Media Releases

Media Release

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council played an important  role in the deliberations of the Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism, which took place recently in Jerusalem.

Jeremy Jones AM, Director of International and of Community Affairs for the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, who is internationally recognised as the expert on antisemitism in Australia and an authoritative exponent of inter-religious dialogue, was given the honour of Chairing the Plenary Seminar ” Muslim Religious Leaders Condemning  Antisemitism”.

The session, which featured in a numebr of international news reports, was attended by senior religious figures, academics and researchers from dozens of countries.

In addition, Jeremy Jones made the lead presentation to the working group “Interfaith Dialogue as an instrument to mitigate Antisemitism”, spoke at the working group on “Maintaining continuance of Diaspora Jewish Life” and was involved in discussions with convenors of task forces on a range of other matters.

Mr Jones, who has participated in each of the seven Global Forums which have brought the world’s most respected analysts, commentators and activists together, where he had addressed plenaries on antisemitism in Australia and Asia, racism in democratic societies and the use of law to respond to antisemitism, said that the 2013 Forum provided “a real focus on issues of concerns” and will give “vital impetus to promoting best practices in a wide range of areas”.

Another Australian, Andre Oboler, the CEO of the Online Hate Prevention Institute, co-chaired the working group on “Antisemitism on the Internet and in the Media”. He presented the group’s findings to the Conference in a Plenary session. Dr Oboler also co-chaired this working group at the previous Global Forum. Peter Wertheim, the Executive Director of the ECAJ, participated in the working group on “Law, Legislation and Enforcement in Combating Antisemitism”.