MEDIA RELEASES

Morrison, Shorten welcome 70 years of diplomatic relations with Israel

Feb 19, 2019 | AIJAC staff

Prime Minister Scott Morrison delivering a statement to Parliament to mark 70 years of Australian relations with Israel.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison delivering a statement to Parliament to mark 70 years of Australian relations with Israel.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) welcomes the statements made in the Commonwealth Parliament today by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten marking 70 years of Australia’s diplomatic relations with Israel.

“We welcome both the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader’s warm and heartfelt contributions to mark 70 years of Australia’s diplomatic relationship with Israel,” Colin Rubenstein, AIJAC executive director, said.

“It is heartening that both major parties are such strong supporters of Israel, a partner vibrant, democratic society.

“Our countries may be geographically distant, but we have so much in common.”

Dr Rubenstein noted that “Relations between the two countries are stronger than ever following the Government’s recent announcement that Australia would recognise West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the imminent opening of an Australian defence and trade office in Jerusalem and last month’s signing of an extremely important cyber-security agreement between the countries.

He praised the Prime Minister’s reiteration in Parliament of his strong condemnation of relentless and obsessive anti-Israel and antisemitic activity at the United Nations.

“Prime Minister Morrison was entirely correct in his reflections on the lopsided ‘bias and unfair targeting’ of Israel at the United Nations.

“As he said, Israel, a thriving beacon of democracy in the Middle East with an independent judiciary, has been subject to overwhelmingly more criticism than any other country. As the Prime Minister put it, it is a plain antisemitic agenda masquerading as the language of human rights.

“It is heartening that Australia has recognised this reality – and acted, for example, by amending its voting at the UN, from abstaining to opposing several one-sided anti-Israel resolutions. It is time the rest of the world did the same.”

Dr Rubenstein also praised Mr Shorten’s recapitulation of Labor’s long-standing support for Israel.

“As Mr Shorten correctly noted, Labor icon Doc Evatt played a key role in facilitating the establishment of the modern state of Israel.

“It is heartening that Labor, under Bill Shorten’s leadership, intends to continue its strong support for Israel and to build on the already strong ties between Australia and Israel into the future.”

RELATED ARTICLES


(Source: Pixabay)

AIJAC applauds Federal Government’s new Nazi symbols bill

Jun 7, 2023 | Featured, Fresh AIR, Media Releases
AustralianGreensLogo Official.svg

AIJAC statement regarding the Greens Middle East policy adopted on June 4

Jun 6, 2023 | Featured, Media Releases
Antony Loewenstein's article in "Good Weekend" (Screenshot)

AIJAC responses to Antony Loewenstein’s “Good Weekend” article, which the Age and Sydney Morning Herald refused to publish

May 24, 2023 | Featured, Media Releases
IHRA Ministerial Declaration Brussels 24 0

AIJAC proud to join Jewish organisations globally urging IHRA Antisemitism definition be part of UN Action Plan

May 24, 2023 | Featured, Media Releases
Image: Wikimedia Commons

AIJAC welcomes government’s new “Securing Faith-based Places” grant program

May 18, 2023 | Media Releases
Archibald Prize winner Julia Gutman with AIJAC Director of Public Affairs Walt Secord

AIJAC congratulates Archibald winner Julia Gutman

May 8, 2023 | Featured, Media Releases

SIGN UP FOR AIJAC EMAILS

RECENT POSTS

(Image: Shuttestock, Stuart Miles)

Latest IAEA reports demonstrate why a new deal with Iran is pointless

Protestor in Indonesia calling to ban Israel's team from the FIFA U-20 World Cup that Indonesia was meant to host (screenshot)

Israel’s U20 World Cup success shows need to fight sports boycotts

(Source: Pixabay)

AIJAC applauds Federal Government’s new Nazi symbols bill

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (left), Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and the late commander of the IRGC's Qods Force Qassem Soleimani

Iran’s multifront war against Israel is decades old

AustralianGreensLogo Official.svg

AIJAC statement regarding the Greens Middle East policy adopted on June 4

(Image: Shuttestock, Stuart Miles)

Latest IAEA reports demonstrate why a new deal with Iran is pointless

Protestor in Indonesia calling to ban Israel's team from the FIFA U-20 World Cup that Indonesia was meant to host (screenshot)

Israel’s U20 World Cup success shows need to fight sports boycotts

(Source: Pixabay)

AIJAC applauds Federal Government’s new Nazi symbols bill

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (left), Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and the late commander of the IRGC's Qods Force Qassem Soleimani

Iran’s multifront war against Israel is decades old

AustralianGreensLogo Official.svg

AIJAC statement regarding the Greens Middle East policy adopted on June 4

SORT BY TOPICS