AJDS calls for sanctions against Israel
The Australian Jewish Democratic Society (AJDS) has once again moved against the mainstream Jewish community in Australia.
They have joined with numerous Muslim and pro-Palestine organisations calling for the Albanese Government to impose sanctions on Israel and immediately recognise Palestine as a sovereign state”.
Other organisations that have joined in the joint advertising campaign in The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald include the Islamic Council of Victoria, the Islamic Council of NSW, the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, and others, as well as Jewish organisations Jewish Women 4 Peace, Jews for Palestine and My Rosh Pinah.
The statement accuses Israel of genocide by killing starving and displacing Palestinians in Gaza. There is no mention in the statement of October 7, the hostages, Hamasa or their actions, Araba nations calling for Hamas to go, nor Pallywood propaganda.
AJDS is a long-time member of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV), and JCCV have expressed dismay at the AJDS actions, which appear to run counter to JCCV values. This is not the first time. The AJDS has had numerous run-ins with the JCCV over the years, but moves to expel AJDS have failed due to a 2/3 majority of members at Plenum being required to expel a member, and some member organisations being concerned about them having a right to their views, even though most JCCV member organisations may disagree with them on Israel issues.
JCCV said in a statement, “JCCV has always welcomed diverse member organisations and the AJDS is a long-time member of the JCCV. However, publicly calling for sanctions against the world’s only Jewish state at a time when Israel continues to negotiate for the release of its civilian hostages, who have been held I terrible conditions for more than 600 days by Hamas, is in contravention of the JCCV’s Jewish values.
”JCCV President Philip Zajac has requested a meeting with AJDS leaders to convey this message and to discuss the AJDS’ ongoing membership of the JCCV.”
The AJDS has previously condemned Hamas for the massacre of October 7 and the taking of hostages.
Larry Stillman from AJDS told J-Wire, “AJDS condemned Hamas for its attack and taking of hostages, from the beginning and argue that it committed war crimes. That has been said on numerous occasions. But in the Open letter, we have been concerned, as have others, with the appalling situation right now.
We know the Open letter is confronting.
The use of the word ‘genocide’ has been seen by some in the Jewish community as akin to a ‘blood libel’. In fact, we recognise that the word ‘genocide’ is as much a part of the political rhetoric in this ugly debate about Israel’s actions, as the all too ready accusations of antisemitism to criticism of Israel. We don’t use the word lightly, and it is specifically directed at the government of Israel, not Israeli Jews as a community.
But after 22 months of war and reported 60,000 civilians and militants killed in Gaza, and the quite deliberate and explicit withholding of aid to Gazans by Israel, we decided it was time to support this Open Letter and the word ‘genocide’, to be qualified by ‘killing, starving and displacing Palestinians in Gaza en masse’.
To speak of genocide is not to equate what is happening with the Shoah. Sadly, what we are seeing is akin to what happened in the Balkans and other countries in recent decades when regimes have committed terrible crimes against humanity.”
Many in the community may dispute the words or intent of the AJDS, but its JCCV membership is a pain in the side to many who feel that its JCCV membership provides the organisation with undue credibility and may give the wrong impression to the views of the broader Jewish community. Which is not to say that the broader Jewish community is not concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, as well as the welfare of the hostages and the need to eliminate Hamas from the picture.
AJDS have not yet responded to our question of whether they plan to meet with Philip Zajac.
Get J-WIRE on WhatsApp
Our Jewish community has a diverse range of views which we must not only acknowledge, but openly discuss and possibly debate.
The article entitled “AJDS calls for sanctions against Israel” makes reference to the stance of AJDS being in contravention of the JCCV’s Jewish values, and that JCCV membership provides credibility to AJDS which the author believes is not warranted and may “give the wrong impression to the views of the broader Jewish community.”
Many of us in the Jewish community stand with those Israelis who are
protesting daily. Many of us believe that the actions of Israel are in contravention to Jewish ethics (see the in-depth analysis of Paul Komesaroff and Jeremiah Kenner in https://thejewishindependent.com.au/idf-actions-in-gaza-contradict-jewish-ethical-tradition).
As one of these Jews, I support the open letter, believe that a genocide is taking place in Gaza, for which Israel is entirely culpable, and that sanctions, like those used to end Apartheid in South Africa are entirely appropriate.
It is important that our broader Jewish community identify some harsh and confronting truths at this time. These confronting truths include the selective version of Israel’s origins and history that we are taught, and the role of Israel as the aggressor and long-standing oppressor of Palestinians. Moreover, our broad Jewish community, many of us descendants of Holocaust survivors, need to embrace that a key learning from the genocide that our people endured is NEVER AGAIN to ANYBODY.
Being Jewish and part of our community does not equate with blind support for Israel.