The notion of ‘lower’ or ‘higher’ support for Israel will wax and wane with the make-up of political parties over time, just as it does with the US, although of course the large Jewish population in America have more influence than we can ever bring to bear.

Re the Aboriginals, which is an issue I care deeply about, it’s not just their living conditions that are a disgrace, it’s right across the board. The situation in regard to imprisonment of Aborigines in particular is atrocious, especially in regard to percentage of their population. (I’ve never heard of a white Australian, or any other kind of Australian, being imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread, as a young Aboriginal was recently!) I know that this is far removed from Jewish issues, or problems other ethnicities might have. I only mention it as an example of how our government thinks and works. Under these circumstances, why should anyone believe it likely, or perhaps even appropriate, for an Australian Government to give consideration to Yom Kippur when choosing the election date?

Don’t worry about your spelling. You’re articulate and erudite, and that’s more important.

As much as I’ll be happy to see the back of the ALP, I somehow don’t think the Libs will be much better.

I must apologise for the terrible spelling on the above. It was late and I was tired and rushing thoughts on paper…..Anyways, I hope the message was clear.

” If so what level of attachment? Any Zionist history? If we consider Michael Danby as a 10 for Israel advocacy what score would you give Dreyfus?”

I am not into ‘giving scores’ on people and never having having anything to do with him did a simple search and find he is well on a par with Michael Danby. He has also done a great deal of work within Australia with our indigenous people and also our disadvantaged communities

Dear Liat

I believe that, when deling with a specific entity, say Jews in Australia, mixing up issues, such as Aboriginies, would not accentuate the points strictly relevant to the Jewish issues. I am sure that I do not need to point out that there are vast diferences between almost all aspects definig each group, consequently the nature of the problems involved. Indiference to Aboriginies is not determined by the same factors as specific policies that address the Middle East perpetual crisis and so on….
Jewish “sensiblities” are not a excessive, mannic trait, they belong to the distinct area of religious and racist prejudice that has defined Wester history for some two thousand years. The main reason even Australian politicians would resort to what we cnsider to be anti Semitic – and that may include populist and strategic anti israel decisions by the same – is one hand to vent well seeded dislike of Jews in general and, on the other hand, to accomodate geopolitica considerations taht have direct sectional politica relevance to parliamentary survival. The mere fact that Aboriginies in Australia are still dwelling in abhorent comprehensive conditions ha snothing to do with the Gillard Govt. ellecting to lower its support to Israel. To this extent, in the final wash, Gillard, as a GOVERNMENT of the period, is decisively at the lower scale of assistence to Israel !!! In the same final analyssis, Julia Gillard comes out as good a supporter of Israel personally as HER OWN government revelas itself to be in all thos important fora and, of course, at home. To this extent this Gillard Govt. treats its Jews – as they are in their majority dedicated Zionists – as least as badly as it treats its own Aboriginies. It is only prejudice vs incompetence and indiference.

As for Mark Dreyfus, he should be judged as a person and a politician in the whole, not ‘tested’ with a few questions of Jewish substance, then found totally lacking. Look at his background and his family history and see how he performs in the role he has to play which encompasses the whole Australian population, then have an opinion. Can we please stop making narrow negative judgements on fellow Jews for differences perceived, or do we want each Jew to act to a template designed by a few?

It certainly is a disturbing turn of events, the changed stance Labor has on Israel, very disturbing. We can only seek to get to the bottom of it and protest it actively. Is it purely the changed demographic in some NSW Labor seats due to their increased Muslim population, or are there other factors? Was the previous Labor support superficial rather than genuine due to whatever political circumstance? Is the Liberal coalition support only good for as long as its politically viable, or bolstered also by genuine belief? Instead of ‘assuming’ who are friends and stalwarts, we should be considering the whys and wherefores. The Jews of Australia are small in number and a definite minority group, so we must be more aggressive about making others care. The Australian Aborigines are also a minority group, and even with all the attention now turned towards them, they are still treated disgracefully, and within the laws of this country. And as much as money is spent and platitudes voiced, who in politics really cares? If political Australia doesn’t really get its act together for the original and true Australians, do you really expect much better for the Jewish community or Israel?

I would certainly hope, and expect, though that Jews would be considered with as much serious recognition as Muslim, Buddhist or other, and it’s up to us to fight for that if it’s not the case. Some of the more well-known Jewish figures in our history have certainly received due recognition as Jewish-Australian individuals, especially in the military and the sciences. So, I think that helps in the public consciousness, even though so many are ignorant or lacking curiosity in life. The only way to live a life where Jewish interests are acknowledged and actively dealt with is to live in Israel.

Thank you for your response to my comments, Michael – just to let you know I’m a ‘she’, not a ‘he’. Liat is a Hebrew female name.