Israel: The cure to the Middle East problems
“Israel is not the cause of the problems in the Middle East – it is the start of the cure to the Middle East” said Bruce Notley-Smith MP, Member for Coogee and Chair of Parliamentary Friends of Israel, and a Guest of Honour at the NCJWA Celebrating Israel 2015 event.
Dr Ron Weiser, Lynda Ben-Menashe, Ambassador Shmuel Ben-Shmuel, Bruce Notley-Smith, Dalia Ayalon Sinclair, Richard Balkin Photo: Wendy Bookatz
Over 120 people attended “Celebrating Israel” marking the passing of resolution 181 by UN General Assembly on 29 November 1947 which called for the establishment of a Jewish State alongside an Arab State in British Mandate Palestine.
Titled “Point of No Return”, the program depicted the plight of Jewish Holocaust survivors from Europe as well as the National Day for Jewish refugees expelled from Arab countries prior and post the ‘Partition Plan’.
Lynda Ben Menashe, Master of Ceremony, who is the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies Public Relations Manager, spoke of the strong Australian connection to Resolution 181 as ‘Doc’ Evatt, Australian Foreign Minister and Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Palestine gave birth to the Partition Plan and Australia was the first to cast the “yes” vote…
“Today’s UN is a very different beast. On Tuesday last week, its General Assembly adopted six resolutions singling out Israel for criticism – without any mention of the recent relentless Palestinian knife attacks, shooting, car-ramming and incitement, without a single resolution adopted against any other human rights abuser.” said Ben-Menashe.
“The root cause for the major conflict between Israel and the Palestinians was not the dispute about the partition, borders or territories. It was the fact that the Arab leaders declined to accept the notion of a peaceful solution to establish an independent Jewish State in the Middle East.” said Shmuel Ben Shmuel, Ambassador of Israel to Australia.
“’The Vote’ resulted in two waves of refugees – hundreds of thousands of Jewish refugees fleeing the Arab countries who within two generations were an integral part of main stream Israel and contributed to the development of modern Israel. The Palestinians, who were advised by their leaders to leave, remained the professional refugees. There is no other example of people who perceive to be refugees and maintain this notion for generations as the political reasoning for their right of return to their homes in Israel.
Following the “The Silent Exodus” film, Ortal Dray, Betar Shlicha for NSW and QLD, conveyed a moving personal story about her family’s meaningful and prosperous life as leaders of the Jewish community in Oujda, Morocco. However, in 1947 as a result of the Partition Plan the harmonious relationships with the Arabs enjoyed by Jewish community for centuries turned into pogroms and murder.
On arrival to Israel during 1947-1948 her family encountered hardship. “Grandfather Yaya, worked throughout the Israeli heat building roads, and my other grandfather Abraham sold milk and ice” told Ortal. “It was difficult to adjust to the new country but they were strong people with a strong will who were happy to work in any job to contribute and build their country in the historical land of Eretz Israel – the State of Israel”
Personal heroic accounts of individuals against the cruelty of the British Soldiers towards the Jewish survivors of the Holocaust and Jews fleeing Arab countries featured in short films led us to believe that there is still hope in a world filled with hate and destruction. The heroic actions taken by Australian born Mike Amir, as a British Army Intelligence Officer stationed in Palestine in 1947-48, who risked his life to help to protect the Jewish State present a man of conscience who did not accept the “just another incident” attitude towards the Jews in the case of the “Exodus” or the murder of 78 doctors and nurses of Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem burnt alive.
Sister Gideona of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary in Australia reiterated in her response to the film “Sorry” the betrayal by the British Mandate of the trust given to a nation. The film featured a visit to Israel by British Citizens including Colonel Richard Kemp, former British Army office, and Sister Glory of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary, in May 2015. They felt the need to ask forgiveness for the cruelty of the British soldiers towards the survivors reaching Palestine.
“As times become harder for Israel and the Jewish people, be assured that you are not alone. Where once we were silent we want to voice our concern and show that we care.” said Sister Gideon
“With all the conflicts, problems and current turmoils we have done very well and managed to survive one of the most volatile areas in the world. We overcame previous threats to destroy us and with your help we will continue to overcome.” added Ambassador Shmuel Ben Shmuel.
Nicole Stanislav accompanied by Shirley Politzer performed medley of “Heal The World” and “Shema” with a special introduction by Ambassador of Israel to UN Ron Prosor to “You and I Will Change the World” sung by David Politzer.
The event was held on Sunday 29 November at Council House, Woollahra.
