AIJAC “profoundly disappointed” with new Government stance on West Bank, settlements
August 8, 2023 | AIJAC
The most concerning element of the new government policy is the idea that any Jewish presence in any part of the West Bank, where Jews have lived for thousands of years, and in east Jerusalem, where Judaism’s holiest sites are located, is illegal simply because the Jordanians ethnically cleansed the areas of Jews for 19 years. Asserting that the Western Wall and Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest sites, are ‘Palestinian territory’ is highly unacceptable.
AIJAC statement on passage of “Reasonableness” bill in Israel, amidst judicial reforms controversy
July 25, 2023 | AIJAC staff
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) expressed its profound concern about the passing of the judicial reform’s reasonableness bill in Israel’s Knesset overnight. The bill will prevent Israel’s Supreme Court from overturning administrative decisions by the Government, the Prime Minister or ministers on the basis that they are unreasonable.
AIJAC strongly condemns Victorian ALP motion calling for recognition of “Palestine”
June 18, 2023 | AIJAC
AIJAC Executive Director Dr. Colin Rubenstein said: “This counter-productive and frankly juvenile motion is phrased as rescuing the two-state solution, but in fact, resolutions such as this are setbacks to the peace process.”
AIJAC applauds Federal Government’s new Nazi symbols bill
June 7, 2023 | AIJAC
Colin Rubenstein concluded, “We are grateful to the Federal Government in general and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus in particular for their efforts to develop and advance this bill so quickly. We also thank the Opposition for their efforts to help promote a Federal bill to ban Nazi symbols. We hope and expect that the current proposed bill can receive bipartisan support, and become law as soon as practicable.”
AIJAC statement regarding the Greens Middle East policy adopted on June 4
June 6, 2023 | AIJAC
Referring to the Australian Greens party’s policy change regarding the Middle East adopted on Sunday, June 4, AIJAC National Chairman…
AIJAC responses to Antony Loewenstein’s “Good Weekend” article, which the Age and Sydney Morning Herald refused to publish
May 24, 2023 | AIJAC staff
Given that much of his article was dedicated to attacks not only Israel, but on the Australian Jewish community for both allegedly supporting Israel’s “apartheid and crimes against humanity”, and supposedly supressing the speech of those like Loewenstein who do not, AIJAC felt it was incumbent on someone representing the community explain mainstream Jewish views
AIJAC proud to join Jewish organisations globally urging IHRA Antisemitism definition be part of UN Action Plan
May 24, 2023 | AIJAC
AIJAC has joined with 178 other significant Jewish international and regional organisations in calling on the United Nations to ensure that the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism be “referenced positively” in its upcoming “UN Action Plan on monitoring antisemitism and enhancing a system-wide response.”
AIJAC welcomes government’s new “Securing Faith-based Places” grant program
May 18, 2023 | AIJAC
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of a $40 million Securing Faith-based Places grant program to replace the former Safer Communities Fund.
AIJAC congratulates Archibald winner Julia Gutman
May 8, 2023 | AIJAC staff
Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Dr Colin Rubenstein said the Australian Jewish community was “overflowing with pride” over the announcement that Sydney Jewish artist Julia Gutman had been awarded the prestigious Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW
