the record straight! first appeared on Australian Jewish Association.
Antisemitism: The many faces and how we can turn the tide Publication: The Social BlueprintBy: Robert Gregory, Director of Public Affairs, Australian Jewish AssociationAJA Director of Public Affairs, Robert Gregory …
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AJA Statement on Salman Rushie and call to Proscribe IRGC ISLAMIC TERRORIST ATTACK ON SALMAN RUSHDIE – AJA Calls to outlaw the IRGC The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) condemns the …
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Strengthening Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria Publication: J-Wire By: Robert Gregory, Director of Public Affairs, Australian Jewish Association Read about the recent event AJA held, which was focused on …
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Leave the Jews out of the war in Ukraine Publication: Australian Jewish NewsBy: Robert Gregory, Director of Public Affairs, Australian Jewish AssociationJews must up against aggression and war crimes because …
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Strikes on Gaza PALESTINIAN ISLAMIC JIHAD ATTACK ON ISRAELThe Australian Jewish Association (AJA) condemns the firing of over 160 missiles by the terrorist group Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) at Israeli …
The post Strikes On Gaza first appeared on Australian Jewish Association.
Biden’s humiliating Middle East excursion Publication: Spectator OnlineBy: Dr David Adler, President, Australian Jewish AssociationAJA President Dr David Adler writes about the embarrassing visit of President Joe Biden to the …
The post Biden’s humiliating Middle East excursion first appeared on Australian Jewish Association.
Australian Govt Change of stance at UN 16 June 2022 The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) is profoundly disappointed with reports in today’s media of Australia’s “Policy shift on Israel” at …
The post Australian Govt Change of stance at UN first appeared on Australian Jewish Association.
Australian Jewish Association (AJA) supports Motion for adoption of IHRA Definition 14 June 2022 The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) expresses strong support for a Motion introduced to the South Australian …
The post Australian Jewish Association (AJA) supports Motion for adoption of IHRA Definition first appeared on Australian Jewish Association.
No deal on nuclear Iran Publication: The Daily Telegraph (NSW’s highest circulation newspaper)By: Robert Gregory, Director of Public Affairs, Australian Jewish AssociationA new nuclear deal with Iran would be a …
The post No deal on nuclear Iran first appeared on Australian Jewish Association.
A moral imperative to speak out for the Uyghurs Publication: Australian Jewish NewsBy: Dr David Adler, President, Australian Jewish AssociationAJA has been the leading Jewish organisation in Australia in advocating …
The post A moral imperative to speak out for the Uyghurs first appeared on Australian Jewish Association.
NSW ELECTION SMALL PARTIES FORUM – 11 MARCH IN ROSE BAY – BOOK NOW! It is now just one week until AJA host the NSW Election Small Parties Forum with participants:Mark Latham – NSW Leader, One NationSen David Leyonhjelm – Leader, Liberal DemocratsRev Fred Nile – Leader, Christian Democratic PartyGreg […]
The Act enabling SSM in Australia exempted ministers of religion, whose faith opposes homosexual marriage, from having to officiate at such weddings. It did not exempt laypeople with the same religious beliefs from having to participate in such marriages. Everyone, clergy and lay alike, should be free not to be […]
In the recent postal plebiscite on Same Sex Marriage (SSM) AJA did not enter the debate on behalf of either the “YES” or the “NO” campaign. AJA considered that each citizen had the right to vote according to their own subjective conscience or religious affiliation. It does not logically follow […]
Statement on the recent UN vote – 4 December 2017 UN attacks Israel again, Australia abstains! As part of six anti-Israel resolutions it approved on 30 November, the United Nations General Assembly recently voted overwhelmingly to disavow Israeli ties to Jerusalem. The vote was 151 in favour and six against, […]
RABBI JONATHON SACKS Rabbi Sacks is the 2017 recipient of the American Enterprise Institute award. His acceptance speech is in large part a statement of the importance of community values and overlaps substantially with values underpinning our own Australian Jewish Association. He explains the difference between contract and covenant, the […]
READ THE POWERFUL LETTER the Australian Jewish News declined to publish below. As many will know, one of the principles championed by Australian Jewish Association (AJA) is free speech in accordance with both democratic and Jewish values. Unfortunately there are some in our community who actively oppose such values. AJA […]
THE BOLT REPORT – AJA ANNOUNCED AJA President, Dr David Adler, appeared on The Bolt Report on 7 September to announce the launch of Australian Jewish Association. A link to a video of the interview (about 9 min) is below. AJA has been formed based on conservative political principles and […]
The use of the name Palestine, was always in reference to the Jews, and Arabs were Arabs, it’s a relatively modern theme that Arabs became Palestinians. Before the creation of Israel, it was actually the Jews who were referred to as Palestinians, not the Arabs. As a matter of fact, […]
It is said that “the first casualty of war is truth” and no more so than if Israel is involved in a conflict. In this 5 min video, Col Richard Kemp explains the approach of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN1MkAGuVyY&feature=youtu.be