The Emanuel Synagogue Woollahra has rescinded its invitation to Israeli peace activist, Professor Jeff Halper, to speak at the synagogue on 23rd March. This follows the axing by the Australian Jewish News of an advertisement for Professor Halper’s other meetings in Sydney.
Professor Halper is Coordinator of the Israeli Committee against Housing Demolitions (ICAHD).
Vivienne Porzsolt, a spokesperson for Jews Against the Occupation – Sydney said: “It is regrettable that yet once again the power brokers of the Jewish community are seeking to block open discussion about Israel.”
Continue reading ‘JAO-Sydney Statement: Noxious culture of silence in the Jewish community’
The Australian Jewish News has axed advertisements for the Australian lecture tour by Professor Jeff Halper of the Israeli Committee against House Demolitions. The National Editor of the Australian Jewish News, Ashley Browne said: “at the request of the publisher we will not accept the advertisements from Jews Against the Occupation.”
Jews Against the Occupation – Sydney is one of a number of groups in Australia supporting Professor Halper’s tour. Vivienne Porzsolt, a spokesperson for the group says: “We are very concerned that the one press medium for the whole Australian Jewish community has taken this action. Yet again, a Jewish leader is seen to be stifling debate on Israel.”
“This is in contrast to the vigorous debate on these issues in Israel.”
Continue reading ‘JAO-Sydney Statement: Australian Jewish News axes advertisement for Israeli peace activist’
Jews Against the Occupation – Sydney is appalled and horrified at the events in Gaza following the Israeli military attack. Coupled with the economic and political siege against the population of Gaza, the attack is collective punishment and must be identified for what it is: an international war crime.
Continue reading ‘JAO-Sydney Statement on Israeli Military Attack on Gaza’
The members of Jews Against the Occupation-Sydney feel there is little to celebrate or cause for joy when considering contemporary events in Israel/Palestine. No matter what day of the year.
Continue reading ‘Australia and The Israel Motion Debate: A Lost Opportunity’
by Angela Budai, 14 March 2008
It’s been a hard week to be on the left in the Jewish community.
The issue is Israel. The Middle East.
I have a connection to Israel – I spent 12 months there after finishing high school on an AZYC program. I worked in Jerusalem, Haifa and on a Kibbutz in the Negev. I travelled around, saw the country, and met the people. I experienced life where being Jewish was the norm not the exception. It was great. I believe that Israel is important to my people.
Continue reading ‘Misrepresenting opposition on all sides’
By Michael B.
Benny Morris – an Israeli historian who, in an interview, showed that he openly hates Palestinians – wrote of the occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, in his book, Righteous Victims. He notes that Moshe Dayan and his subordinates decided on a policy of “encourag[ing] emigration.” Indeed, so important was this goal, that “[n]o idea or proposal [wa]s to be dismissed out of hand.” Morris explains that “Israeli thinking was to some degree governed by the notion that the Arabs of the territories, starved of land and resources (primarily water), and denied the possibility of industrial development, would gradually drift away. Though never clearly enunciated, this was the government’s aim – especially after 1977.” Morris notes that there was “[s]trict censorship[,]” with the prohibition of “all materials deemed seditious.”
Continue reading ‘Unavoidable Facts and the Truth of Occupation’
By Vivienne Porzsolt New Matilda 22 November 2006
First of all, I need to say that violence hasn’t worked.
Israel, with its 1982 invasion of Lebanon, created the very Hezbollah it now seeks to destroy. The recent war against Lebanon has spectacularly failed in its stated aim to destroy or even ‘degrade’ Hezbollah. On the contrary, Hezbollah has gained massive support in Lebanon and throughout the Arab and Muslim world.
Continue reading ‘Israel/Palestine: Violence Hasn’t Worked’
