Jewish organisations sign harmony accord amid fringe backlash
July 22, 2025 by Greg Bouwer
In a landmark move toward communal cooperation and resilience, the New Zealand Jewish Council and the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand today joined Muslim community representatives in signing the New Zealand Harmony Accord — a government-supported initiative aimed at fostering dialogue, mutual respect, and unity in the face of rising hate. Read more
Protests take over from pageantry as parliament returns
July 22, 2025 by AAP
Protests in and around Parliament House threatened to disrupt proceedings as the nation’s politicians went through the traditional ceremonies of being sworn in. Read more
From Australia’s Jewish past
July 22, 2025 by Ruth Lilian
Hannah (Phillips) Maclurcan – hotelier, celebrity chef, bestselling author, fashion icon, entrepreneur, and society-page queen Read more
Police search for accused synagogue arsonist’s motive
July 22, 2025 by AAP
An accused synagogue fire bomber has faced court as prosecutors search electronic devices for a motive behind the alleged arson. Read more
NZ Foreign Minister condemns Hamas, reaffirms two-state support, and decries civilian suffering on all sides
July 22, 2025 by Greg Bouwer
In a wide-ranging ministerial statement to the New Zealand Parliament, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reiterated the country’s support for a negotiated two-state solution and condemned the escalating humanitarian toll in Gaza, while not shying away from condemning Hamas for its role in the crisis.
Jewish leaders warn against Labor-Greens deal in Tasmania
Australia’s peak Jewish representative body has urged Tasmanian Labor leader Dean Winter to reject any governing alliance with the Greens, following inflammatory remarks by state Greens leader Rosemary Woodruff accusing Israel of committing “genocide” and calling for “the return of Palestinian lands.”
Performer displays PLO flag at London’s Royal Opera House
July 21, 2025 by JNS
A cast member at London’s Royal Opera House unfurled a PLO flag during the final curtain call of Giuseppe Verdi’s Il trovatore on Saturday night, prompting a brief scuffle with a venue official who attempted unsuccessfully to remove the flag. Read more
New report finds online hate follows fires at Melbourne synagogues
When Melbourne’s Adass Synagogue was burned to the ground in late 2024, and the East Melbourne Synagogue’s entrance was set ablaze on 4 July 2025, you might have expected widespread public condemnation and solidarity.
Abbas calls elections for PLO parliament
July 21, 2025 by JNS
Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas claimed on Saturday that elections for the Palestinian National Council, an internal body of his Palestine Liberation Organization, will be held by the end of the year. Read more
Burning questions: what really happened at Taybeh’s church?
July 21, 2025 by TPS-IL
An independent investigation by The Press Service of Israel has uncovered critical inconsistencies in claims that radical Israelis deliberately set fire to a 1,500-year-old church in the Palestinian village of Taybeh. Read more
Palestinian Journalists Syndicate issues rare rebuke of Hamas after reporters attacked
In a rare move, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate strongly condemned the assault on several journalists by Hamas security forces near Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza. Read more
Israeli army chief sees ‘potential’ for a hostage deal
July 21, 2025 by Agencies
Israel’s military chief has told soldiers that their actions are “creating the potential for a hostage deal” in the Gaza Strip. Read more
Trump and Rubio take on Jew-hatred & Jew-bashing at UN
July 21, 2025 by David Singer
President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are taking on the United Nations (UN) – the epicentre of Jew-hatred and Jew-bashing being exported to many of the UN’s 193 member States worldwide. Read more
Gal Gadot calls for hostage return at Jerusalem Film Festival
July 20, 2025 by JNS
Gal Gadot spoke of her hopes for the return of all the hostages held in Gaza, speaking at the opening ceremony of the 42nd Jerusalem Film Festival at the Sultan’s Pool amphitheatre on Thursday night. Read more
‘Israelis not welcome’: Pro-Hamas movement poses a threat in Italy
July 20, 2025 by Ben Cohen - JNS.org
As they continue to weather nearly 21 months of a multi-front regional war, Israelis have been reminded once again that some governments in the democratic world are far more reliable than others. Read more
Israel mourns Giora Epstein, air force legend
July 20, 2025 by Pesach Benson
Brig. Gen. (res.) Giora “Epstein” Even, the most successful fighter pilot in Israeli history and the world’s leading jet ace, died Saturday at the age of 87. Read more
Israel issues evacuation warning ahead of first ground operation in Deir al-Balah
July 20, 2025 by Ehud Amiton - TPS
The Israel Defence Forces issued a new evacuation warning on Sunday for parts of southwest Deir al-Balah, ahead of its first ground operation in the central Gaza city since the war began. Read more
L’Chaim to Life: Chip Le Grand
July 20, 2025 by Features Desk
Morry Frenkel speaks with Chip Le Grand, Chief Reporter for The Age newspaper, about the articles he has written since the recent arson attack on the East Melbourne Synagogue, the storming of the Israeli restaurant, Miznon, and the arson and graffiti attacks in Greensborough. Read more
Louis B. Mayer & Irving Thalberg: The whole equation
July 20, 2025 by Anne Sarzin
Book review by Dr Anne Sarzin Read more
Australia’s antisemitism plan can’t wait for a counterpart
July 20, 2025 by Michael Gencher
Antisemitism in Australia is at crisis level—there is no other way to describe it. Read more
Protesters urge Israel sanctions ahead of MPs return
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters have marched on the Israeli embassy in Canberra while calling for the federal government to place sanctions on the country ahead of parliament’s return. Read more
On the other hand
July 19, 2025 by Michael Kuttner
The contrast between Iranian attempts to destroy and Israel’s determination to better humanity is evident yet again. Read more
Israeli envoy condemns ‘glaring silence’ from UN agencies
July 18, 2025 by Mike Wagenheim - JNS
Reut Shapir Ben-Naftaly, political coordinator for the Israeli mission to the United Nations, criticised several U.N. agencies during a U.N. Security Council meeting on Wednesday, including the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which she said “has continued to abandon all semblance of neutrality and impartiality.” Read more
No Lattouf contempt probe after Nine names lobbyists
July 18, 2025 by AAP
Nine will not be prosecuted by the Federal Court for contempt after publishing the names of lobbyists who complained about an ABC radio host’s pro-Gaza views. Read more
Hypocrisy and double standards over the massacre of the Druze
July 18, 2025 by Melanie Phillips - JNS.org
The hypocrisy, double standards and malevolence are off the scale. Read more
Fasting
July 18, 2025 by Jeremy Rosen
In The Economist of June 20th, there was an interesting article under the heading “Do longevity drugs work.” Read more
Curses – ancient and modern
July 18, 2025 by Michael Kuttner
It is amazing how very often the weekly Torah portion that we read in Synagogues on Shabbat contains startling messages so highly relevant to our current situation. Read more
Dye Another Day: Hamas chief resurfaces in hiding with hair job and fear
July 18, 2025 by Pesach Benson
Israel on Thursday tweeted a photo of Izz ad-Din Haddad — the last senior Hamas commander from October 7 still alive — showing him in a drastically altered appearance while hiding in a tunnel beneath the European Hospital in Khan Yunis. Read more
“I’m That Jew” creator Eitan Chitayat: “We need to be visible, not just proud”
July 17, 2025 by Rob Klein
In an exclusive interview with J-Wire on the eve of his visit to Australia, Israeli branding expert and Jewish identity advocate Eitan Chitayat offers a compelling call to action: Jewish people must be visible, not just proud.
Shas quits Netanyahu government, stops short of toppling it
July 17, 2025 by Pesach Benson
The Orthodox Shas party quit the Israeli government on Wednesday, but a decision not to immediately topple the government gives Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu time to resolve the thorny issue of mandatory army service for yeshiva students. Read more
