The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) has announced that it has suspended relations with the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV), as a result of malicious public statements made by the ICV President Adel Salman and Vice President Mohamed Mohideen.
Salman had said in an ABC Radio interview last week that the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October were “legitimate acts of resistance”. Mohideen had posted numerous statements that many, especially in the Jewish community, found inappropriate for a Commissioner of the Victorian Multicultural Commission. Critics claimed that VMC Commissioners should be working towards social cohesion rather than fostering division.
The Government’s traditional annual Iftar Dinner was cancelled last week, due to an ICV and National Imam’s Council boycott of the event. The ICV also called for their community members to attend the pro-Palestine rally held in Caulfield after the Burgertory arson attack. Despite statements from Victoria Police and subsequently being proven to not having anything to do with the Jewish community, the ICV bought into the lies blaming the Jewish community for the attack. The ICV leadership has not apologised.
JCCV President Philip Zajac said, “The JCCV has a long and demonstrated history of commitment to interfaith and intercultural dialogue. We have also been consistent in our condemnation of terrorism, whether it takes place against Jews in Israel, Christians in Sri Lanka or Muslims in New Zealand.”
“The JCCV will continue to focus on building peace, understanding and tolerance with credible partners from other faith-based communities, including from the Victorian Islamic community. We call on others, including the Victorian Government and other Victorian faith leaders, to similarly reject working with the ICV while it continues to sow division and hate.”
“In recent months, Jewish leaders have held productive and respectful meetings with many reasonable Islamic leaders, although none who sit on the ICV board. In contrast, the ICV leadership refused to participate in interfaith dialogue chaired by the Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt and attended by representatives of other major faiths, including senior Jewish leaders.”
Zionism Victoria executive director Zeddy Lawrence said: “Given the overwhelming majority of Jews globally, in Australia and in Victoria identify as Zionist, it seems the Islamic Council of Victoria has finally crashed through the thin ice it’s been skating on since 7th October. ‘Zionists can go to hell … ‘ How does one even begin to pretend that’s not antisemitic?”