Australia’s leaders send messages for Yom Ha’atzmaut
Both Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese have sent messages on Israel’s 74th birthday.
Scott Morrison
I’m delighted to join with those in Israel and around the world in celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day.
Australia admires Israel. In Israel, we see a companion on our journey as sovereign and free democratic nations.
Ours is a long friendship between two peoples who share a commitment to democracy, the rule of law and a free press; have a multi-cultural character, and who learn from each other as we face the challenges of our often-hostile natural environments.
Australia and Israel are not fair-weather friends. We are steadfast friends. We are proud to share in an honest, open and direct dialogue.
As mature and responsible global citizens, we prize cooperation — standing together and not apart. Australia will always speak in support of freedom and the people of Israel.
This is a time to declare our beliefs with courage and conviction. My government stands with Israel.
On this day, I repeat the pledge I made in the Parliament: there are many in the world who continue to seek to bully Israel – we won’t be part of that, and we won’t put up with it. We will stand by Israel every step of the way.
On Yom Ha’atzmaut, Australia joins with Israel in celebrating the pillars of sovereignty, freedom and democracy that have advanced both our nations.
Anthony Albanese
It is with great pleasure I wish the State of Israel and members of our Australian Jewish community a hearty Mazel Tov on the occasion of Yom Ha’atzmaut.
Few things so perfectly illustrate the power of hope and all that can flow from it quite like the existence of Israel. When it was first proclaimed in 1948 by David Ben-Gurion, that declaration of independence was nothing less than a triumph over the darkness of the Shoah.
It will always be a source of pride for the Australian Labor Party that it was one of our leaders – Doc Evatt – who used his time at the United Nations to push so effectively for the birth of the modern state. Evatt’s own words bear repeating: “I regard the establishment of Israel as a great victory of the United Nations.”
Evatt had the backing of Australia’s tireless Jewish community and the Zionist Federation of Australia, among them John Monash, Alex Masel, Max Freilich, Horace Newman, Rabbi Max Schank, Ruby Cohen and Abe Landa. They will always stand tall in the histories of both Australia and Israel.
I will say what I have said so often before: No matter which party is in power here, Israel will have Australia’s friendship and support. As leader of the Australian Labor Party, I can tell you that you will always have ours.
