Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council

AIJAC, in partnership with the Zionist Council of Victoria and Australians for Israel, is proud to present Dr. Steve Rosen, who is Director of the Middle East Forum's Washington Project, and served from 1982 to 2005 as director of foreign policy issues for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. He will speak at the Beth Weizmann Centre on March 14.

"The scheduling of the Federal Election on Yom Kippur is of course somewhat disappointing, especially for those members of our community - be they politicians, political party members, campaign workers, canvassers, scrutineers or voters - who won't be able to engage on election day as they normally would..."

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today labelled the intense focus on the issue of Israeli settlements by Foreign Minister Bob Carr "misplaced", "disproportionate" and "counter-productive."

AIJAC Executive Director Dr. Colin Rubenstein AM stated " Foreign Minister Bob Carr's decision to publicly rebuke Israel's Ambassador to Australia based on the contention that construction in settlements constitutes a major obstacle to progress toward a two-state solution is severely misplaced."

The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today welcomed the election of Australia to a two-year temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council in New York overnight, and congratulated the Australian Government on achieving this outcome.

AIJAC National Chairman Mark Leibler stated, "AIJAC welcomes a successful end to Australia's long-fought efforts to gain a temporary seat on the UN Security Council. We also congratulate the Australian Government - especially Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Foreign Minister Bob Carr, his deputy Richard Marles, and all the professionals who worked diligently to achieve this very happy outcome so emphatically. Our success is well-deserved - as a middle-level, principled, democratic nation and good global citizen, we won the respect and ultimately the support of others internationally, on our own merits and without compromising our support for Israel."

AIJAC today expressed extreme disappointment over the High Court's decision that accused Nazi war criminal Charles Zentai cannot be extradited to Hungary to face trial. It also called for the Federal Government to look at additional means for justice to be done for his alleged crimes.

SIX federal Coalition MPs who recently returned from Israel said they were full of praise for Israel's achievements, more understanding of its challenges and ready to spread the word.

Bradfield MP Paul Fletcher, Tasmanian Senator David Bushby, Paterson MP Bob Baldwin, South Australian Senator David Fawcett, Brisbane MP Teresa Gambaro and Cowan MP Luke Simpkins all travelled as part of the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council's Rambam program.

AIJAC, in partnership with its co-sponsors, is proud to present two expert speakers in Melbourne and Sydney:

Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi - Senior Fellow at the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies. He is a frequent commentator on Middle East politics, regular contributor for newspapers, magazines and blogs, and the author of Under a Mushroom Cloud: Europe, Iran and the Bomb (2009).

Yaakov Katz - military correspondent and defence analyst for the Jerusalem Post, and Israel correspondent for the London-based Jane's Defence Weekly. He led the Post's coverage of recent IDF wars and operations and his first book Israel vs. Iran - The Shadow War was published in 2011.

The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council has hosted a meeting in Sydney at which three Australian members of Parliament told of their experiences on a recent visit to Israel.

Liberal Bob Baldwin member for Paterson near Newcastle, Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Shadow Minister for Tourism, Liberal Teresa Gambaro represents Brisbane and is the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for International Assistance and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship and Settlement and Tasmanian Liberal Senator David Bushby spent a week in Israel as guests of the Rambam Program which has in its ten years has hosted more than 500 journalists, politicians, youth leaders, union leaders and clergy on specially guided tours of the Holy Land.

The three politicians formed part of a group of six members of Federal Parliament.

AIJAC welcomes the announcement by Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd that Australia will be pursuing additional sanctions against Iran, including measures that will "further restrict business with Iran's petroleum and financial sectors."

Hopefully, these measures will, when enacted, bring Australia into line with the international consensus developing, which includes the US, EU and Canada, that, in the wake of the latest IAEA report on Iran's illegal nuclear program, the time has come to bring the maximum diplomatic/economic pressures on the Iranian regime before it is too late.

The decision of the General Assembly of UNESCO to "further the folly and fiction" that there is a State of Palestine which can participate in international organisations "undermines genuine progress towards peace", the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council said today, while stressing that "it is heartening to see that the Australian government was not party to the cynical and destructive political decision".

"The Palestinian leadership is fully aware that they do not control a 'State' and rather than work on state-building and peace building are indulging in self-defeating grandstanding" Mark Leibler, National Chairman of AIJAC said.

The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council has welcomed the release yesterday by Egypt of Ilan Grapel, who served as a visiting research fellow in its Melbourne office in 2009.

A law student at Emory University in Atlanta, USA, Mr. Grapel travelled to Egypt early this year to volunteer for a charity helping develop civil society there before being arrested in early June amidst allegations he was an Israeli agent. He was held for more than four months without any charges being formally laid against him...

This is a very hopeful announcement, given the many years of effort by successive Israeli governments, with the full support of the Israeli people and all with a genuine concern for morality. If Gilad Shalit is released this will indeed be a joyful end to a terrible violation of  basic human rights...

The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council today welcomed the announcement last night that Australia would refrain from participating in the UN's tainted Durban III "anti-racism" conference in New York next month.

AIJAC welcomes the decision of the Government of Victoria to ask the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to investigate whether organisations campaigning for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel have been conducting "secondary boycotts for the purpose of causing substantial loss or damage", in breach of section s45D of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Federal MP Mr Michael Danby should be highly commended for their visit yesterday to a branch of Max Brenner in Melbourne, a target of recent anti-Israel protests, where they took a strong stance against the boycott of Jewish and Israeli-owned business. Two weeks ago, Palestinian supporters of the boycott launched a protest outside the café that took a violent turn, leaving three policemen injured and 19 protesters arrested. The Herald-Sun reported Rudd calling the boycott "archaic" and saying, "I went there deliberately to make a point and that is I don't think in 21st century Australia there is a place for the attempted boycott of a Jewish business...I thought we had learned that from history." The Age also reported Rudd stating that: 

"As an individual citizen - that is me, K. Rudd - I am here because I object to the boycotting of Jewish businesses."

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council congratulates the Republic of South Sudan as it officially joins the family of nations. After so many years of conflict, there is now the potential for peace and reason for optimism.

Jeremy Jones, Director of International and Community Affairs for the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, was in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo for a series of high-level discussions last week. The visit, organised as a result of Jones hosting leading Bosnian religious and political figures for meetings in Australia over the past few years, was designed to strengthen the ties between Bosnians and Jews as well as Bosnia and Australia.

For the first time, an Australian has participated in the Jewish delegation to the International Liaison Committee, in which Jewish representatives meet with Vatican appointees to further Jewish-Catholic understanding and dialogue.

Jeremy Jones, Director of International and of Community Affairs for the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, participated in the meeting in Paris last week, as one of the 25 members of the delegation from the International Jewish Committee on Inter-religious Consultations (Jeremy Jones is also the first Australian to serve on that body).

Dr. Colin Rubenstein, Executive Director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council said today, "AIJAC welcomes the decision by the Commonwealth Government to appeal the Federal Court's decision in the matter of the extradition of alleged murderer Charles Zentai to Hungary.

Dr. Colin Rubenstein, Executive Director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council said today, "AIJAC welcomes the December 24 vote by Australia at the UN against the 'Durban III' conference. The vote adds to Australia's long and proud history of acting against racism."

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) has welcomed ACMA's finding that al-Manar breached Australia's broadcasting codes in regards to racism.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) has extended "sincere congratulations" to Victorian Liberal Party leader Ted Baillieu on his "stunning election victory and on becoming the 46th Premier of Victoria."

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) has formally "acknowledged and extended appreciation" to the Australian Government for the "principled stand in voting against the UN resolution to hold a conference in New York in 2011 marking 10 years since the Durban WCAR [World Conference against Racism]."

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today welcomed the Australian Government's announcement that further sanctions are to be placed on Iran. AIJAC National Chairman Mark Leibler AC said, "Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons is a destabilising factor in an already unstable region. We congratulate the Australian government on imposing these additional sanctions on Iran to help force it to comply with international opinion and UN Security Council resolutions, to stop its enrichment program and open up all nuclear sites to unfettered access for international inspectors."

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council said that the Australia/Israel friendship is deep and broad and will continue to grow despite the Australian government's regrettable decision announced today that an Israeli diplomat be withdrawn.

There has been concern expressed that some Australian passports were forged or otherwise misused, and it is clear that no-one condones actions undermining the integrity of Australian passports. It is entirely appropriate for the Australian Government to conduct a thorough investigation through the Australian Federal Police and ASIO.

AIJAC's Executive Director Dr. Colin Rubenstein said, "Australia should be congratulated for its role in facilitating Israel's membership of this subgroup. I hope this means Israel will finally be allowed to take part in all UN activities. For too long, Israel has been denied equal treatment at the UN. This is a small, albeit much delayed, step toward an end to the anti-Israel ground rules and hostile sentiment that has long prevailed in the halls of the UN."

With the death of former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid last week, on behalf of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, Executive Director Dr. Colin Rubenstein conveyed sincere condolences to his family and the Indonesian people.

Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein today welcomed the decision of Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor to allow the extradition of suspected Nazi war criminal Charles Zentai.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) has recommended that the Australian government designate Hezbollah a terrorist organisation.

An AIJAC complaint to the ABC has been upheld, resulting in a correction and apology from the national broadcaster. A complaint highlighted an incorrect statement by Middle East correspondent Anne Barker, filed April 25,about Israel's security barrier

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) has welcomed the Australian Government decision on Sunday that Australian delegates will not attend the UN Durban Review Conference in Geneva this week.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council today called for the Australian government to withdraw from the process leading to the UN's scheduled "Durban Review Conference". The conference, known as "Durban II", is intended to be a follow up to the 2001 Durban "anti-racism" conference which degenerated into frequent displays of open antisemitism by NGO representatives

The International Jewish Committee on Inter-Religious Consultation (IJCIC), a coalition of major international Jewish organisations representing world Jewry to other religions, is to have direct Australian input. "I am pleased to announce the inclusion of Jeremy Jones, the Director of International & Community Affairs of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, as part of the delegation of the American Jewish Committee to IJCIC," Mark Leibler, AIJAC's national chairman said this week.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council expresses its deepest condolences and prayers of support to all those who have lost loved ones in the Victorian bushfire tragedy. We pray for a speedy recovery for all those who have been injured.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council today welcomed Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard's recognition that the terrorist organisation Hamas' act of aggression in firing rockets and mortars in to Israel unilaterally breached the ceasefire and is responsible for the end of the truce in Gaza, with Israel responding to Hamas' actions and threats.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council today said it was "very disappointed" with the majority report resulting from the Senate Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Inquiry into Academic Freedom.

The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today welcomed the changes to Australian Citizenship testing processes announced this week by the Federal Government.

AIJAC's National Chairman Mark Leibler and Executive Director Colin Rubenstein welcomed the Rudd Government's votes on two anti-Israel resolutions considered last week by committees of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today welcomed the Australian Government's commitment to maintain the principle that Australian voting on United Nations resolutions on the Middle East should be based on both an understanding of "Israel's legitimate security concerns" and the commitment to only support resolutions which are helpful in achieving "a two-state resolution of the conflict which results in a secure Israel living beside a viable Palestinian state."

AIJAC's National Chairman Mark Leibler AC today said that AIJAC supports and welcomes the federal government's decision to extend sanctions against the Iranian government over its nuclear program, announced by Foreign Minister Stephen Smith last week.

Australia's former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer received the American Jewish Committee's (AJC) Ramer Award for Diplomatic Excellence on May 1 in Washington DC at the AJC's 102nd annual conference.

Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein today welcomed the High Court decision to allow extradition proceedings against suspected Nazi war criminal Charles Zentai to proceed.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) has praised the Rudd Government and its UN ambassador for voting the last week of December against funding for the so-called UN Durban Review Conference, or "Durban II".

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) has welcomed as a promising first step the Annapolis Middle East peace conference. AIJAC Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein said reports from the conference indicated it had successfully provided a platform to relaunch negotiations to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) has welcomed Australia's vote [with Opposition backing] to uphold Interpol's previous decision to issue arrest warrants for five Iranians and a Hezbollah operative.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today expressed the hope that the election of Mahmoud Abbas as president of the Palestinian Authority will help promote a better and more peaceful life for both Palestinians and Israelis.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council today welcomed news that authorities in both Australia and Hungary are investigating suspected Hungarian Nazi war criminal Karoly or Charles Zentai, currently living in Perth following the disclosure of evidence by famed Nazi hunter Efraim Zuroff of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre in Jerusalem.

The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) has described the outcome of yesterday's bilateral talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as "positive" and "a major step forward" in moving towards negotiating a peace treaty between the parties.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council today expressed its sorrow at the passing of Pope John Paul II and conveyed its sincere sympathy to the Catholic World.

Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council National Chairman Mark Leibler AC and Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein today issued a statement congratulating Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger on his election to the papacy.

The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today welcomed the pledge by Prime Minister John Howard to work with Liberal backbenchers to find ways to administer immigration policy "in a speedier, more flexible, more humane way."

The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today congratulated Prime Minister John Howard and MHR Petro Georgiou on their agreement to modify Australia's immigration detention procedures.

The 24 June 2005 edition of the Herald Sun reported that a mosque in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick was propagating extremist Islamic hate literature. These books and pamphlets encoura ged Muslims to wage jihad against non-Muslims and advocated hatred and violence towards Christians and Jews.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today called for a thorough and immediate review of legal and policy counter-measures in the wake of new revelations about the extent of extremist hate material and pro-terror propaganda in some Australian bookshops in Mosques and Islamic schools.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today condemned and deplored yesterday's murderous attack by a Jewish extremist in the Israeli Arab town of Shfaram, which killed 4 innocent people and wounded many others.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) declared its support for the concept of toughening state and Commonwealth anti-terrorism laws.

Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council National Chairman Mark Leibler AC and Executive Director Dr. Colin Rubenstein expressed their sorrow upon the death of acclaimed Nazi-hunter Simon Wiesenthal at the age of 96. Wiesenthal was a Holocaust survivor who dedicated his life to ensuring that the perpetrators of one of history's greatest crimes - the Nazi genocide against the Jews - would not escape punishment.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) welcomes the Australian Communications and Media Authority's (ACMA) proposed new standards that will prohibit broadcasts that directly support terrorist organisations.

The ACMA decision to ban programs that are "directly recruiting persons to join, or participate in, the activities of a terrorist organization" or that are "soliciting or assisting in the collection or provision of funds for a terrorist organization" come as a result of a lengthy investigation following an AIJAC complaint into the broadcast of Hezbollah television "al-Manar" in Australia by satellite company TARBS in 2003.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs (AIJAC) today said it welcomed the decision to add an additional emblem, the red crystal, to the red cross and the red crescent, for the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (the Federation).

Dear Ehud, While we pray for the speedy and complete recovery of Ariel Sharon from illness, we are writing to you to convey our support and best wishes as you assume the Prime Ministerial office at this difficult time.

The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) welcomed the admission of Israel's Magen David Adom (MDA) humanitarian relief organisation into the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

AIJAC Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein expressed AIJAC's rejection of the recent statement on the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah from the Prime Minister'?s Muslim Community Reference Group.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today called for all participants in the current Australian debate about integration of the Muslim community to recognise the centrality of "core values" to both the concept and the success of Australian multiculturalism.

AIJAC Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein expressed AIJAC's disappointment with the newly amended SBS Codes of Practice. He explained that AIJAC had made a considered submission about the draft amendments, but that only one aspect covered by the AIJAC submission had been changed by SBS in the final version.