Governor-General sends a message on the fight against antisemitism.
Australia’s Governor-General David Hurley will appear in a specially produced film featuring statements of leaders adding their voices to the fight against antisemitism.
Governor-General David Hurley and President Reuven Rivlin
The film will be shown at the official dinner at which President Rivlin will host for global leaders who accepted his invitation to join the 5th World Holocaust Forum, marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
The film will be screened at tomorrow night’s dinner at Beit HaNasi and is based on the letters written by 44 heads of state and global leaders collected in a unique book published by Yad Vashem and the 5th World Holocaust Forum.
Among the leaders whose letters are included in the film are President of the United States Donald J Trump, who was unable to join in person, and wrote “to those who seek the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people, I say: never again.”
“Australia remains steadfast in its commitment to fight the scourge of racism and contemporary antisemitism,”Governor-General David Hurley wrote. “On behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia, I make a solemn vow of remembrance.”
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany wrote, “the Shoah… [is] a self-inflicted wound that has never entirely healed …It is not only a part of German history, but also an awareness that guides us in the present day.”
HRH The Prince of Wales wrote, “we must resolve that the memory of the millions who perished …is passed down to future generations.”
President of Poland Andrej Duda, who is not participating in the events, wrote “the memory of the Holocaust and the Second World War must be a warning sign for us and for our children.”
The film also includes the words of President Emmanuel Macron of France, who expressed his conern about the rise of antisemitism across Europe, writing “Holocaust survivors, citizens of France and of other states are being persecuted only because they are Jews.”
President Vladimir Putin of Russia called on the leaders of the world to unite in the fight against antisemitism and wrote, “We expect the world to unite their efforts in confronting these threats.”
His Holiness Pope Francis I also sent an important message about how to confront hatred, saying “We must remain firm in our efforts to advance dialogue, mutual understanding and human fellowship as a basis for peace.”
List of leaders featured in the film:
President of Israel, President of Germany, President of Bosnia-Herzegovina, President of Armenia, President of Belarus, President of Lithuania, President of Iceland, President of Latvia, President of Georgia, HM King Felipe VI of Spain, Governor-General of Australia, HRH The Prince of Wales, President of Ukraine, President of Serbia, President of Poland, President of Croatia, HM King Philippe of the Belgians, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, President of Portugal, Prime Minister of Israel, President of the European Council, President of the European Commission, President of the European Parliament, Prime Minister of Sweden, President of Austria, President of Bulgaria, Prime Minister of Norway, President of France, President of Albania, President of Greece, President of Moldova, President of Montenegro, President of Slovakia, President of North Macedonia, President of the United States, President of Italy, President of Cyprus, President of Russia, President of Romania, President of the Czech Republic, Prime Minister of Canada, President of Slovenia, President of Finland, Prime Minister of Holland, President of Hungary and HH Pope Francis I.
President Rivlin has welcomed Governor-General Hurley to Jerusalem, saying, “we deeply appreciate your participation in this historic gathering of world leaders. Our commitment to remembering the Holocaust and fighting antisemitism, racism and fascism unites us.”
We remember the important contribution of Australia to the Allied forces. Australia became a home to thousands of Holocaust survivors, and a big Jewish community. Israel and Australia share values and a deep partnership,” the president said, adding that he was looking forward to his visit next month.
David Hurley thanked the president for his warm welcome and said that his participation was not only a question of Holocaust remembrance, but also to declare to the world that we will not allow a tragedy like this to be repeated.
New Zealand does not have a representative.
